Finally an affordable colormatch!

To date, the challenge of matching an aftermarket gauge to the stock VW cluster has yielded prohibitively expensive options and far from acceptable matches. 42 Draft Designs has designed and manufactured a lighting LED system unlike any other. Our units feature 430 nm LEDs which emit a bright, crisp light matching the wavelength of the stock instrument cluster. To power the LED, a custom power regulator is used. Our power regulator incorporates a series of resistors and diodes used to filter the raw input voltage and provide a more reliable power source. Our product requires no modification to the gauge!

At the moment we offer our Perfect Match LEDs for VDO and Stewart Warner gauges. The VDO units feature 9 internal LEDs built into a custom 194 base and a custom lighting diffuser. The SW units feature 6 internal LEDs built into a standard 194 base.

What's the difference between the "Perfect Match" LED and standard blue LED?

Our standard blue LED does a great job of lighting a VDO or SW gauge blue. However, the match to the mk4 instrument cluster is not exact. Simply put, our "perfect match" LED offers a brighter, exact match.

What makes the match so much better?

The stock VW mk4 instrument cluster uses 430 nm LEDs to backlight the body of the instruments. Our units use six or nine 3mm 430 nm LEDs to light the gauge. Standard blue LEDs use one 470 nm LED.

What do I need to buy?

In order to light any perfect match LEDs, a power regulator must be used. One power regulator will light up to 4 perfect match LEDs. One LED will be needed for each gauge. A typical order will include one Power Regulator and 1-3 Perfect Match LEDs.

Why is the Power Regulator so important?

In order to achieve not only the correct colormatch, but an acceptable brightness, our LED units must use 9 LEDs. Packed into the confines of the housing, lens, and gauge heat becomes a problem. Cleaning up the input voltage ensure the LEDs are never overdriven or overheated.

Perfect Match LEDs must NEVER be powered without a Power Regulator. Installation instructions are included with the product and must be followed in detail. Failure to do so voids all product warranty.

What is the difference between the VDO and SW Perfect Match LED?

Each LED has been specifically designed to provide each type of gauge with the ideal color match and brightness.

SW gauges have a built in lighting diffuser which spreads the light from the LED throughout the gauge. The LED for this application must then be smaller in size and requires no additional lighting diffuser. The built in diffuser distributes the light so well that 3 less LEDs can be used. SW gauges lit with Perfect Match LEDs are slightly brighter than the stock cluster.

VDO gauges lack any internal lighting diffuser, therefore a diffuser is built into the PM LED. Open internal space allows us to pack 9 individual LEDs into each unit for maximum brightness.

What gauges are brighter when lit with Perfect Match LEDs?

Due to their design, SW gauges offer a brighter light when lit with our PM LEDs. In comparison, VDO gauges are not dim. Both gauges offer bright light and a perfect color match.

We recommend our Perfect Match LEDs for the following gauges:

• VDO Vision Series (black face, white letterting, backlit)
• SW Black Face (white lettering, backlit)

We DO NOT recommend our Perfect Match LEDs for the following gauges:

• Any Autometer gauge
• VDO Cockpit International Series
• VDO Cockpit White Series
• Stewart Warner Silver or White Face Gauges

Why?

When people think 'perfect match' they are thinking about the whole package. The look of the mk4 instrument cluster is achieved when there is a significant contrast in the color of the gauge face and the backlit numbers. When using a white or silver faced gauge this contrast is lost. The result is a perfect colormatch, but a washed out look. The sharp contrast of the blue lettering on a black background just isn't there. The PM LEDs will work with SW white or silver faced gauges and VDO white faced gauges. The colormatch is there, but the crisp look is not. We don't recommend the PM LEDs for use in any AM gauges or VDO Cockpit International Series gauges.

Installation Instructions

Electrical
12 VDC only
current draw: 40 ma
LED peak wavelength: 430 nm

Usage Guidlines
Our Perfect Match LED units are designed to be as bright as possible and offer the best illumination possible. Lighting per VDO gauge differs by series and type of gauge. The Vision series uses backlighting and offers the best illumination. Vision series mechanical gauges such as boost and vacuum offer the brightest illumination available. Vision series electrical gauges also illuminate well. The Cockpit White series also offers great illumination via sidelighting. The Cockpit and Cockpit international use sidelighting to illuminate the needle. Blue LEDs are not recommended for use in these gauges All VDO EGT gauges use a smaller "mini" bulb to illuminate the face. No Perfect Match LED is available for EGT gauges yet.

The SW Perfect Match LEDs will fit Autometer gauges. However, due to the design of Autometer gauges we do not reccomend Perfect Match LEDs be used. Autometer gauges use sidelighting to illuminate the gauge face and needle. Blue LEDs are not recommended for these gauges. If you like the look of Autometer gauges, check out our Stewart Warner gauges.