Dear All, I have recently purchased my 1st Ferrari 328 GTS, as I am new to this, please can some point me in the direction for upgrading my backlights to all dashboard dials, as these seem to be very dull and with all these dark nights here at present it is difficult to keep an eye on the gauges and speed. Cheers Ash
I too recently purchased a 1989 328 GTS, where are you located? Details, pictures? Can't help you on your problem, sorry, not yet up to speed on all the details. I didn't notice the backlight being dull myself but I did notice the headlamps were pretty weak. Probably because its been a number of years since driving an older car at night. Xenon's are wonderful. Good luck with your purchase and enjoy! Jeff
Ash, There have been a number of threads on upgrades for the dash lights. Use the search tool ( above ) and see what you find. If you need help let me know and i'll post the links to the threads for you. Dan
Dan, Thanks For the reply, please can you send me the links ref dashboard lights. Thanks and Regards Ashley England
Hi Jeff, Thanks for responding, you are the first and you know what they say about your first you never forget!!! I am in England right in the centre in Birmingham, not far from Stratford Upon Avon (Shakespears area). I will try to send you what pictures I have, the day 1 purchased the car. The car is everything and more I dreamed of and I hope to have many a happy hours driving it. All the best and regards Ashley Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
A quick forumn search will show many threads on the subject and look here..... http://www.nwrfca.org/faq/dashlights.html I.
Ash, One more to add to the one Ian posted. If you ever need help, especially with a cooling problem, Ian is the man. http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=70103&highlight=328+dash+lights Dan
I love posts about the dash lights. How many of you are to the point where that is the only thing left to fix on your Ferrari? I have a list of things to do, and the dash lights are at the bottom.... Gene
Actually you want to do two lighting-related improvements: the instrumentation and the external (head, tail, brake, etc.) lights. The original headlights are very dim by today's desires/standards. In the case of the headlights, you will need a new wiring harness too. Here's the guru and source for all of this: http://www.danielsternlighting.com/home.html One incidental caution: If you haven't removed a 328 instrument panel before, you may want to have a professional do it, simply because when you're doing the dashlight replacements, the original stuff tends to either snap off or just fall behind things into neverreachland.
I don't need dash lights. I look, but heck, why? I go along with trafic and can tell the shifting point by sound and feel. The only time the dash lights would be handy is when I see a police car and want to check how fast I am going. That way when I get pulled over, I can answer his first question......"Do you know how fast you were going?" Why yes sir, about 125 give or take.
Thanks for the help, I have purchased the replacement bulbs and intending to fit this coming weekend. Will let to all know how it goes. Cheers and Regards Ash,
328s have a dimmer like to 308s???? Sorry, I don't know the later cars........good luck! I prefer the dim as well so I can see the deer and the antelope play! *SMACK...roadkill*
He's right about the dash plate mounting screws..use a magnetized screwdriver to avoid losing them down the dash......or just get new ones.
I just found the dashlight dimmer dial under and to the left of the steering column. Mine's an '89. Not sure if yours has it Ash and not to ask a stupid question if you do but did you turn up the dial for the dashlights? Jeff
That's where it is on my 87 also. Mine is turned up all the way, but the lights still aren't what I'd call bright.
Mine is a 1986 GTS, tried the dimmer switch, no luck unfortunately, Ive decided to let the specialist sort it for me its going in on the 2/12/2006. Thanks for all the advice and help. Thanks and Regards Ash,
When replacing the instrument bulbs with brighter ones, some 328 owners [including myself] have simply bypassed the dimmer control. This makes an additional/minor contribution to instrument brightness.
I question that by passing the dimmer switch really makes the dash lights brighter. The dimmer switch rotated to full brightnes, if it is working properly, is straight through power like using the by-pass method. Using the by-pass you give up the ability to dim the lights. The brightness can be distracting some times, especially the high beam and fan indicator lights. I just removed the tack because one of the two bulbs that light the tack dial burned out. I was not able to find the original Leuci 12V 3W bulb but did find a 4W bulb which fits, EIKO 1891 marker bulb at O'Reilly Auto Store. I connected power to the tach lights, the 4W bulb did not appear any brighter then the 3W at night. Of course the 4W will generate more heat and draw more amps. Do not know if that would harm the dimmer switch or any of the circuity. One or two bulbs may not but a bunch of them, maybe. Also found the correct mini tubular bulb for the fan, highbeam, etc bulbs around the cluster at O'Reilly, Eiko 2721 12V 1.2W, $2.69 for a pair. For your info.
