IND | E46 M3 Red Sport / M-Track Mode Button Set Install Guide

[Wernd]

I actually like them, helps break up some of the black

[Chas3n]

It’s hard to have an opinion on this.

Old man says LOL!

17yr enthusiast says WOW!

Wouldn’t do it myself, but probably a proper made piece


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[C///M]

I believe some of the new M cars have the red buttons stock-- that's the origin of this idea (I assume).

Believe it or not, IND actually pioneered the colored M steering wheel and start/stop buttons for the E9x M3, long before it was a twinkle in BMW's eyes.

Me thinks the origin of this particular idea is the other way around (if you ever questioned whether BMW keeps an eye on aftermarket trends, even the small silly ones).

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[///Marecki]

@IND-Distribution - is the space for the indicator light in the sport button supposed to be clear? Mine (matte option) came in highly opaque.

When it's selected it's basically indiscernable even at night. Same goes for the amber backlight in the lettering. Let me know.

[IND-Distribution]

@IND-Distribution - is the space for the indicator light in the sport button supposed to be clear? Mine (matte option) came in highly opaque.

When it's selected it's basically indiscernable even at night. Same goes for the amber backlight in the lettering. Let me know.

The light indicator is opaque instead of clear, but the lettering should match OE backlighting very closely. Prior to install, was your sport button indicator light as bright as the other green indicator lights (climate control/AC/Heated seats/HK)? I'm guessing you would have noticed before if it was dimmer. If at all possible, could you email our support team with illuminated photos of your original button vs the new button for comparison. Or if you're unable to reinstall your original button at this time, just an illuminated photo showing how much dimmer the new sport button is. Did you also purchase the M-Track Mode steering wheel button? If so, how is the backlighting on that button? Does the illumination even out if you turn up the interior dimmer switch?

I only have personal experience with one install of these and it didn't look different enough when lit up to cause us to look closely.

[///Marecki]

The light indicator is opaque instead of clear, but the lettering should match OE backlighting very closely. Prior to install, was your sport button indicator light as bright as the other green indicator lights (climate control/AC/Heated seats/HK)? I'm guessing you would have noticed before if it was dimmer. If at all possible, could you email our support team with illuminated photos of your original button vs the new button for comparison. Or if you're unable to reinstall your original button at this time, just an illuminated photo showing how much dimmer the new sport button is. Did you also purchase the M-Track Mode steering wheel button? If so, how is the backlighting on that button? Does the illumination even out if you turn up the interior dimmer switch?

I only have personal experience with one install of these and it didn't look different enough when lit up to cause us to look closely.

I did purchase the m-track button too, but that unit isn't backlit at all so all good there.

Took a drive last night. pics below. The lettering isn't as bad as initially thought in total darkness on a second look. But the green indicator light is an issue for me - you really lose a lot and this is nighttime driving. In the day its going to be totally impossible to tell.

[PSUEng]

I did purchase the m-track button too, but that unit isn't backlit at all so all good there.

Took a drive last night. pics below. The lettering isn't as bad as initially thought in total darkness on a second look. But the green indicator light is an issue for me - you really lose a lot and this is nighttime driving. In the day its going to be totally impossible to tell.

I know you didn't ask me, but that's a total fail IMO. I'd pull it out.

[nextelbuddy]

Yeah the sport button is a little bit of a fail

I bought these from accelerated distribution couple years ago when they first came out and when I installed it I had the same problem



The factory sport button. If you take a look at it, look it behind the black button and you will see that there is a plastic prism. You need to remove that plastic prism from the sport button and retrofitted into your red sport button. It will help a little bit, but the second problem is that the factory sport button actually has a hole for that prism to fit through the face so that you can see the green light. Whereas the red button doesn't have a hole. It has a white area so the green light can show through but it won't show through as bright as the factory button.

I think it was a big miss when they r&d the button.

[///Marecki]

I'm obv gonna have to pull it, function > form. This is pretty basic stuff really.

Taking apart the center stack is such a bitch I wish they made it clear up front.

[JayVee]

IND-Distribution Is there a fix to the above light issue? The general theme of IND's OEM+ is fallen short here.

[Ianb]

If you have a zcp and want the steering wheel button illuminated as the led is already there, you can do a simple(ish) wiring mod.


I used AliExpress ones and dremeled the back of the illuminated area as much as I dared.

[///Marecki]

If you have a zcp and want the steering wheel button illuminated as the led is already there, you can do a simple(ish) wiring mod.


I used AliExpress ones and dremeled the back of the illuminated area as much as I dared.

I ended up just going back to stock. Mod lasted 48 whole hours 🤣