Dean... there are several things you can do...
without using LEDs... but they are the current craze and well worth the effort.
As Franken points out... this has been discussed many times but we try to be sensitive and proactive and answer folks directly. When we can, we try to attach the links and fotos to the response... Its usually not fun to be told to just "go look it up yurself"!
In any case, there are some things you can do to improve what ya got and some things you will need to do in any case.
1. Remove the instrument cluster entirely... 5 Allen-head screws and push from the front trunk and pull from the inside. Two people make this easier... be patient and keep trying. Careful with the speedo cable disconnect. Reach around the pod and disconnect the 3 major connectors.
2. Twist off the caps and pull the bulb from the rear. The large illuminating back-light bulbs that came with most X1/9s are 3 Watt bulbs and are usually OLD as well. Incandescents do loose brightness over time, just like most of us too! Replace them with 5 Watt equivalents. I purchased mine at WalMart for about $3.00 for two.
3. You can look into replacing all the others with higher wattage bulbs as well. I'm sure you could replace them all for $15.00.
4. If you haven't done the Brown Wire Mod (BWM)... this is something you NEED to do for all the electrics. Your Voltmeter will indicate higher and all lights will be brighter as well. More info if needed.
5. Replace all the lamps with LED equivalents. They run about $3.00 apiece I think and hopefully someone will chime in with the numbers and where you can get them. You can do this as well with all the exterior bulbs but a new flasher will need to be installed... not a problem. Doing so relieves the alternator of a HUGE load and instead of the lights drawing 35 amps, they draw something like 7. Headlights as well... but last I saw they can be quite expensive.
More info here, for example:
http://www.network54.com/Forum/1215...ernize+your+X+with+new+LED+light+replacements
Here is just one of many sites to get and idea of costs and sizes:
https://www.superbrightleds.com/cat/miniature-wedge-base/
6. If you want to do a bit more... then carefully seize the 5 rivets on the pod from the front... and drill out the flared ends on the back. Use a sharp drill and try not allow the rivet to spin. I used a sharp screwdriver rammed into the front of the rivet. When all 5 rivets are removed, then pull the clear plastic face and separate the back as well. Remove the BLUE lamp covers that muted the light coming from the Back-lights which allows the bulbs to emit more WHITE light.
7. Replace the gauge faces... Jeff Van Dyke here has made some templates available before... page him. The WHITE faces reflect the light better and just makes everything easier to see. The WHITE needles will need to be colored or replaced... I replaced mine with BLACK plastic Zip Ties... many other materials used as well but ya wanna keep them light. RED needles really look great as well.
HTH...