I want to improve the illumination for my old 86 300SDL and was wondering if anyone has come across an instrument cluster for a later model 126 chassis and noticed the light guide as to whether it is the same as the 1986-87 style.
Below is an image of a 1986 light guide.
Really don't want to do a lot of work on this if anyone knows of a MB improvement in the W126 chassis like that in later W124 instrument cluster lighting.

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1986 300SDL 201K Daily Driver
1984 300D In Progress
1989 240GL 196K Swedish Brick
1984 300SD -- Sold 289K
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I've read that cleaning the dimmer switch for dash lights really fixes things.CRC electrical contact cleaner (safe for plastics).

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1999 w140, quit voting to old, and to old to fight, a god damned veteran, deutschland deutschland uber alles uber alles in der welt

Done all of that , replaced bulbs , added foil tape, cleaned back of light guide , cleaned white markers, re-painted pointers. Still not bright enough for my eyes.

Surely someone out there must have seen the light guides in a 350SDL or 350SD or in a later 126 gasser that is compatible with my cluster.
Just need to know if the light guides are different from the image in the first post of this thread.
My local salvage yards rarely get later model stuff, just the older cars, haven't seen a 1990 + car in some time.

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1986 300SDL 201K Daily Driver
1984 300D In Progress
1989 240GL 196K Swedish Brick
1984 300SD -- Sold 289K
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You will be amazed what LED will do. There is a thread about this. I just got some blue LED's for my dim cluster in 300SD and it looks like a space ship, nice and bright

http://www.ledlight.com/t10-wedge-5-ultra-bright-smt-led-light.aspx

I have seen several of the different types that will fit in the wedge base socket.
I really wanted to used a true white LED since to my old eyes , blue is very distorting . Most of the low cost LEDs in white have a color temp of 7500* K to 10,000* K (or higher) which gives a strong blue shift.
If I can find out if the later 126 chassis have an improvement to the light guide, then I might be able to simply use a single 4500* K 0.5 W or 1.0 W LED in the area where the bulb goes.
Otherwise , I will have to cut the existing guide and use a strip of 5-10 SMT 100 mW LEDs at the point where I cut into the light guide. This I would prefer not doing.
THanks for your input.

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1986 300SDL 201K Daily Driver
1984 300D In Progress
1989 240GL 196K Swedish Brick
1984 300SD -- Sold 289K
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I was having alot of trouble seeing the instrument cluster on my 81 300SD at night (Probably somewhat age-related;-)). Just replaced the bulbs with bright white LED's (see web link above), and I can see everything perfectly after the sun goes down. Very inexpensive and simple fix...

Don

Is there an LED in a package that screws right into the back of the cluster?

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Michael LaFleur

'05 E320 CDI - 86,000 miles
'86 300SDL - 360,000 miles
'85 300SD - 150,000 miles (sold)
'89 190D - 120,000 miles (sold)
'85 300SD - 317,000 miles (sold)
'98 ML320 - 270,000 miles (sold)
'75 300D - 170,000 miles (sold)
'83 Harley Davidson FLTC (Broken again) :-(
'61 Plymouth Valiant - 60k mikes
2004 Papillon (Oliver)
2005 Tzitzu (Griffon)
2009 Welsh Corgi (Buba)

Post #12, first picture. It does not screw, its a wedge made of 5 LED's.
Expensive but very very bright, regular single LED wouldn't do the work.

http://www.ledlight.com/t10-wedge-5-ultra-bright-smt-led-light.aspx

Well, not really screw in, but 1/4 turn.

But I see the item to which you refer.

5 Ultra Bright SMT L.E.D. T10 Wedge LED Light
Product Code: 45689

It will replace the bulb in the 1/4 turn socket?

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Michael LaFleur

'05 E320 CDI - 86,000 miles
'86 300SDL - 360,000 miles
'85 300SD - 150,000 miles (sold)
'89 190D - 120,000 miles (sold)
'85 300SD - 317,000 miles (sold)
'98 ML320 - 270,000 miles (sold)
'75 300D - 170,000 miles (sold)
'83 Harley Davidson FLTC (Broken again) :-(
'61 Plymouth Valiant - 60k mikes
2004 Papillon (Oliver)
2005 Tzitzu (Griffon)
2009 Welsh Corgi (Buba)

popped mine in and they don't illuminate, any tips?
its an 81 300sd, i even bought the small bulbs for other lights with no luck either, what am i doing wrong?

Hi.
I know that this thread is old but I hope any of you guys would get a notification of my post.

I have an 87 300SDL and although I have read quite a few posts about upgrading the instrument cluster lighting to LEDs, I still need help.

I bought the LEDs, exactly like those shown on freeride's pictures. My problem is that I install them and they just don't turn on.
I turn then around because I read that there is 50% change to place the + on the right side and nothing.
I insert the old incandescent bulb and it works.
What am I missing?
I know it's got to be something stupid.

I also saw some cool self powered dials on youtube video W126 SEC LED Dial Faces - YouTube .

I wrote the guy who uploaded it and asked where he got them but he has not replied.

And the last one, does anyone know about any after market clusters for the w126 that are more updated than the OEM culster?

Thanks.

There are some after market LED cluster faces, but I have never found any alternative cluster assemblies.

.

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1985 300SD
1983 300D
2003 Volvo V70

https://www.boldegoist.com/

Check the small metal tabs on the bulb holder. They have a tendency to snag and bend to where they are no longer contacting the cluster housing.

With regards to the "updated" cluster, I'm not sure what you are wanting. There are a couple of places that refurbish the clusters but usually this involves repair to original.

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Sam

84 300SD 350K+ miles ( Blue Belle )

Bumping this old thread up...

I modified the LED lights I had installed for my SDL's cluster backlight tonight. Doing so almost doubled the brightness... it looks great!

The LEDs I have are the flat, almost T shaped kind with a board soldered to a board. The modification is to separate the 2 boards and solder wires between so that the "face" of the led module is adjustable. Angle it up, and move the whole thing slightly above. The result is much more light entering the light pipe.

I had previously lined the bulb areas with aluminum foil, a trick I learned when working on the cluster from my Audi 5000. It helps a bit.

My light pipes were still in good shape. This is working well enough I think I'll put off ordering the MoMan cluster faces for now

-J

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1991 350SDL. 230,000 miles (new motor @ 150,000). Blown head gasket

Tesla Model 3. 205,000 miles. Been to 48 states!
Past: A fleet of VW TDIs.... including a V10,a Dieselgate Passat, and 2 ECOdiesels.
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