RS2 : How hard is it to make the dash board lights brighter

[weta.worker]

hi, I'm trying to make the dash lights brighter on my RS2.

Turning them up using the controls on the cluster doesn't make them bright enough

Is it easy enough to replace the bulb behind the cluster? Or do I need to remove the whole thing and replace that way?

many thanks

john

[andyg plym]

Bulbs are really easy to remove they just pop out once you turn the bulb housing

There are a few people who have tried the led route with mixed results, some say its great others disagree as although brighter it doesn't illuminate the whole clock face, just the area it's in so at night some areas of the dials are dark

[macspring]

Just asking....

What about wiring the dash lights 'direct', by bypassing the rheostat ?

While you won't be able to adjust them, they maybe a fraction brighter with the oem bulbs.

Someone may decide to try this, and measure the voltage before and after with the engine running to determine if it is any good of an suggestion.

[A80Avant]

ideally you want wide angle LEDs which could fit, but as far as i know there arent any for this application.

fitting higher intensity normal bulbs may increase the heat generation in the dash, so i dont know if that is very good either

[weta.worker]

Thanks guys. As far as getting to the bulbs do I need to get to the back of the instrument cluster (pull that out?)

I suspect the bulbs maybe faulty as they are hardly visible even in a dark tunnel.

Cheers all!

[UrS4boy]

At least on the C4 UrS4 and UrS6 the solution to that problem is simply to replace the factory 1.2W bulbs with 2.0W bulbs. Takes minutes once you get the cluster out.

[Golfboy666GTI]

Thanks guys. As far as getting to the bulbs do I need to get to the back of the instrument cluster (pull that out?)

I suspect the bulbs maybe faulty as they are hardly visible even in a dark tunnel.

Cheers all!

Hey John, Ive done it before. Email me a pic of the dash at night with the lights on.

[macspring]

At least on the C4 UrS4 and UrS6 the solution to that problem is simply to replace the factory 1.2W bulbs with 2.0W bulbs. Takes minutes once you get the cluster out.

Dave,

Agreed, but do you or others find any adverse effects to the "white" gauge faces, such as peeling due to presumably slightly more heat from the slightly higher wattage bulbs.....Just asking.

Thanks.

[weta.worker]

sorry, I'm an idiot. I found the knob that does this (the far left one - I was playing with the other 2 and didn't see the one I needed)

doh...

carry on, nothing to see here...

[UrS4boy]

Dave, Agreed, but do you or others find any adverse effects to the white gauge faces, such as peeling due to presumably slightly more heat from the slightly higher wattage bulbs.....Just asking. Thanks.

Going to 2.0W bulbs from 1.2W bulbs has been done here in the UrS community since the late 1990's. I haven't heard of any issues with any (grey, they aren't white in a C4 UrS) gauge faces. Okay maybe once but it is very uncommon.

[macspring]

Thanks for reply.

Agreed re the off white colour. My post edited. Apologies for the error.

[UrS4boy]

Thanks for reply. Agreed re the off white colour. My post edited. Apologies for the error.

Sorry about that. Just needed to make sure we were talking the same thing. Oddly (?) I believe the RS2 gauge (clock) faces *are* white, as opposed to S2 and UrS4/S6 grey.

Back on the gauge face peeling, I can only remember one case being noted on the three UrS4/S6 forums I am on (since 1998). Might happen but it is either not reported or it happens to non-forum enthusiasts. No idea.

[Le S2 Audi]

I tried Wide angle LED ones at the back of the heater dials on the S2 and they were rubbish...

Just replaced them with brand new OEM Bulbs.

Did the same with the cluster bulbs & VDO's...

Like most 20 year old bulbs - they get dim & I found best solution was to re-fit OEM ones....