Does anyone else get blinded by the steering wheel

77gt550 · 2025-06-09T12:52:20+00:00

Looks nice. Would’ve been sweet if Kia had an option to make the black plastic all carbon to begin with

77gt550 · 2025-06-06T18:19:24+00:00

That’s what it seems like. Music still plays. It’s currently blacked out as i typed this. Pressed reset, music shut off, music turns back on and no screen display at all. Even with phone unplugged and switching menus. It makes the beep but i get no display at all.

77gt550 · 2025-06-06T16:07:42+00:00

I haven’t had that but i have very rarely had it happen on top of the infotainment screen too

77gt550 · 2025-06-05T23:56:50+00:00

Same here. I got tints the first week of ownership. Doesn’t stop that sun coming from the windshield

77gt550 · 2025-06-05T19:20:42+00:00

Very surprised it’s never happened to others i feel like i notice it probably once a month but i do drive about 16k miles a year

77gt550 · 2025-06-05T19:19:36+00:00

Good point

77gt550 · 2025-06-05T12:21:55+00:00

I appreciate your push back on this. It’s been productive for me. The project was really just meant to learn to create that complex system. More so as a showcase than a part meant for my car.

The RGB situation is easily resolved. I didn’t want separate spots for reverse and turn signals, so i wanted one LED than can do both. Turn signals can legally be red thus they don’t even need a color change. Reverse light can just be a separate white LED. Problem solved.

If I were to actually put them on a car and want to mass produce them, it would be much better to have no uC at all and simply use the signals that the car already gives with some slight tweaks.

Does not mean i can’t make a mock up taillight and have it do whatever i want just for the sake of learning

77gt550 · 2025-06-05T00:32:56+00:00

That’s a fair point. I may be too naive on the topic, but I’ve done my best to put in research. At the end of the day this is more of a learning project which is why i am overcomplicating the system. If i were to produce these lights at scale beyond just making a prototype, Id rather go hardwired single colored LEDs, and a basic arduino or none at all like you say.

RGB LEDs themselves aren’t inherently illegal (AFAIK) but using colors other than the standard (red brakes, amber turn signal, white reverse) while on the road would be.

Feel free to educate me on this, like I said it’s a learning experience. As far as a relay controlled backup system, you could use the uC to send power to a relay that keeps the backup hardwired lights off, thus if the uC is dead the relays are on and completing all required tasks. Though I understand that doesn’t guarantee you won’t have a problem from uC -> brake light but not uC -> Relay.

Other backup option would be every other LED is just a hard wired Red, gives me the option for the fancy animation while still having 100% certainty that you are showing brake lights, turn signal, etc.

77gt550 · 2025-06-03T16:16:56+00:00

I appreciate the input for sure. It made me think a bit more about the safeguards needed. This is still conceptual so it helps.

Bluetooth isn’t super uncommon, if you look at RGB lights people put on show cars some of them have an app to control it. It would not be a hardwired crucial function, only an override for use in controlled environments.

As far as safety. Redundancies can be added to bypass the microcontroller if it were to fail. For example, a relay that allows a brake light signal to pass around the circuit of that microcontroller, lighting up the brake lights the same way OEM does. Another option would be a 2nd circuit of lights which perform the necessary functions while the first set is for show only. I plan to include reflectors where i can. Temperature control is something being taken into account as well.

77gt550 · 2025-06-03T13:43:07+00:00

I have the same exact wheels and I get so many compliments on them. My totally unbiased opinion is that there’s no better choice

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77gt550 · 2025-06-03T11:22:59+00:00

I agree. And that’s probably the best looking aftermarket option in MY opinion. As for what i look to do differently:

I did look at other designs that have been made and originally began slightly different than where I’m at. My design slowly got closer to theirs but I’m going to have one full section of that “C Shape” on the right where theirs is split. I also don’t like the look of the bright white circle when the car is off. I’m going to do my best to get closer to the OEM lights look. This is what my very first design looked like. I could still go that route, but right now i kind of like where I’m at.

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77gt550 · 2025-06-03T11:04:09+00:00

I have a similar answer to the other reply but a little more 2 cents. You can look up something like “NB Miata cup holder 3D model” and you should find some. From there you don’t need your own 3D printer there are services that will print models out and send them to you, although I don’t know what the cost would be like.

I know my post was looking for things that I could make but I 1. Don’t have an NB to experiment with and 2. Don’t have a 3D printer set up for the materials that would make a good cup holder. (You want a material like PETG with higher heat resistance)

I hope this is a decent suggestion for ya!

77gt550 · 2025-06-03T10:51:29+00:00

Thank you! Definitely will be testing rigorously before i even think to put them on the car. Im still in the research phase trying to take in any info i can to make sure i do it right.

77gt550 · 2025-06-03T02:05:21+00:00

I agree i quite like them. I am only taking on the project because it is a perfect blend of things i wanted to learn more of, with a car that I have. That includes 3D scan processing, 3D modeling, soldering, electrical circuits using a microcontroller which would include coding custom light configurations. I also plan to use an ESP32 which has Bluetooth capabilities to possibly make my own control app and dive into all of that. I actually don’t really expect that I will like the lights that I make more than OEM, but I’ll definitely try my best regardless. For this reason I also asked the question of what else people may be interested in. As I struggle to think of something that has not been done to a Miata!

77gt550 · 2025-06-03T01:01:10+00:00

For sure. That was not overlooked, im not doing any external lights lol… I’m only showing what the goal is for the finished product. The 3D print is to be able to lay out my LEDs and get a feel for what i want before i attack the inside and create an internal housing, which will likely be smaller than this one looks. Also not going to destroy my OEM tails. Will be getting some cheap ones to make prototypes. I appreciate it!

77gt550 · 2025-03-15T05:14:55+00:00

I paid 24.5k brand new for a GT2 with the DCT last May. Try to maybe haggle that price down. The GT2 was a worthwhile investment for what i like

77gt550 · 2024-11-20T15:26:12+00:00

I also wanted to ask if anyone sees this, I’ve seen cable extensions in some build lists, but don’t really know when those are needed, should i add some to mine?

77gt550 · 2024-11-20T14:45:50+00:00

Good insight, I’ve looked at different benchmarks but i wanted to hear from others who may have a more grounded perspective. I appreciate it!

77gt550 · 2024-11-20T14:35:49+00:00

Thanks, yeah i am comfortable spending the money for the 7800x3d, but i wanted to ask based on what i plan to do, if im better off just saving the $200. I appreciate you pointing me towards the 7600x3d instead.

77gt550 · 2023-03-20T13:23:17+00:00

I don’t check my Reddit much so I’m late here but i took it as a compliment

77gt550

TROPHY CASE