dim instrument lights
- Thread starter Jonny B
- Start date
Diver944
Active member
Fantastic information Charles!!!!!!!!! You have obviously gone to a lot of trouble to research it properly too, rather than just stick in higher wattage bulbs that will melt our binnacles. The beauty of these bulbs compared with LEDs is you also retain the factory dimming capability.
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This is a Top Thread
carlmthompson
New member
Yeah must admit, I've ordered some already before this forum takes up the stock! That's a cracking site for other supplies too - I remember looking for standard replacement instrument bulbs and it was a nightmare to find anywhere that stocked them at less than exhorbitant prices.
The only place I found was here:-
http://www.autobulbsdirect.co.uk/home.php?cat=588
and even they are expensive compared to that site (although they did send me two chav blue sidelight bulbs free with my order[:'(])
The only place I found was here:-
http://www.autobulbsdirect.co.uk/home.php?cat=588
and even they are expensive compared to that site (although they did send me two chav blue sidelight bulbs free with my order[:'(])
Fred Hindle
New member
Perhaps we should give Charles 'The posting of the month award'.
This to me is what it is all about, sharing information etc and helping other enthusiasts.
Just off to see remove the gauges to try and find out about my twistlocks.
Again, well done Charles.
Cheers,
This to me is what it is all about, sharing information etc and helping other enthusiasts.
Just off to see remove the gauges to try and find out about my twistlocks.
Again, well done Charles.
Cheers,
Fred Hindle
New member
Have just replaced all the non LED bulbs in the 944 with LED ones. Some of the old bulbs were integral with the holder, in my case the holders were black. I have some old dials from a 924 (circa 1979 vintage) which had the same type of bulb holder but they were brown. These holders had the small capless bulbs in that could be replaced with LED ones. So in the end I could swap these and fit in the 944.
Only problem now is that I don't have enough brown holders to do my 924S. Is there anyone out there who has / knows where I can get some brown bulb holders?
Guess what? The 924S has brown holders so now both cars now have LED lighting si no need of replacement ones.
Just got to wait until it goes dark to see the result of an a few hours playing about. (Wiring on the 924S was in a state so a bit of work with the soldering iron).
Cheers,
Only problem now is that I don't have enough brown holders to do my 924S. Is there anyone out there who has / knows where I can get some brown bulb holders?
Guess what? The 924S has brown holders so now both cars now have LED lighting si no need of replacement ones.
Just got to wait until it goes dark to see the result of an a few hours playing about. (Wiring on the 924S was in a state so a bit of work with the soldering iron).
Cheers,
Its my pleasure folks. I have been given a lot of advices in this forum and its about time for me to contribute.
I hope that you all will achieve and enjoy the result as I do.
Fred,
I don't think the colour of the twistlock matters (provided that they are the same type i.e. for T10 wedge base capless bulbs) cos the one used in my dash is a white/cream colour which I have now replaced them with the brand new black ones. I think they also have different twistlock sockets for different bulb types. Check out their web-site.
P.S. I have also bought other things from them too and the posatage cost is free - their hammerdrill is quite tempting. The standard delivery (free for orders over £20) is quite fast (next day via courier delivery).
Regards
Charles
I hope that you all will achieve and enjoy the result as I do.
Fred,
I don't think the colour of the twistlock matters (provided that they are the same type i.e. for T10 wedge base capless bulbs) cos the one used in my dash is a white/cream colour which I have now replaced them with the brand new black ones. I think they also have different twistlock sockets for different bulb types. Check out their web-site.
P.S. I have also bought other things from them too and the posatage cost is free - their hammerdrill is quite tempting. The standard delivery (free for orders over £20) is quite fast (next day via courier delivery).
Regards
Charles
Fred Hindle
New member
Hello Charles,
As far as I can tell the brown ones are for separate bulbs whereas the black ones the bulbs are integral and cant be swapped. Broke a couple of bulbs trying to remove them. This was my reasoning for mentioning the colours. Strange thing is it isn't a modification I can put down to a time. 1979 924 = Brown, 1984 944 = Black, 1986 924S = Brown.
As it turned out I was able to use brown ones in the temp/fuel gauge binnacles on both cars.
Just been out now that it is dark and switched on the lights, looks much better with having just one colour of illumination.
I'll still be buying some bulbs from the place you got yours from.
Cheers,
As far as I can tell the brown ones are for separate bulbs whereas the black ones the bulbs are integral and cant be swapped. Broke a couple of bulbs trying to remove them. This was my reasoning for mentioning the colours. Strange thing is it isn't a modification I can put down to a time. 1979 924 = Brown, 1984 944 = Black, 1986 924S = Brown.
As it turned out I was able to use brown ones in the temp/fuel gauge binnacles on both cars.
Just been out now that it is dark and switched on the lights, looks much better with having just one colour of illumination.
I'll still be buying some bulbs from the place you got yours from.
Cheers,
Hi folks,
Just one more point to note ...
I found the Xenon 3w bulbs are bright enough and the 5w ones are much brighter. I have the 5w in my dash and I now have adjusted the dimmer to about 3/4 which is more comfortable for me. The 5w bulbs have an average 3,000 hours life while the 3w ones have a staggering 10,000 hours. My recommendations are if you drive your 944 a lot in the evenings and you don't like your dash too bright then you may wish to onsider having the 3w bulbs. Even 3,000 hours life (in the 5w) is quite a lot imagine if you have the dash light on 2 hours per day (about 4 years life). Get both the 3w and 5w ones if you want to experiment (same postage cost). I bought 6 each and 6 twistlocks for this experiment just in case [
].
Charles
Just one more point to note ...
I found the Xenon 3w bulbs are bright enough and the 5w ones are much brighter. I have the 5w in my dash and I now have adjusted the dimmer to about 3/4 which is more comfortable for me. The 5w bulbs have an average 3,000 hours life while the 3w ones have a staggering 10,000 hours. My recommendations are if you drive your 944 a lot in the evenings and you don't like your dash too bright then you may wish to onsider having the 3w bulbs. Even 3,000 hours life (in the 5w) is quite a lot imagine if you have the dash light on 2 hours per day (about 4 years life). Get both the 3w and 5w ones if you want to experiment (same postage cost). I bought 6 each and 6 twistlocks for this experiment just in case [
].Charles
carlmthompson
New member
Good logic Fred, but unfortunately it's not as simple as that. I have captive Brown ones in the house (1.2w I think).
If you take a look at the link I posted, the colour of the holder seems to relate to the wattage - they are all captive. I think it just depends on the manufacturer.
http://www.autobulbsdirect.co.uk/home.php?cat=588
Fred Hindle
New member
Hello Carl,
From what I can gather (judging from the bulbs I have to hand) there are two different types of holders. Bearing in mind I'm looking at 20 year old plus stuff things may have moved on since then[]
Will get some of the xenon bulbs and have a play. At the moment I can see my instruments now at night with the LEDs fitted. All gauges and clocks now using the same, its like being in a modern car![][]
Cheers,
From what I can gather (judging from the bulbs I have to hand) there are two different types of holders. Bearing in mind I'm looking at 20 year old plus stuff things may have moved on since then[
]Will get some of the xenon bulbs and have a play. At the moment I can see my instruments now at night with the LEDs fitted. All gauges and clocks now using the same, its like being in a modern car![
][]Cheers,
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