Dash lights- LED replacement?

m5bb

m5bb

Well-Known Member
Site Donor $
Messages
2,088
Reaction score
931
Location
Peachtree Corners, GA
Has anyone figured out an LED replacement for the 12v 2 watt bayonet base bulb that is in the instrument lights?
I have mine apart and would like to look at this idea.
The BMW part # is 07119978254.
That does not give you a bulb designation like 1157 or whatever.
I can't read the one in my dash as they all say Mazda on them as I guess a PO must have replaced them.
Does anyone know a bulb number to look them up that way?

I also fixed my odometer thanks to Jeff at Odometer Gears in VA.
Was also able to repair my clock. A fuseable link was broken.
Opened all faces and cleaned the glass. Not an easy task. But all look like new. Check off another project.
Gary
 
I replaced mine with 4W bulbs, same size, Sylvania 3893 T4W.
Don't know about LEDs but whites would be too white for period.

The fuseable link of the clock is not intentional I believe, it just detaches over time from the PCB I think.
 
Arde said:
I replaced mine with 4W bulbs, same size, Sylvania 3893 T4W.
Don't know about LEDs but whites would be too white for period.

The fuseable link of the clock is not intentional I believe, it just detaches over time from the PCB I think.
Click to expand...

Thanks,
Yes I thought about the color temperature of the bulbs. They do make warm white LED's that would be very close to the original incandescent bulbs. Still researching.

Interestingly the clock has a sticker on it's exterior warning about the low temp solder that is used. It's like 200 degrees.
So if the clock overheats the solenoid that winds the clock the link will break. We are adding an external fuse and hard soldering the connection because getting the clock out is no fun.
 
Their are dimming issues with LED's, you'd probably have to add a resistor of some sort, I think there is a past thread on it.
 
Interesting, so the designers anticipated high solenoid current if there was a mechanical restriction and put a weak link. I am glad my wristwatch never overheats...

LEDs should come with built-in resistors for 12V operation, the dimmer would operate in a different range, that is true, but should still work. Or maybe its high value is not enough to dim the LED.
 
Gary - Yes, you will need to do something to make the dimming work. I tried a set of these bulbs but my stock dimmer dial did not work. I never bothered trying to figure this out and went back to the stock bulbs. The light is definitely a bit bluer, less yellow. You can have my set of bulbs (12) I think for $20 plus shipping if you want.
 
gary, you want 2700 k bulbs - that is the closest color to incandescent. btw, if you want to experiment with a spare guage, i've got a spare that you can try without damaging yours.
 
ditto on the color. i tried the LED's in my overhead light and they looked off period, seemed wrong. But I prefer incandescent in my home too.

I thought i had a faulty light switch(turned out to be pinched wire to light in steering column) and tried to source a new light switch and only found the '02 style replacement which has one pin less. What up with that, to use the vernacular of my kids??
 
Gave up on this LED idea.
Could not find anything that I thought would work well and be an appropriate color.

It's not like I drive this car every day and even less in the dark.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top