Seeing RED

[Dartiguan]

This is only a personal thing, but I am not a fan of the red interface in the Tiguan. I wondered what the forum members thought of it. I find the contrast with the blue of the RNS310 jarring as well. Its not a good look in my opinion. I am guessing some would say the red is the best nighttime colour for eye recovery, but I have had no problem in other cars (Volvo, Prado) which have more subdued colour schemes. Is there any way of changing it or is it a ridiculous hope (wondering if there is a common light source). The red lights also have a variable resistor that does not allow me to turn the light down to dim enough levels for nighttime driving. This is one of those things you don't know until you buy the car and start driving it.

[Captain Bungers]

Are you talking about all of the red buttons etc. or just the MFD on the dash? I have a 2010 which has the white MFD which I quite like and the buttons have never really bothered me, however I dont drive at night a great deal...

[Drift]

Red is best! I love the interior at night. I do prefer the white MFD over the older red though.

[wai]

Red is used because it affects night vision the least. This is why red light is used by the military for night operations. That said, the "white" for the display on my Caddy is not too glaring at night. I have not had to look at a red display so can't say which I would prefer.

[Dartiguan]

Hi Captain B. I have a 2011 so it is the Red buttons for window and air con etc I am talking about. My MFD and instruments are fine, I don't mind the 'ferrari' red speedo and rev needles, and the white style presentation. It is the glaring red of other controls. In addition the choice of a kind of electric blue in the radio that gets to me. I know the story of the red military use, but I am guessing they have a much higher quality and definition to their controls, as I find the Tigs red too bright and indistinct at night. (I do wear glasses which could be pertinent) I am guessing from the replies so far that it is a no possible change item. Also I do a LOT of night driving 100km home at night late.

[team_v]

You could crack open the panels and replace the red bulbs with blue ones.

I don't know of any guide as to how to do it though so it may be best if it is really irritating to get a vw tech to do it.
Certainly would be possible though.

[clip]

Dartiguan, if you mean the MFD, then the following would need to be considered I think: from memory (I don't have my Tig anymore), but the MFD is red background with black text/symbols. The newer ones have white text/symbols against a black background. So you should be able to change the red to something else as it's the backlight, but you would need to be careful as far as glare goes e.g. if you changed to white, it would be like a torch shining in your eyes. A blue might work though - but then you would have to make sure the you could still see the text/symbols because they are in black (which is the actual diplay).

If you mean the other LED's in the car, then no problems. There are plenty of choices and as long as you can remove the bulb or LED (i.e it's not hard wired in - although if you want to go unsoldering and resoldering then no problems either), then you will be able to replace it with whatever you want.

[Drift]

Most backlit LCDs such as the MFD have the backlighting built in and it's usually done with SMD making it very difficult or in some cases, impossible to do without damaging the device. Replacement of the LEDs in the switch gear, although easier than the MFD, would also be incredibly fiddly. I'm guessing you'd be having to disassemble the entire switch assembly. Relatively easy for the door controls, but the dash? Yeah thanks but no thanks. You'd be having to disassemble all sorts of bits and pieces down to component level. Also, not forgetting that some switches have multistate indication. In those cases, there may be a multicolour LED.

Unless you've got heaps of time on your hands, SMD soldering experience and equipment and an annalytical mind to figure out why the module you've just spent 5 hours changing its back lighting wont work at all, I wouldn't be considering undertaking the project.