OK, so this has been slightly covered in some of the LED swap threads, but I wanted to go over this in detail: getting the polarizing layer on the LCD panels turned 90 degrees CLEANLY, without any smudges, etc.

I already switched my gauges to red (thanks to Garage1217 for the raw materials), and the lighting in the odometer is brilliant; probably would be perfect to have bright red digits on a dark background. I know that the "easy way out" for the odometer is to flip the small rectangular piece of polarizing layer, but then you have the adhesive side facing the wrong way. It would be better to remove the old polarizing layer and cut a new one, adjusting until it blacks out, and then trim so it fits the display piece. But to remove without smudging or damaging; would an X-Acto knife and microfiber lens cloth be appropriate?

I know that the odometer would be very easy, since you have to pop out the entire LCD display, and it's just the glass display with the 20-odd leads. I left my HVAC stock for now (it's pretty cool to have red gauges, white headunit, and amber HVAC; almost like categorized subsystems), but would removing and replacing the polarizer be about as easy?

Yes, I admit I'm being paranoid on this, but I don't want it to be like my other LCD reversal project (LCD compass; I pulled away on that thing, fingerprints and smudges all over, and it looks bad because there's barely any backlight on it).

 

the hvac clock is slightly more difficult as you need to be more caeful due to the larger size... and esp the larger size of the glass... which makes it to be more fragile.

i usually use an x-acto to initally pry the filter off.. at which then i use my fingernail the rest of the way.

i honestly suggest to leave the hvac the way it is because it gets abit more difficult to see during the day unless you have white backlighting.

the odometer looks good and can be seen during the day more because of it's position in the gauge cluster and within a pretty nice shaded area.

 

Have ya ever reversed an hvac in red squall..? It is the most vivid day and night that I have seen! It looks sooo darn HOT. I think red comes out the best out of all the reverse colors.

Also for the original poster, I sell the polarized film on my site Let me know if you need some!

You can also send your items in to me to be reversed,...