Okay so i tried switch the dull 74 bulbs with LEDs but then the color scheme got screwed up so then i sat around pondered on what to do. In reality i just wanted the cluster to be Brighter so i asked myself why not jus squeeze in the 194 bulbs....so i did
pictures:


Before
Note I installed one 194 bulb previously to see the contrast. This is the picture of that contrast. The 194 bulb is installed behind the tachometer.



I bent the metal parts so that it can reach the connectors



i cut the plastic parts so that it doesn't interfere and or melt when it touches the bulbs



See how the first bulb on the right burnt the plastic and made it turn brown? well it did




Finished product
NOTE: camera has the same setting in the before and after. the camera does no justice on how bright the light is after. But the before picture shows one 194 bulb installed behind the tachometer. I really really hope my cluster does not a) melt, b) catch on fire or c) short out. Try it if you are feeling edgy BUT the 194 bulbs do PUT OUT A LOT MORE HEAT THAN THE STOCK 74 THEREFORE A FIRE COULD BE CAUSE PROCEED AT YOUR OWN RISK. I could feel the dash become hotter than average. So if a fire occurs on my Dashboard i'll post it.

 

Looks good, but sort of uneven light distribution. Maybe try a 168 bulb instead. They are the same size but lower watts IIRC. Nice write up though.

 

LOOKS, GOOD......let us know how your dash turns out in a couple weeks....

 

oh btw: how good are the chrome gauge rings on Paradox systems website?

 

Trust Me you will not regret it. Installing them makes you wonder why the designers didn't put them in OEM. I really completes the cluster and give it a more substantial "3-D" apperance.

 

and SUPER easy install


I guess I am using the 168 and not 194 I just went to Kmart and bought whatever one looked right without lookin at the number.

The distribution of light is pretty even the camera makes it stand out. The only way you are going to be able to tellin is if you REALLY REALLY stare at the gauges.

 

Did you get the Superwhite colored LED bulbs? Because it would seem to me that the best option to take would be Superwhite superstar 194's from autolumination.com. This would give your cluster a more pure and true color, more brightness and most importantly it would be a s**tload safer. Plus incandescant bulbs just suck. I am currently in the process of changing every light I can in my car to LED.

However, they also have the 24's however, they are not nearly as bright as the 194's.

 

so the LED bulbs from autolumination isnt that great?

 

If you sand off the film behind the guages, the cluster will be even brighter. The light is disfused by this film, given the "reverse" look of what Nissan is famous for their SE guages. Not to jack your thread or anything, but this topic has been discussed so many times. Ask Metal... been there, done that.

 

The lights from autolumination are great! especially the superstars however, XyNoix-HIC used the wrong size hence, sabatoging his own efforts. The 74 is simply too small with too small of a projection angle to properly light up our gauges. I have blue 24's in my gauge cluster and I am happy with the results. They are brighter than stock and lend more "character" to the cluster at night. However, I personally would have gone for the white now that I know that the super white gives a blue tone that is reminescent of 4300K HID headlights. The white LED's are also noticibly brighter than a comparible (size/watt - wise) blue LED.

 

see the thing is that if i sand off the blue film, will the blue from the cluster go away? or will it jus be pure white? I like the color scheme, AND putting leds doesn't keep that scheme because it changes the white color to a blue because of the blue film.

mixxmax i didn't want to ask metal cuz he doesn't respond. and plus i really couldn't find anything and believe me i looked.

 

Oh I did not know that SE gauges always give off blue light my GLE gauges are clear so it adopts the color of the lights you put in it. Plus it is still safer.

 

well keep the sugguestions i really want to find a way around this problem
but for now i will keep this set up

 

Sorry, I'm a noob and since I can't make my own topic, I have to semi-hijack this thread. I have a '03 SE with the digital thermostat (titanium edition) and the left side is dark at night. The controls still work, but just not lit up. The display and right side are still fine. I recently installed a new Pioneer HU and this problem happened shortly thereafter. Dealership tells me you have to replace the entire unit and can't just replace the bulb - $380 rip off. Anyone know if you can take this thing apart to get to the bulb? If so, what kind of bulb is it? Thanks.

 

looks awesome, hope ya dont catch on fire, jw why didnt you use the LEDs ?