Has anyone tried 194 bulbs for gauge illumination?

[Mark 42]

The standard instrument cluster bulbs for gauge illumination are W3W, which are 3 Watts.

I have read that the 5 Watt W5W bulbs will melt the amber colored plastic "Light Pipes" in the cluster.

I would like to go brighter than the stock 3 Watt ones, but not sure how much more is safe.

The standard 194 Bulbs are the same physical size as the W3W bulbs, but they are 3.7 or 3.8 Watts.
That seems like it should be a little brighter w/o being too much hotter...

I'd like to hear from anyone who tried them to find out if they get too hot and melt or darken the plastic "Light Pipes".

[AndrewBird]

They should be brighter, but I doubt much.

Have you tried replacing the bulbs with new? Bulbs do dim with use over time. New bulbs might be bright enough for you.

[15Michaeljoseph]

you could also try frosted LED's


--Mike

[Mark 42]

I'm pretty sure it looks dim because the bulbs are old.
I could put new 3 Watt ones in, but I have plenty of the 194 bulbs (3.7 Watt)
already on hand. I gues I can get some of the 3W bulbs just to be safe.
I just figured I'd ask to see if anyone has experience with the 3.7W bulbs.

[Navarone]

We use 555 bulbs in pinball games where we DON'T want things to melt, like under the pop bumper caps. People sometimes replace a 555 with a 194 which is brighter, but end up melting the caps. Another problem is with G.I. (general illumination) They put a 44 bulb into a 47 spot and it's brighter, but the extra current burns out the plugs on the power driver board.

The VW forums seem to think the 194 is a perfect replacement to a w3w, maybe a tad brighter, but that could be because it's a new bulb without the filament vaporized.

[AndrewBird]

You could always bench test them and see how hot each get. Check brightness too.

[Gregs///M]

Yup, go with the 194. I have used these with great results, no melting.

[DER E30]

Brighter? I always thought it was just fine...

[Navarone]

I'd like it a little brighter, but I have crappy night vision. It still seems a little dim.

[Mark 42]

Before anyone asks... yes, I did turn the dimmer all the way up.

[Navarone]

Have you tried turning it off and turning and turning it back on? Is your monitor plugged in?

[Mark 42]

I did find out which connector & wires the gauge illumination is on:
BMW E30:
White connector (C2) which plugs into gauge cluster.
pin23 GREY/RED - power (+).
pin16 BROWN - ground (-)

Now it I can find the same info for the brake pad warning circuit,
I might be able to fix it rather than just remove the bulb.

[audiquattrot]

I tried them out and they were def a bit brighter (almost an uneven throw of light). I didn't like it so evenrtually used oem donor bulbs from an old spare cluster.