Hey guys.....so after doing my homework by reading the stickies and all the how-tos, I felt educated enough to go out and get some bulbs to change the stock gauge lighting in my 98 Max from that dim-*** white to a nice bright blue. Just in case, I bought four blue incandescents and four blue LEDs, just to see which one I prefer/gives better lighting. (the 98 max takes four, 74-size bulbs to light up the gauges). I went out tonight so damn happy because I thought I was going to have nice and bright blue gauges.

Long story short, the incandescents gave lower light output than stock, and the LEDs just seem about the same output as stock. Being that they were LEDs, I was hoping/expecting they'd be much brighter, as I've seen on some of the maxs in this forum. I was thoroughly disappointed to say the least.

So, I was wondering, those of you who have bright gauges in a 98 max, how did you do it? Did you simply get some good, bright LED bulbs and replace them for the stock ones? Or did you do some modifying? I bought the LEDs off ebay from this guy, but they came with flat tops instead of the rounded tips:

http://cgi.ebay.com/74-37-LED-LEDS-B...QQcmdZViewItem

If you guys can help me out with such a simple thing I'd really appreciate it. I just really want those nice blue gauges without going to aftermarket ones.

Thanks guys

 

I don't have the leds in yet, but I am planning on doing this also. I've read that if you sand down the edge of the led, that helps with the light output. (how?? i don't know)
People have been using a 5 (i think) led bulb and that seems to work out ok except for the "hotspots".

Good luck.

 

I have these in my gauges

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2pcs-...QQcmdZViewItem

I dont know if they make them in a 74 size but somthing similar might work better

Here is a pic of my gauges you can see the difference in the light output from factory.

 

the light gets scattered cause leds have a narrow angle firectional light out put.. meaning if u look fomr sides you wont see as bight as directly in forn tof hte lgiht... sanding it make sthe surface rough hence the light would scatter in a wider area...

 

How did you get those wired in? That size is aa 168 replacement right? Advise please.

 

Im not sure aboput the 98's but I know the 95-97's can use the 194 led bulbs. Thats what I have.

I got them form here,..
http://www.superbrightleds.com/mini-wedge.html

 

how would blue lights look in a 98 gxe since they have black color guages and orange/red needle colors?

 

All the bulbs numbers listed at the bottom of that page use the same type of socket they are interchangable so 194 and 168 are essentially the same but the bulbs i have 194s.