MikeW83

Hey there all, I searched and could only find some answers for A4&6, so I'll ask here.

The gauges on my car seem fairly dim at night. I've been in many an Audi in my day, and the white part of the gauges aren't nearly as bright as they should be. So question

1) Can you buy replacement LED's for it, or do you have to replace the whole entire cluster?

2) If you do have to replace the cluster, can you just swap in the style from the W12, that has the LED info screen in the center span the entire width from Tac to Speed, (as seen in the pic) or can you only use the standard smaller screen version? Truth be told I really would prefer the bigger center screen anyway. What does all that entail?

Thanks for the help!

TSHong

Have you tried turning the light brighter with the adjustment on the dash?

I did not realize the W12 had a different cluster. I thought all D3 had the same info center.

MikeW83

Most definitely, I have it set to full brightness I'm somewhat of a car-repair newb, but I'm not THAT wet behind the ears lol.

As for the DIS, starting with the early W12's and I *think all the later D3's (08+) had a gauge to gauge display unlike the older A8's. It may have just been the A8L's that had them towards the end. 2005 Vs. 2009 gauges as shown in the pics. I have the smaller screen in my 06.

mishar

Replacing cluster is quite complicated. It has Component Protection that has to be removed at a dealer and millage can't be adjusted unless it is brand new.

MikeW83

That's not too big of a deal. Mine has 119k, and I've seen a lot of them in that ballpark used. Now on the flip side, is there anyway to just replace the LED's inside of my current cluster, mishar?

mishar

Probably possible but very difficult. It would be lots of very fine soldering.

If you replace the whole thing it has to be from 4.2 car.

MikeW83

I don't see that as a problem, seeing as the W12 is fairly rare here in the good ol' USA. I admit, I probably would get the 3.0 euro engine if they offered it here. Do we know if the larger display unit will work on mine, seeing as I have the smaller one? I'm not sure if it has different connections or anything. I've done gauge swaps before on other cars, and I suffered through endless nightmares with my CLK convertible, so I'm probably mentally prepared for Audi's level of German engineering when it comes to things like installing a new one. Soldering though, not at all... lol

mishar

What is your engine?

volvopentaman

All clusters have same connectors at the rear, just plug the new in.

Then, there are at least a few dozen variations of the cluster.

The euro cluster has KM/H speedo, 50/90/130ºc temp, E / ½ / F fuel gauge.

In difference, there is a US cluster with MPH (km/h) display, C/H temp and E/F fuel gauge

Then there's a UK spec cluster with KM/H (mph) speedo etc, so already 3 variations there.

Then all of these are offered in wide and narrow display. (6 already)

Then these are offered with or without ACC display for the speedo, so double up, 12 alternatives.

All of these 12 combinations are offered with different RPM gauges:
1. V6/V8 gasoline (6800rpm redline)
2. V6/V8 TDI (5000rpm redline)
3. W12 6200rpm redline
4. S8 7000rpm redline + 300km/h / 180mph speedo

So total up to 48 alternatives.

Then to add, the facelift boasts lane assistant that adds another feature.

So i think there are a lot of alternatives. I've tried to collect as many part numbers as possible, but almost all on sale at ebay have different numbers. Exchanged (repaired?) units have an X at the end of the part number, factory originals are without X.

If you need a speedo with ACC readiness (the red led:s from 30-200km/h), you can easily see that the speedo white marks start 4mm from the outer ring with ACC readiness, and 0mm from the outer ring without. We checked this out with my friend's car. ACC ready cluster is always with wide display, BUT wide display does NOT mean ACC ready. My facelift W12 2008 has NOT acc readiness, but is wide, has NOT lane-change readiness, nor the "radio clock" feature my friend has, just to give an example.

Of course, all the gauge backs can be swapped over from your existing one, as long as you get the cluster right for your fuel (TDI have a RPM gauge to 6000rpm, gas has 8000rpm, only different redlines are marked out).

But just so you know there isn't only one or two alternatives to chose from.

So check out for with or without ACC, wide/narrow cluster and right fuel type, and you should be good to go, as long as you don't have lane change assistant.

mishar

Good idea. That would fix Component Protection and millage problem since both are on the back plate and the lights on the front.