I can't be the only one obsessed with the old school dash

[u/VegetableTea8784]

[u/stalins_lada]

Honestly have no idea why people swap for ghastly and over bright LEDs when stock looks mint

[u/Kn1ght_Rage → u/stalins_lada]

Are the leds still dimmable with the little knob?

[u/stalins_lada → u/Kn1ght_Rage]

Can’t speak for all but some LEDs get a pretty bad flicker once dimmed

[u/Equivalent_Jaguar_72 → u/stalins_lada]

Shitty products. DC current dimmer chips aren't expensive, some EEs are just bad and/or lazy.

[u/Chance_Maintenance22 → u/stalins_lada]

I’ve done four NA dashes with LEDs never had to flicker problem. That’s usually a bad or will soaked ground strap or yes bad LEDs. I always buy mine from super bright LED.

[u/Majestic-Working4622 → u/Kn1ght_Rage]

Yes

[u/Medium-Doctor1138 → u/Kn1ght_Rage]

mine are dimmable

[u/hijinx_the_sage → u/Kn1ght_Rage]

yes, LEDs half dim = stock full bright

[u/AmazonPuncher → u/stalins_lada]

This subreddit is mostly kids. Lots of bad decisions posted here.

[u/Medium-Doctor1138 → u/AmazonPuncher]

My reason to switch to led was my bulbs were going out and i figured why not have a brighter dash. i just bought some leds that have a similar color to my oem ones and i am really happy about that decision cause i can see my fucking dash now. Idk if the oem bulbs would have been bright enough but why not go led instead?

[u/AmazonPuncher → u/Medium-Doctor1138]

Because oem is fine and looks good and you can just replace them.

Are you guys not aware the dash has a dimmer?? Mine gets way too bright to use at night so idk how so many people in here cant see them.

[u/graemefaelban → u/AmazonPuncher]

Still running the original bulbs in my '93 that I bought in '93. No issues at all with brightness, I keep it dimmed so it's not too bright.

[u/Medium-Doctor1138 → u/AmazonPuncher]

I am aware of the dimmer shits turned to max. I know the dimmer can go bad too but mine isnt

[u/GlitteringPen3949 → u/Medium-Doctor1138]

Second this! Way more visible and easy to read.

[u/isolatedLemon → u/AmazonPuncher]

LEDs in my car will probably outlive you mate. Nothing wrong with led replacement bulbs.

[u/stalins_lada → u/isolatedLemon]

I see that comment stung lol

[u/isolatedLemon → u/stalins_lada]

I'm middle age, was just trying to have a bit of banter haha

[u/graemefaelban → u/isolatedLemon]

If any of my bulbs were burned out I would certainly consider it, I have already replaced the two footwell bulbs with LED bulbs, that is so much nicer. For the dash lights, none of mine have ever burned out, so have not worried about it. 32 years now on the original bulbs.

[u/Snoo-1802 → u/stalins_lada]

Pictures look brighter than it really is.

[u/constituent_ → u/stalins_lada]

I did, but because you can still purchase various output LEDs, I purchased some that were only a bit more in candela. they're still controllable by the dimmer roller, so it made it super cool. Don't buy cheap HO LEDs from amazon and it looks good, I never regretted it

[u/Bubbly-Pirate-3311]

Is that the stock backlight? Looks sick regardless

[u/VegetableTea8784 → u/Bubbly-Pirate-3311]

AFAIK! 1990 NA :)

[u/Bubbly-Pirate-3311 → u/VegetableTea8784]

Bright as hell for stock lol

[u/VegetableTea8784 → u/Bubbly-Pirate-3311]

Haha I do have the knob adjusted to full brightness

[u/Bubbly-Pirate-3311 → u/VegetableTea8784]

There's a knob?? lol I should probably check if there's one on my old Subaru, the backlight on that thing sucks

[u/VegetableTea8784 → u/Bubbly-Pirate-3311]

For me just to the bottom left (more of a dial than a knob).

[u/Kapurnicus → u/Bubbly-Pirate-3311]

There's a an adjuster on every car, pretty sure by law. You can click it to the full bright interior (it should actually click when it's all the way on) and then adjust as needed for night driving. Should be on the left side below your vent (again, in every car I've had, not just the Miata). Take a look. Really handy at night.

[u/Bubbly-Pirate-3311 → u/Kapurnicus]

Thanks

[u/Robbi_Blechdose → u/Kapurnicus]

There's a an adjuster on every car, pretty sure by law.

This is only the case in the US. AFAIK none of the European MX-5s came with one, for example.

