hacker-pschorr

This is the three bulbs which eliminate the gauge cluster.
I'm not sure which years all use this same bulb. Please chime in with such information for future reference.

Does anyone know the bulb number for the smaller tiny bulbs which illuminate the other various warning lights in the cluster?

If my information is correct, the correct bulb is W5W, which is the same as a 2825 bulb.
168 & 194 will also work.

I plan to try these from Sylvania:
2825LEDBP
168LEDBP

2825SLBP2 - same as above, double pack
168SLBP2 - same as above, double pack










W5W and 2825 are searchable fields, nothing came up so I started this thread for future searches.

davek9

If you are doing the Main three for panel illumination, make sure that they are Dim-able and also not polarity dependent, like these.

https://www.superbrightleds.com/more...rofit-car/206/

Dave

hacker-pschorr

Unless they are so bright it's obnoxious, the Dim-able part isn't an issue.
Polarity is a good point, these are available locally which is why I'm trying them first while the cluster is out.

If they don't work here, they are going in the Bug!

PorKen

2721 or 2721MF?

https://rennlist.com/forums/928-foru...t-80-86-a.html

hacker-pschorr

Thanks!!

I remembered that thread, couldn't find it. Damn search engine must be on the fritz again.

If my googling is correct, 2721 is the bulb & 2721MF is the bulb with the base.

DeWolf

I used these in the S3. Not overly bright but enough to make the cluster very readable.

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/10-X-LED...UAAOSwhfhZ2DfS

hacker-pschorr

UPDATE - as noted in my OP, these come in three flavors: 194 / 168 / 2825. I have no idea the specific differences between them.

I went with a 194 version of this same Sylvania ZEVO LED since that is what my local parts store had in stock (they had one of each of the others, wanted them to match).

They work great, they do dim a little and they are polarity specific so you need to be sure the positive side of each bulb is installed with the correct orientation.

These are the units I went with, installed in my 87 and a friends 86.5:

They come in clear (what I installed) amber, and blue.

With the pod out I used Deoxit to clean up every connection and the dimmer wheel.

Captain_Slow

Hacker - How do you assure the positive side is installed with the correct orientation? Do you recommend new holders for the bulbs?

scottw383

I believe stock incandescent bulbs are 2821 (3W), could be wrong though. The previous owner used 194 bulbs (3.8W) in the cluster in my '87 and they got warm enough to distort the plastic near the bulbs. And they still were far from bright. When the leftmost bulb burned out I could not see the temp gauge at night, period.

For the last six months I used the 194 Sylvania Super Bright 6000K LEDs (from Auto Zone) in my 87 and I'm very happy with them. Sylvania rates them at 0.7W so they may be slightly brighter than the ones pictured above (0.5W). I don't recall seeing a lumen rating on the package, unfortunately. They are dimmable, by the way, but since they are LEDs they will dim at a slightly different rate than incandescent bulbs do. I have mine turned up all the way and I do not think they are too bright. On the contrary, it's nice to see the instruments at night.

One thing to note -- since these are 6000K LEDs, they are much "whiter" than incandescent bulbs. I think it looks fine in the cluster, but some people will disagree. Ironically I used 2700K festoon LEDs (from SuperBright LEDs) elsewhere in the interior because I did not like the color of 6000K LEDs I tried in the doors/overhead/hatch area. This sounds like an odd mix, but it suits me fine. Again, others will have their own opinion and may want all of the bulb colors inside the car to match.

Here is what the previous owner used (left) and the 194 Sylvania Super Bright LEDs I'm using now.

soontobered84

IIRC, the two left ones(as you are looking at the back of the pod) are polarized the same way and the right one is backward to those.

hacker-pschorr

As requested (better late than never) here is a video of these LED lights:

Wolfman928

Eric, that's my clusters exactly, looks so good ! you got 10k miles less than me

regards