are the s4 and s5 idiot light surrounds compatible? I read on mazdatrix that they have different angles.

 

yeah i've heard this too, anyone care to shed some light on this? i knwo that speemachine sells a carbonfiber warning light surround, and it fits both s4 and s5 with no issues, is it the angle? or what? are the s5's less brittle by any chance (if they are and they fit i gotta get one)

 

Speedmachine sells alot of things. Too bad noone can afford them

 

on the s4 the clear plastic covering the lights curves out at the bottom and on s5 it curves out on top. the black surround is made to fit one or the other. it's stupid.

 

There are several versions.

Some S4s had different idiot light clusters as well. You need to pay attention as to whether the bottom of the clear is "out" or "in". In orther words, some slope backwards, some slope forwards. S5 always slopes with the top forwards, S4 can be either way.

 

Okay lets clean up the wrong info here.

First it is not S4 or S5...

The clock warning panels and surrounds changed several times.

As far as the surrounds, the 86-87 used the non visored surround. The 88-92 used the visored idiot light surround.

As far as idiot lights, the 86 used a different idiot light than the 87. The 86 used a Orange clock and had colored panels.

The 87 used a different idiot light (colored idiot lights, blue/white clock), than the 88 (blacked out idiot lights, blue/white clock) and the 89 and later used a different idiot light (blacked out idiot lights, blue/white clock, check engine lights)set up than the 88.

All that said and done, all the 86-88 panels are interchangeable, witrh any other 86-88 panel, except that the plastic lens will be different on the 88. Swaping the lens however is a simple thing and would make the panel compatible with any surround regardless of year.

Now wiring of the panels is indeed different between series, as the S4 does not have a check engine lights and the S5 panels are ABS, and convertible SRS specific.

 

But i have an 86 base and the clock is blue/white.

 

Probably not the original clock.

The factory repalcement (if a dealer replaces it for cold solder joints) uses the blue/white clock.

 

Ok so to find out which surround I need I just have to see whetehr its the top or bottom of my idiot panel that tilts out. I am going to order one from mazdatrix so i wanna make sure itll fit before i spend that money.

 

Yes. But unless you have blacked out idiot lights and a visor on the current surround, then your probaly have the 86-87 style.

 

the warning lights are red the clock is white and i dont have a surround so i dont know.