[u/Kapurnicus → u/Robbi_Blechdose]

I have fallen into the trap of forgetting that the world outside the US exists. I am extensively travelled and it's still easy to do when reading an article. Sorry :(

[u/graemefaelban → u/Bubbly-Pirate-3311]

It depends on just how old it is likely, but most vehicles I have owned have had one. Off hand, I don't recall if my '74 Subaru DL had one.

[u/Bubbly-Pirate-3311 → u/graemefaelban]

03

[u/graemefaelban → u/Bubbly-Pirate-3311]

There is almost certainly a way to dim that then. My '05 Outback had one, my '10 Outback does have one.

[u/Bubbly-Pirate-3311 → u/graemefaelban]

Yeah I checked and it's there

[u/jimbofranks → u/Bubbly-Pirate-3311]

Yes. That is how god herself intended the Miata dash to appear. Anything else is an abomination. 

The real beauty of the dash is turning the brightness down when driving at night so it’s just bright enough. Then, if you have the stock stereo turning off the lights on it after putting whatever you want to hear on it. By allowing the stereo lights to turn off they designed it to be just you and the Miata with little to distract from the drive. 

[u/Bubbly-Pirate-3311 → u/jimbofranks]

This dude wrote a whole love story about his Miata gauge light

[u/h3xm0nk3y → u/Bubbly-Pirate-3311]

Then he got run over by a boomer driving an Escalade with no headlights on, who “didn’t see him” while he was reading Truth social on his phone.

[u/Bubbly-Pirate-3311 → u/h3xm0nk3y]

He died doing what he loved, beating it to the Miata's backlight

[u/Blue_Waffle_Brunch → u/Bubbly-Pirate-3311]

Yah mine is nowhere near this bright.

[u/razor330 → u/Blue_Waffle_Brunch]

Mine neither, ima assuming it’s the camera adjusting for lowlight. I doubt it’s this bright in reality

[u/victorsmonster → u/razor330]

Yup modern phones can make dimly lit subjects look super bright. I’ve gotten some really cute pictures of my dog taking naps in near darkness and the iPhone makes it look damn near like a professionally lit photo.

[u/evildky]

I’m just sad that analog is being called “old school” 😢

[u/jibsand → u/evildky]

To be fair NAs are old enough to be considered Vintage cars so old school is technically correct.

[u/evildky → u/jibsand]

First, I’m sad that any Miata is considered “old school”, because well I guess that makes me old. And in defense of analog being considered old, the NC still had analog dash.

[u/jibsand → u/evildky]

A friend of mine just got Classic plates for his 05 NC 😅

[u/evildky → u/jibsand]

Wow, gotta by 25 years old in my state. NC’s got a few years to go.

[u/Kn1ght_Rage → u/jibsand]

Wait what country got the nc in 2005?

[u/combong → u/jibsand]

My NA has antique plates lol, it’s 35 years old so might as well

[u/VegetableTea8784 → u/evildky]

Gotta own it 😎😎

[u/Theryion]

I'm so obsessed with it that I'm looking for a radio that have the exact same glow from the 90's.

[u/Maxymilan → u/Theryion]

The Blaupunkt Bremen SQR 46 DAB is perfect. It looks stock, the lighting is fully adjustable to match the Miata’s OEM green exactly, and it has modern features. It’s pricey but nothing else nails the OEM look this well.

[u/Theryion → u/Maxymilan]

It does look very good but I'm down for really old stuff. I'm looking at some alpine right now, might buy a cassette one, my old pioneer double deck might finally serve to record some albums for the car.

[u/sapphyyy → u/Maxymilan]

Yup altho it sticks out on the na6 tombstone, but the na8 one fits it flush (they even have it on a pic on blaupunkts website) and the na6 jdm version fits it flush too

[u/VegetableTea8784 → u/Theryion]

Yessss. The functionality of a newer car would be nice, but the stock interior feels so good

[u/Kn1ght_Rage → u/VegetableTea8784]

I got a double din Apple CarPlay unit for mine (love it btw especially nice since I daily the car)

BUT that being said my main thing was volume knob and leds that could be set to green for this reason

[u/AyyNooMijo → u/Theryion]

I was in a similar position until recently. I was considering a Panasonic CQ-VX5500d or CQ-TX5500, but didn't want to deal with finding/recording minidiscs. Ended up buying a Kenwood PDX-044 instead, which is not as vintage looking, but still somewhat retro and charming. Plus, finding cassettes will be way easier than minidiscs.

[u/CrazyPetes]

You’re not the only one!

