LED Instrument Lighting

[BPT]

Much like myself, my instrument lights are looking old and worn out (and not too bright??).  I'd been wanting to replace them to get some brightness going and it just so happens that Superbrightleds has 15% off right now.

If I remember correctly, LED's need to be the same color as the lens they will be shining through.  That's easy enough for the idiot lights, but how about the speedo and tach background bulbs?  I'm not sure how those work as far as the hue and if they need to be a certain color as well.  Can you change the color of the background lights?  Also, how about directional?  I'm not sure which bulbs to use yet, so I don't know what they offer but maybe it's possible they have both the pinpointed bulbs and also to wider ones (sorry, I know I'm not using the correct terminology).

If anybody has replaced these, your experiences will be good to hear.  And if you've got specifics, such as part #'s, even better.  Superbright doesn't have the instrument bulbs listed under R65 so you have to know which bulb types are required.  I think it takes at least 2 different styles but won't know for sure until I can remove them from my instruments at home.

FYI - the sale is for President's Day, goes until Tuesday, I believe.

       Thanks
 

[Bob_Roller]

There are numerous SAE numbers for the bulbs for the intsrument lighting .
The one I remember is 194 .
If you a planning on replacing the GEN bulb with an LED, you need a resistor in that circuit, the LED does not have enough current draw to get the charging system working .

[BPT]

Thanks Bob, 194 is one that comes up frequently for instrument lights and I think that there are some  194's in these.  I saw a couple of mentions of a second bulb in some dash set-ups but can't remember about the R65's.  I'm home now so, if I can remember where I put it, I have a spare gauge here I can look at.

I did remember the GEN light and figured that, for now, I'll just leave it alone.  Maybe get a bulb anyway in case I get ambitious and decide to do the resistor thing later.
Any chance you know what size resistor?  With Radio Shack gone that's something I'll have to dig around for also.......

       Thanks

[marcmax]

Under the category "R65 Technical FAQ" is an excellent write-up on the resistor circuit mod for the generator light written by our recently departed friend Monte Miller. Third topic down titled "GEN Light Auxiliary Circuit".

I did the mod in about 15 minutes several years ago and it works flawlessly.

[BPT]

Thanks MarcMax, I'll try and dig that up.  I knew it was a common thing but wasn't sure of the details.

           Thanks

[BPT]

Ok, here are the bulbs.  In the tach there are 3 194's and 2 smaller ones.  I can't find any markings on the bulbs or sockets.  SuperbrightLED's shows a #74 that looks like the smaller one.  But there is also a #24 that kinda-sorta resembles it.  The parts places I've found just list them by wattage but no base type to cross reference. 
I might try to get out later and check an auto supply place and see if I can match it.  Seems strange that basic info like this is so hard to find.  And in case anybody is wondering, it's the red Oil and  Gen bulbs that are the smaller ones.
Also, looks like the speedo bulb socket is attached to the wiring (as opposed to a housing in the speedo itself) so I didn't have that to look at but I'm assuming it's a 194 also.

[jp9094]

My question is where can you find replacement sockets for the type 194 bulbs? The ones that fit inside the green plastic indicator lens on the impact pad. Mine are breaking down and BMW  does not carry them anymore!

FWIW

[BPT]

Can you tell if they are something unique from BMW in order to fit into the lenses?  I've seen a socket here and there but can't remember what type they were.
Have you checked the usual - Motobins, Motorworks, etc?
Also, I know that Katdash started selling some individual bulbs and things, you might check there.

[Tony Smith]

This is my take on the LED instrument bulbs. I originally bought these by mistake for my wife's VW Kombi restoration project, I realized later that they fit the R65 tacho warning lights perfectly.

The instrument illumination bulbs as BA-9s, LED replacements are readily available but in my view are to bloody bright so the old bulbs remain in service although the LED BA-9s now serve as parking light bulbs on my R65 and the GSA,

The warning lights I think would also be too bright except that they are coloured and having them behind the coloured frames in the Tacho calms them down a lot.

[BPT]

I placed an order so I'll be able to see in a few days about bulb fitment into the gauges.  It'll probably be a little while before I actually install them and see how they perform.

I have a problem day and night with my instruments.  At night the speedo and tach lights are too dim and on bright days, the Texas sun can wash out the other lights.

I have heard that you can end up making things too bright so that was also one of the opinions I was hoping to get.  But it looks like this isn't a very popular subject here.
No worries, I'll experiment and see what happens.

       Thanks