Instrument panel swap possible?

TWC · Post by **TWC** » 17 Dec 2017, 01:55

Sooner or later, I have to do the inevitable...doing something about the instrument panel. Apart from the usual trouble with the odometer, the lights of the BC has failed too.

All of the used replacements offered for my '95 850 do have the major flaw that none of the sellers can tell if the odo's still working or not, so buying one seems to me pretty useless. Since my wife is driving a '97 V70, the mad idea of replacing the 850's panel with one from the V70 I has entered my mind.

But - will it work? Has somebody ever tried this?

Teddy1975 · Post by **Teddy1975** » 17 Dec 2017, 03:18

The odometer is easy to fix and you'll put in four (or six) new bulbs at the same time. It shouldn't be too expensive, most likely a lot less expensive than getting another cluster.

If the 850 has ODBII (from the late 95 models), you could get it to work with a '97 or '98 S/V70 cluster. Found an archieved post on volvospeed about it:
http://volvospeed.com/vs_forum/topic/11 ... ter-in-850

Post by **tryingbe** » 17 Dec 2017, 05:40

Speedo gear goes bad, this is usually due to trip being reset while the car is in motion.

You can either buy this https://www.ipdusa.com/products/4709/10 ... r-bulb-kit

Or buy the speedo gear but get some LED for the dash like I did.
https://www.ipdusa.com/products/4710/10 ... meter-gear

TWC · Post by **TWC** » 17 Dec 2017, 10:40

Teddy1975 wrote: ↑17 Dec 2017, 03:18 The odometer is easy to fix and you'll put in four (or six) new bulbs at the same time. It shouldn't be too expensive, most likely a lot less expensive than getting another cluster.

If the 850 has ODBII (from the late 95 models), you could get it to work with a '97 or '98 S/V70 cluster. Found an archieved post on volvospeed about it:
http://volvospeed.com/vs_forum/topic/11 ... ter-in-850

Argh, I knew there would be a catch...my 850 is of the 'oldschool' kind with the old OBD in the engine bay. Damn - guess that means that I'm trying to fix the installed cluster.

The cogwheel is about 20€ from ebay. I don't mind the odo not working but once I've lifted out that cluster (a 2018 project

) I can fix that as well.

Teddy1975 · Post by **Teddy1975** » 17 Dec 2017, 11:52

tryingbe wrote: ↑17 Dec 2017, 05:40 Or buy the speedo gear but get some LED for the dash like I did.

I do like the red LEDs you have tryingbe, but could it be done for the info center too? In my humble opinion it doesn't look quite right with the two different types of light and colours.

If I remember correctly, the info center is illuminated by two neutral coloured bulbs, which means the green hue likely comes from a coloured plastic insert behind the glass or the LCD itself. If it's just an insert, maybe it can be removed?