Does anyone know how to change the dash lights in an 82' 300d? Can i just pry the plexiglas cover off or is there a special tool?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Andrew

Dont pull the plexiglass. You have to push the entire instrument panel from behind. If you get lucky, you can changeout the bulbs without removing the wires behind the instrument cluster.

__________________
'85 300D Cal 280,000 miles
'14 GLK 350 60000 miles

You can also pull the cluster out using a two pieces of a coat hander with a bend in the end of each one about a 1/4" long. Once it's out you disconnect everything and can pull the entire cluster out. You may have to do this depending on which bulb is out. If it's one of the bulbs on the lower part you can probably reach them from underneath like stated previously, if it's on the the bulb on the top you'll probably have to pull the cluster.

__________________

Yes you remove the whole instrument cluster.

1st. remove the drivers side lower knee bolster panel.

2nd. Open the engine compartment and where the speedometer cable goes to the tranny, you will see it attached to a bracket. Disconnect the speedometer cable form the bracket and push the cable into the firewall to allow the instrument cluster to move out of the dash.

3rd. From below the dash push on the back of the instrument cluster to dislodge it from the dash.
When it comes out it will not come out all the way. The items that prevent this are the wire harness, the speedometer cable and the oil pressure gauge line.
Pull off the wire harness
Unscrew the speedometer cable, it may require pliers, but be careful not to cross thread it going back on.
Use a wrench to disconnect the oil pressure line.

Now the instrument cluster (IC) will separate form the dash.

The IC lights are a brown base light socket located at the top of the back of the IC.
From the IC light prisms at the top of the inside of the IC move straight back. The brown base units are the bases of the lights. unscrew them and replace the bulbs.

You may be able to replace the bulbs while the IC is still attached via the wire harness oil line and speedometer cable. It will allow your hand to just fit between the dash the IC. IF you know which brown bases are the lights you can do it this way.

Dave

__________________
1970 220D, owned 1980-1990
1980 240D, owned 1990-1992
1982 300TD, owned 1992-1993
1986 300SDL, owned 1993-2004
1999 E300, owned 1999-2003
1982 300TD, 213,880mi, owned since Nov 18, 1991- Aug 4, 2010 SOLD
1988 560SL, 100,000mi, owned since 1995
1965 Mustang Fastback Mileage Unknown(My sons)
1983 240D, 176,000mi (My daughers) owned since 2004
2007 Honda Accord EX-L I4 auto, the new daily driver
1985 300D 264,000mi Son's new daily driver.(sold)
2008 Hyundai Tiberon. Daughters new car

I guess I'm not surprised that pulling the W123 cluster is just like the W124...
http://www.peachparts.com/Wikka/W124InstCluster

Maybe that DIY should be called W123/4/6 so more people will find it.

__________________
-justin

1987 300TD, 1987 300TD
2008 R32, 2000 Passat Wagon

Are you positive it's the bulbs? If dash is completely dark, it could be the Pot. (dimmer switch) on the cluster.Go out at night....the darked the better, turn lights on and flip dimmer make and forth rapidly a couple of times. Then turn dimmer slowly from one side to the other, looking for any signs of light.

__________________
81 Mercedes 300SD 289k.......SOLD
82 Mercedes 300CD 252k......slow ride

82 mercedes 300 SD...mi Unknown
83 Mercedes 300D ????ksniff..gone too
84 Mercedes 300D 148k........SOLD
85 Mercedes 300TD 386k and holding some one elses project

When you take the oil line off USE 2 WRENCHES! Most people don't and over time can weaken the fitting causing an oil leak.

__________________
Adam Lumsden
(83) 300D
Vice-President of the MBCA International Stars Section

Just curious, how does using one wrench cause a weakening of the fitting?

__________________

Why are we talking about oil lines on a question about removing the instrument cluster?

EDIT: My bad, didn't realize the W126 was designed like this.

__________________
-justin

1987 300TD, 1987 300TD
2008 R32, 2000 Passat Wagon

You don't want the gauge/cluster to supply the opposing force, you want the gauge fitting to supply the opposing force by holding it firmly while you undo/reattach the line's fitting. This is a basic principle for this and other line interfaces like where the flexible and hard brake lines meet. If you do not do this, you can break or weaken the part you are screwing the fitting out of or into.

It's also much easier, especially if you can position the two wrenches like a "V" and squeeze them together -- this works both for loosening and tightening.

Hit the nail on the head.

__________________
Adam Lumsden
(83) 300D
Vice-President of the MBCA International Stars Section