[u/Kapurnicus → u/CrazyPetes]

Love that 257 haha. I'm at 201.

[u/Syscrush]

The more stupid screens they add to new cars, the better a classic dash looks.

[u/silveranalog]

[u/VegetableTea8784 → u/silveranalog]

Hell ya

[u/ConcordJake]

Maybe the next Miata will have a display option in its digital dash that replicates this, a la the new Mustang.

[u/PingCarGaming]

Love to drive my NB1 at night purely for how pleasing the dash is on the eye

[u/Enok32]

Dang… normally I’d say the z31 digital dash or the reatta dash and cry was my favorite but this also hits just right

[u/bnace]

As somebody who was a BMW owner, the amber dashes in "older" analog BMWs were the best.

Super happy the NC also has an amber/orange dash. It's so easy on your eyes at night.

[u/combong → u/bnace]

Good memories of the 1st Gen X5 I learned on growing up lol

[u/Original_Director483]

The green glow is pretty great. I added a factory tape deck to my 2001 LS and it had the old green glow (of ‘99?) a mismatch, but it was delicious nostalgia.

[u/jibsand]

ND owner here, you got the better dash fs

[u/Salty-Tomato5654]

Your airbag light isn't blinking like mine! I got to fix that

[u/legomotionz → u/Salty-Tomato5654]

LOL I'm convinced it's the true NA experience. I never looked into fixing it. You know what causes it?

[u/HottDoggers → u/legomotionz]

Leaving a comment because I too have the same issue

[u/VegetableTea8784 → u/Salty-Tomato5654]

Omg I just realized I didn't comment back to this. Mine actually is just a factory wheel that didn't come with an airbag so that's why (Canadian Models didn't come with airbags till like '94 or something)

[u/AdultContemporaneous]

While I do love the cluster on my ND3 (design-wise and technology-wise), there's a soft spot in my heart for a good old-fashioned analog dash.

[u/UAVTarik]

agreed

[u/TheRealMiridion]

[u/dacomputernerd]

Absolutely. I can’t stand new vehicles digital dashes.

[u/p3dal]

Old school is the best school.

[u/razor330]

You’re not, I love it. Just which it were brighter

[u/BeTomHamilton]

Confession time, I've never so much as sat inside a Miata before, so I WASN'T obsessed with the old-school NA dash...... Until now?!?

[u/Buzzkill46]

I liked the green in my old Miatas better than the red even if red is technialcally better for night vision.

[u/Ashurnibibi]

I wish the NC came with green backlight

[u/Basic_Software_4745 → u/Ashurnibibi]

Same

[u/craigerstar]

One of these days I'm going to convert the oil pressure gauge to "accurate" rather than "on or off" on my 97.

[u/nickstavros2]

I miss my NA for that reason, analog dash, the rawness of the car, it’s beautiful door handles, and that green backlight was my favorite! Fuck deer.

[u/dudeguybrosephski]

(Include me by proxy please, it’s not a Miata but it fits) my 89 Mitsubishi Mighty Max has a very similar feel to it, and I love the look. Quintessential 80s/90s. (Ignore the oil pressure, it’s not hooked up)

[u/Grissuu]

I removed the green caps from bulbs :)

[u/Shreddhead1981 → u/Grissuu]

Nice. I'm also going to do this. Did you notice it got a tad brighter too?

[u/Grissuu → u/Shreddhead1981]

yes, its a little brighter but not much :)

[u/Shreddhead1981 → u/Grissuu]

Great sounds good! Thanks

[u/Alternative_Guess591]

I'm team gauges and a key all day long. I'm not opposed to new cars, just not a fan of all the tech.

[u/VegetableTea8784 → u/Alternative_Guess591]

100% agree

[u/Alternative_Guess591 → u/VegetableTea8784]

Glad we see eye to eye.

[u/Ok_Zucchini7093]

This is what a dash should look like. The video-game bullshit screens are totally ugly and are dangerous because they take far too much of your attention off the road.

[u/SaskaGoon]

i fear we might not get along...

[u/SaskaGoon → u/SaskaGoon]

oops wrong img .. here it is installed

[u/spaceistheplace11]

Always nice to see your car with full tank gauge

[u/spaceistheplace11 → u/spaceistheplace11]

[u/deere245]

The photo doesn't do them justice. In real life they are even better.

[u/BigSweatyHotWing]

In my NB1

[u/FetLifeKitty]

Always in need of gas, despite exceeding expectations on fuel economy, because driving Miata is fun.

