IND Red M1/M2 Buttons Install updated

[HKMP7]

Originally Posted by BatCam

Thanks for this thread! it was on the money. my buttons look great. I got them from Mod Bargains.

Originally Posted by Rxpert

Just wanted to say a huge thank you to the OP for this guide!

Hardest part was removing the airbag, but a couple of YouTube videos helped with that.

Thanks to this thread I just changed my buttons, but to the blue ones from IND.

Im glad this helped you guys out.

[backagain]

Originally Posted by jailonacs99

Any details on how to do this without removing the steering wheel/airbag?

I did it without taking off the steering wheel. The only "inconvenient" part is that I had to remove the bottom trim bolt and the button pod bolt from the back side, blindly. Not too big of a deal.

I had the red start button for some time, but hardly see it. Now these two buttons makes it complete!

[ChrisK]

Does anyone find the red M1/M2 buttons distracting while driving? Draw your eye at all? Just curious before I install them.

[backagain]

Originally Posted by ChrisK

Does anyone find the red M1/M2 buttons distracting while driving? Draw your eye at all? Just curious before I install them.

No, especially with the HUD, I barely look at the dash, let alone the steering wheel.

[HKMP7]

Originally Posted by backagain

No, especially with the HUD, I barely look at the dash, let alone the steering wheel.

+1

[ChrisK]

Thanks!

[GregW / Oregon]

Originally Posted by HKMP7

I'm assuming you know how to remove the airbag.

Thanks, but could use some help with that.

[HKMP7]

Originally Posted by GregW / Oregon

Thanks, but could use some help with that.

Message sent.

[backagain]

Originally Posted by GregW / Oregon

Thanks, but could use some help with that.

There are several youtubes about removing F30/F80 airbags. The orientation of the screwdriver is the key. I found the use of a square-head tool made it so much easier.

[GregW / Oregon]

Originally Posted by backagain

There are several youtubes about removing F30/F80 airbags. The orientation of the screwdriver is the key. I found the use of a square-head tool made it so much easier.

Thanks!

[jailonacs99]

Finally did this today without taking the steering wheel off. Luckily had some small and angled torx wrench attachments to get behind the wheel for the last screw that held in the button cluster.

One mild heart attack when the small white tabs that control the cruise control wheel fell out. I thought I broke them at first.

Really was an easy job once I got over taking out the airbag. Watching a video of that helped too to know how small the metal wire is for the spring, easy to miss/push aside with a Phillips, was easier with a flathead.

One of the things I'm most looking forward to is sometimes in spirited driving, I lose where the wheel is when I have to shift. This will help me to quickly identify which paddles to hit.

[figure99]

Just some of my initial impressions after installing the IND red M1/M2 buttons a few months ago...

Pros:
- They fit well, easy install.
- They match the IND red start button... so OCD friendly if you have that!


Cons:
- Slight disappointment that they do not look & feel as OEM as I had hoped. It's more the feel for me with these... the paint is thick and slippery compared to the black OEM buttons, thus my finger slips off of them easily, especially M2. I would have preferred a more matte look & feel.
- Text appears more orange compared to the OEM buttons at night when lit up. See picture below.

[jailonacs99]

I definitely agree that the quality of the buttons leaves something to be desired. A more matte or textured button would be better. It looks like from the photos Rxpert posted, the polar blue ones are higher quality.

What bothers me most about the red ones is how dull the ridge is that flows in from the outside buttons. It looks very well defined in the polar blue, the same way they are in the OEM buttons. The red ones look like a bad plastic mold that didn't have much definition. It bugs me how smooth they are in comparison.

[paulo_f80m3]

Originally Posted by figure99

Just some of my initial impressions after installing the IND red M1/M2 buttons a few months ago...

Pros:
- They fit well, easy install.
- They match the IND red start button... so OCD friendly if you have that!


Cons:
- Slight disappointment that they do not look & feel as OEM as I had hoped. It's more the feel for me with these... the paint is thick and slippery compared to the black OEM buttons, thus my finger slips off of them easily, especially M2. I would have preferred a more matte look & feel.
- Text appears more orange compared to the OEM buttons at night when lit up. See picture below.

That's something I wanted too. The Matte finish to match the rest of the buttons and my OEM red start button. IND just came out with the matte finish. Looks like I'll be ordering those soon to replace the gloss ones I got in the summer. My OCD is terrible.

[jailonacs99]

Originally Posted by paulo_f80m3

That's something I wanted too. The Matte finish to match the rest of the buttons and my OEM red start button. IND just came out with the matte finish. Looks like I'll be ordering those soon to replace the gloss ones I got in the summer. My OCD is terrible.

You're kidding. Damn, the matte ones do look better on the site. Now I want to pick up them and an OEM ignition switch to go for a cleaner look.

If anyone picks them up, please post installed pics.

