Dashboard Cluster Back lights

[Bakea012]

Can anyone help me with improving the back lighting in the cluster.

ive taken it out of the car and have the cluster all appart, ive taken the orange caps of the backlights and the bulbs have come out.

however i dont know what size the bulbs are or how powerful i can go without melting the knockersss out of the orange caps as i have seen a few forums about them melting just with normal bulbs in.

thanks

[jmc330i]

The bulbs should be 12v 3w capless, any more and you could melt things.

In what way do you want them improved?

[Bakea012]

i just want it to be brighter at night, i have an e39 as a daily and the E30 just seems so dim compared to the 5 series.

ive seen some guy in the US that makes customised e30 clusters and fits LED lights in the back, ive sent him an email but i cant see it being economical to ship my cluster to the US and back just for some LED lights and i want it to look original as possible.

[BenHar]

Have you turned the dimmer to max?

Ben

[Bakea012]

i was going to say in my last post

p.s i have turned the dimmer to max. However i didnt want to seem rude haha.

thanks though.

[Brianmoooore]

I have an E39 as well, and have no problems with the illumination of the instruments on that or any of my E30s. Certainly have no desire to have the E30s brighter than they are.
3W bulbs are the maximum, and should be more than adequate.
Has the glass on the originals blackened at all?
Are the light guides in place and clean? (Had one E30 where some numpty had removed the guides!!?)
Pull out the rear ashtray and remove the bulb holder from under it. Use a piece of wire to connect the brown/white wire going to it to a good body earth, and see if that improves the brightness. If it does, the dimmer is faulty.

[Bakea012]

Ok maybe it might just be me,

Sorry I wanted e30 to have e39 brightness, I've had the cluster apart and the guilders and bulbs are all ok.

also struggling to understand why would the wire run to the rear ashtray?

Thanks for the info though!!

[daimlerman]

There's a bulb in the rear ashtray that should light up with the instrument lighting,it's easier to get at than any other,hence Brain's suggestion to test the dimmer there.

[Bakea012]

Ahhh I understand, this makes sense now thanks guys will test it!

I've done some research into bulb temps and LED's are about 90% colder apparently then normal bulbs so I have ordered some LED's for the backlights I'll let you know how I get on with them.

Thanks for the info guys!!

[Martinaston]

Has anyone ever seen any info on changing the colour ?
It would require having the plastic parts re-made in your preferred colour,
but I've never seen anyone attempt it.

[Jona1971]

I just bought some LEDs, for another application, that are coloured - you can opt for the colour you want:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/T5-Wedge-Ligh ... 3ce8561cd6

I'm not sure the dimmer will work with an LED though.

[Brianmoooore]

LEDs are current controlled devices, rather than voltage controlled like incandescent bulbs, so the dimmer would have to be modified to control current to get it to work properly.
The other problem with LEDS is that they are highly directional, so would need to be carefully sighted to transfer their light effectively to the existing light guides.