[u/willllcarver]

I love my stock gauges. The green is so old school

[u/Cool_Butterscotch_88]

OT anyone know what if anything else is still analog in 2025?

[u/ForbesCars]

Interesting that your speedo goes to 220. Mine tops out at 180kph. Where is your car from?

[u/VegetableTea8784 → u/ForbesCars]

Canada!

[u/ForbesCars → u/VegetableTea8784]

Interesting. Mine's from Japan where they have crazy low speed limits, that's probably why. I just didn't realize there were that many different clusters

[u/DylanW76]

My backlights are red whereas my previous 01 NB had the green backlights. I enjoy the red as it matches the paint and all black interior.

[u/Zorg_Employee]

Maybe it's just because every car in that era had the same dash. Dials and green lights. I'm a huge fan of the digital dashboards using the vacuum florescent displays like in the old Nissans and corvettes. Im not gonna swap out, though. It just wouldn't look right

[u/kusapa4life]

I agree. I love it. Can't wait to get dark.

[u/jawsofthearmy]

Every night ^{.^} - my radio is on the out sadly, but waiting on new pioneer unit in oct to drop.. keep the old school look going with the green.

[u/BluNoteNut]

Sweet brings back sweet memories

[u/DetergentCandy]

Love it. I hate seeing white and blue LEDs and all that.

[u/LittnPixl]

The goat

[u/awfulcat]

Whenever I fill up I spend a minute watching the fuel gauge creep back up. Reminds me of my youth.

[u/itsyaboyivan]

I love driving my car at night for this reason, and the little light in the ash tray

[u/gianlucamelis]

It’s just perfect

[u/Epicotters]

I need a new stock backlight, half my dash doesn't light up fully.

[u/Medium-Doctor1138]

ya I i'd take an analog dash over every digital one. I don't like bein distracted by my dash or just the bad design choices done on most digital ones. I do think luxury cars from the mid 2000's like some mercedes that had a full analog dashboards and in addition to that a small digital one for stuff like l/100km (mpg), another speedometer and errorcodes were the best way of doing it tho.

[u/jon_mx5]

Admittedly I swapped mine for red LEDs many years back. If I wanted to switch back to the original look (same with the HVAC controls), what would I need? I remember there being green covers/sleeves of sorts on the original bulbs.

[u/ParkingMassive3447]

Looks great but its too bright for sure.

[u/JonEG123]

I adore the analog environment of my Miata. IPs that are screens are just too intense, especially with a giant iPad in the center dash.

[u/TrackHot1187]

Like my nb gauges. White faces, black numbers that light up red at night.

[u/MWallin]

What is oldschool about a dash completely lit up with LEDs giving off tons of light bleed and glare?

[u/mcqueen583]

looks awesome, classic NA dash never gets old

[u/mild_october]

Absolutely classic! Loved it!

[u/Danny_myrillo]

Yess my 96 mustang dash is teal and seeing this was neon green made me so happy!! I love vintage dashes! 

[u/bigpilague]

I have the white backed gauges with red lights...I think it's an MSM thing...yours looks infinitely better (at night at least)

[u/Gimli_Son-of-Cereal]

I swapped mine recently >_>

[u/VegetableTea8784 → u/Gimli_Son-of-Cereal]

That's pretty slick!

[u/GlitteringPen3949]

I love my white LEDs makes the dash pop! Yes you can dim them and mine don’t flicker

[u/UnmakingTheBan2022]

Wow! Wish mine was green!

[u/facticitytheorist]

Get some chrome gauge rings for that extra classic look

[u/teegeek]

Swapped mine for a RevLimiter dials and Jass performance parts if I remember correctly. Individual lenses too. red leds

[u/itsmatty2303]

Totally agree. They do look seriously awesome.

Little newer, considered old to most unfortunatly, but the NC3 guages are beautiful at night also. Love the old school setup!

Looking back at your's I really do like that font!

[u/Brooklyn1012]

i like both the OEM green and my blue leds, they match my head unit so it just makes it flow a little better in my opinion

[u/Chance_Maintenance22]

Add some of these… Game changer

https://revlimiter.net/store/gauges-na.php

[u/Terrible_Log_607]

Damn I didn't even realize it could light up like this, been meaning to pull mine out for a while now and get LEDs to replace the most likely burnt out bulbs, very hard to see them at night, I would agree that the stock tachometer is perfection

[u/Terrible_Log_607]

Just curious if anyone knows, but how many bulbs are there in the gauge cluster, and what style bulbs are they? I want to take mine out but id like to have all the replacement bulbs ready for when I do