SRR2
04-16-2005, 03:19 PM
Well the cluster upgrade project continues. To reiterate, this is a E34 build date 12/88. It has the "old" cluster that differs from the "newer" cluster(s) in a number of areas, notably the code plug (the new one is actually a plug in the back), board layout (the new one is simpler), the switching power supply (the new one uses fewer problematic capacitors), and lighting. I'll have more on the capacitor upgrade later, but I thought the lighting information might be of immediate use for others.
The old cluster uses 16 1.2W bulbs for illumination of indicia, the odo, trans status (in automatics), and check control. It's the last three that are interesting. My cluster has always suffered from poor visibility, and it turns out that the newer ones have a lot more illumination at least in the check-control. Mine uses two 1.2W lamps, the newer ones use four 1.5W lamps. The odo and trans displays use one 1.2W each and the new cluster uses one 1.5W each.
Well sports fans, you *can* brighten your displays. Turns out that these lamps have Osram-Sylvania industry-standard part numbers.
Power Osram P/N BMW P/N
1.2W 2721MFX 62 13 1 383 311
1.5W 2752MFX Might be 62 11 1 391 260, but I don't have
a sample of this one and the base
could be different
2.0W 2722MFX n/a
If you'd like to see Osram's catalog, don't expect to find it at your local AutoZone. The only place I found it is in Osram's European operations. Here's one: Osram Sweden Automotive Lighting (http://www.osram.se/Bilder/PDF/Fordonsbelysning/Katalog_20052006_del_2.pdf)
On Monday I'll be looking for US sources for these lamps, especially the 2W since it seems that this is what it's going to take to make the displays readable.
The old cluster uses 16 1.2W bulbs for illumination of indicia, the odo, trans status (in automatics), and check control. It's the last three that are interesting. My cluster has always suffered from poor visibility, and it turns out that the newer ones have a lot more illumination at least in the check-control. Mine uses two 1.2W lamps, the newer ones use four 1.5W lamps. The odo and trans displays use one 1.2W each and the new cluster uses one 1.5W each.
Well sports fans, you *can* brighten your displays. Turns out that these lamps have Osram-Sylvania industry-standard part numbers.
Power Osram P/N BMW P/N
1.2W 2721MFX 62 13 1 383 311
1.5W 2752MFX Might be 62 11 1 391 260, but I don't have
a sample of this one and the base
could be different
2.0W 2722MFX n/a
If you'd like to see Osram's catalog, don't expect to find it at your local AutoZone. The only place I found it is in Osram's European operations. Here's one: Osram Sweden Automotive Lighting (http://www.osram.se/Bilder/PDF/Fordonsbelysning/Katalog_20052006_del_2.pdf)
On Monday I'll be looking for US sources for these lamps, especially the 2W since it seems that this is what it's going to take to make the displays readable.