[figure99]

Originally Posted by jailonacs99

What bothers me most about the red ones is how dull the ridge is that flows in from the outside buttons. It looks very well defined in the polar blue, the same way they are in the OEM buttons. The red ones look like a bad plastic mold that didn't have much definition. It bugs me how smooth they are in comparison.

I agree 100%, it's the lack of defined ridge compared to the OEM ones. It's either a poor plastic mold, or too much paint... either way they're too smooth without the ridge and with slippery gloss paint.

Originally Posted by paulo_f80m3

That's something I wanted too. The Matte finish to match the rest of the buttons and my OEM red start button. IND just came out with the matte finish. Looks like I'll be ordering those soon to replace the gloss ones I got in the summer. My OCD is terrible.

They finally have a matte finish available... of course, after I've already purchased and installed the previously only available gloss ones. I can relate to the OCD... I'm not going to be able to handle knowing matte ones exist for too long... there goes another $50. Unfortunately it looks like they still do not offer a matte start/stop button without having the buy the whole assembly. My OCD may have to wait until they do since that's what I have.

Please post pics if you purchase the matte ones!

[jailonacs99]

Well, ****it, couldn't help myself. Not even out of principal for having the gloss red installed for less than a month.

Ordered the matte buttons and the OEM start/stop so it would match. Hopefully I'll get them in before the end of the week so I can install this weekend. I'll post before (gloss red) and after photos when they're in.

[paulo_f80m3]

Originally Posted by jailonacs99

Well, ****it, couldn't help myself. Not even out of principal for having the gloss red installed for less than a month.

Ordered the matte buttons and the OEM start/stop so it would match. Hopefully I'll get them in before the end of the week so I can install this weekend. I'll post before (gloss red) and after photos when they're in.

Same here.. Just ordered the matte ones. I don't even drive the car at the moment. (Put away for winter) I just want to sleep better at night after all this.

Good thing I have a friend that purchased my gloss ones off of me.

[jailonacs99]

OK, was excited to receive the matte ones today and I got them installed a little while ago.

A few notes and one big frustration:

The color difference in the OEM start/stop is something of a metallic, cherry red vs the gloss red of the IND start/stop. Low light doesn't show off how bright the IND one is.

INDs all gloss ones definitely match each other. But the OEM button and matte ones have a bit of a different shade; the M1 and M2 don't have the cherry color. It's actually harder to tell the more light there is, and given the distance between the two it doesn't bother me. The matte ones definitely look better against the OEM matte gray steering wheel buttons.

But two steps forward, one back. After getting everything reassembled and hooking up the battery, I immediately noticed that the amber light in the M1 is significantly lower than the M2 and OEMs. The M2 nearly matches the OEMs, but the M1 is super dim. The gloss ones were dimmer too but at least the same dimness. After sinking $300 into these button sets I'm peeved. I reached out to IND to see if I can exchange the M1 for one with more consistent lighting quality.

Another side note I didn't realize, the OEM Red start/stop lights more white than amber. I wasn't expecting that, but it matches fairly close the gauges (not quite as white, sort it white/Amber) so I think it looks OK.

[paulo_f80m3]

Oh, jeez.. Mine come in on Monday.

Originally Posted by jailonacs99

OK, was excited to receive the matte ones today and I got them installed a little while ago.

A few notes and one big frustration:

The color difference in the OEM start/stop is something of a metallic, cherry red vs the gloss red of the IND start/stop. Low light doesn't show off how bright the IND one is.

INDs all gloss ones definitely match each other. But the OEM button and matte ones have a bit of a different shade; the M1 and M2 don't have the cherry color. It's actually harder to tell the more light there is, and given the distance between the two it doesn't bother me. The matte ones definitely look better against the OEM matte gray steering wheel buttons.

But two steps forward, one back. After getting everything reassembled and hooking up the battery, I immediately noticed that the amber light in the M1 is significantly lower than the M2 and OEMs. The M2 nearly matches the OEMs, but the M1 is super dim. The gloss ones were dimmer too but at least the same dimness. After sinking $300 into these button sets I'm peeved. I reached out to IND to see if I can exchange the M1 for one with more consistent lighting quality.

Another side note I didn't realize, the OEM Red start/stop lights more white than amber. I wasn't expecting that, but it matches fairly close the gauges (not quite as white, sort it white/Amber) so I think it looks OK.

[jailonacs99]

Originally Posted by paulo_f80m3

Oh, jeez.. Mine come in on Monday.

IND already has a replacement in the mail to me. I'll update if it's actually an improvement over the one in there now.

[figure99]

Originally Posted by jailonacs99

IND already has a replacement in the mail to me. I'll update if it's actually an improvement over the one in there now.

Do you notice more of a ridge on the matte M1/M2 buttons, similar to the OEM ones? That's my biggest issue with the gloss IND ones, my finger slips right off of them without any definition.

Can you post some pictures in more light once the M1 button replacement comes in? Thanks!