The_Remora

Do any of our 928 vendors now offer a complete dash light LED replacement kit?
Not talking about the main dash back-lights, I already have a Jager/Nicole kit for those, but all the various control and warning bulbs to replace in the pod. I've got Keith, Schocki, 6mil928, Rob and Dwane's excellent pod refurbishing threads 'subscribed' to for reference and see various sources to piece together the different LED's that are needed, but before I go that route I would rather just order them all at once from one of our vendors if they currently offer a kit such as that.

Here are some of the best pod rehab threads for reference for anyone else interested:
https://rennlist.com/forums/928-foru...-looooong.html
https://rennlist.com/forums/928-foru...s-part-ii.html
https://rennlist.com/forums/928-foru...re-w-pics.html
https://rennlist.com/forums/928-foru...uage-trim.html
https://rennlist.com/forums/928-foru...-ok-price.html
http://home.comcast.net/~robmb/cluster/3p1.htm

So is my best bet to piece it together from these guys ( http://www.superbrightleds.com/ or http://www.autolumination.com/ ) for my '87 or is there a kit now available? Thanks

tveltman

I may be mistaken, but the last time I spoke with Nicole about dash lights, she said that you had to do the full LED conversion yourself, as there was some soldering of resistors or something that needed doing. I hope I'm wrong though because...

jsherid1

For the pod switches, they were just plug and play (once the old bulbs came out which was a bugger to do). I used a thread that I think was from Alan to find the right spec bulbs from superbrightleds.com. Will check in the car in the AM as I think I have one or two left sitting in the console.

The_Remora

Thats good to know. Do you recall if it was necessary to put resisters inline for the pod switches?

Chuck Schreiber

No,
Plug and play. I will tell you that the #74s need a small mod. (They fit my 79 perfect, but later models need mods)
You'll either need to drill out the receptacle slightly as the #74 LEDs have a slightly larger diameter than the ones they replaced. OR, you can take a little material off the bottom of the bulb (not the lense portion) with a nail file. Takes litteraly less than a minute per bulb.

Almost every dash or pod bulb is located here http://autolumination.com/74.htm

The rest of the website has the festoon bulbs etc for dome lights, door lights, etc.

The hardest part of the pod switch job is getting the old bulb out without crushing it as you pull it out.
Be VERY careful!!

The pod switch bulb switch over should only take you about 20min depending on how hard it is to take the original bulbs out.

Good luck!

Chuck Schreiber

Here are the rest of the bulbs listed on their website

http://www.autolumination.com/?merch..._charset=UTF-8

The_Remora

Thanks Chuck that is a HUGE help! Cheers

backnblack

Good stuff thank you for putting this together.

The_Remora

Finally getting around to this project... I'm on the Autolumination site looking at LED bulb options and have a few quick questions before pulling the trigger on the purchase, hopefully you guys can help.

Looking at this page on the site: http://autolumination.com/74.htm

1) Do any/all of the #74 replacement bulbs fit in our pods? There are so many options; some are '3x brighter' but have mutant bulb heads sticking out, twin-stars with two heads,strange shapes etc.
2) Is it worth it to pay $4 or $5 for the brighter bulbs if they fit, or just go with the more basic bulbs in the $2.50-$3 range? (I already have Jagar kit for main backlight illumination) just need all the warning & control bulbs)
3) Should I buy the 'twist-lock bases' to go with them for .39 cents each or are the stock bases typically reusable with the new LED bulbs?

Thanks!

RevAgent

I did an LED bulb switch in my CL55 AMG, and my Acura TL. I purchased the bulbs from autolumination, and the quality is very good.

As for the styles of LED, the wide angle LED's seem to do a better job of reducing, if not eliminating flat spots in the illuminated portion of the switches. I experimented with a few different styles of LED, removing and repositioning them several times in order to eliminate the flat spots. As mentioned, you may have to position them several times in order to get the full illuminated effect, depending on what style LED you choose. My advice is to get the largest & brightest wide angle type LED that will fit in the switches or recesses to avoid having to reposition them several times.

I haven't had the pod apart to see the back of the switches, so I cannot comment on the need for the twist lock bases. Perhaps you might want to pick up a few of them, being so cheap, as to allow for a quick fix in the event that any of the stock bases break or come apart or are burned, as they often are.

Let me know if I can offer any other advice. Best of luck with your project, and if possible, post some photos, as I am interested in doing the same to my switches.

-Mark

RevAgent

Chris I also just checked the site, and the Matrix style LED's they have listed are similar to the ones I used in my AMG. I have had great results with them. Please keep in mind though, the switches in my Benz are very different than our 928 switches, so I'm not sure how well [they] work, or of they would even fit; just letting you know what worked for me.

I think I have a couple spare 74 LED's from my last project. If I can find the time amidst trying to get my fuel gauge working again, perhaps I'll remove a pod switch and see if they fit for you.

Stan.Shaw@Excell.Net

So, will a list of the parts you are going to use work on a '90 GT
I think I have the kits that Nicole sells already, so looking for what I would need besides that. I have a replacement pod to install, so while I am at it....

The_Remora

Thanks for the great advice Mark

That makes sense to use the larger wide spread #74's particularly for the ***** and larger "!" central warning indicator. And maybe higher end bulbs will be less likely to be faulty and need immediate replacement?

Stan, I think your '90GT will have a similar list of bulbs in most cases but not identical. One of the treads I've been using for reference is Keith's 'LED Changeover Um Loooong' thread which I believe is more similar to your '90, but I've been modifying the parts list based on some of the other threads listed in my top post.

I'll be doing a lot of other wyit stuff as well (clean paint & polish, new tach, new odo gear, re-solder repairs, trim rings, etc) and will do a write up with pics. Will likely be a couple of weeks before I have time to do the work though.

Stan.Shaw@Excell.Net

No rush for me, the GT awaits many projects, so I will happily wait for you to blaze the trail for me

Chuck Schreiber

Chris,

I bought a few of the "mutant" style bulbs for the GTS. Was going to compare the single head (that I used for all the illum on the 79 and the pod switches on the GTS) to the multiple head (mutant) LEDs and see if there is any difference. Probably use in the HVAC head unit to see if it lights up the sliders a little better.

My thoughts are that the single head LEDs are just fine. Nice and clear and enhance the illumination of every appication I've put them in, but not TOO bright.