I'd like to remove the cluster to clean it. Any danger in doing that on the 300SDL - with the SRS system in there I'm a little hesitant... I've done it with no problems on my 300D.

Also, I've seen a photo of a back of such cluster on EBay and it looks quite a bit more complicated than the simple 300D cluster I messed with - looks like some of the plugs may not disconnect easily and also it looks like a ton of wires that will probably need to be labeled or else...

Anything else I should know before I pull it?!

Finally, is there a good plexi-glass cleaner that someone should recommend - my cluster is full of tiny little dots - not sure what they are, I'm guessing it was moisture/condensation, but would like to remove it and get it clean again.

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1987 Mercedes 300SDL; SOLD
1985 Mercedes 300D; SOLD
2006 Honda Pilot - wife's ride; 122K;
1995 Toyota Land Cruiser - 3X locked; 182K

I don't know about a cleaner...

But I've taken out my instrument cluster numerous times with some ease. The wires I had on my cluster were already [factory maybe] marked. You might wanna be careful on the oil/Fuel level/Temp plug...The polarity pin broke off on mine.

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It's not the years, it's the mileage.

To Pull it take a metal coat hanger and cut the long flat piece on bottom out. cut that into two pieces, Curl one end using needle nose pliers. about one third of the way down on the outside slide them in and twist until you feel them grab the cluster. GENTLY tug a little at a time one side then the other it will pop out.
Everythung on the sdl dash is electronic so it will all unplug. I have had mine out about 5 times. TAKE YOUR TIME. It just sits in there.

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86 300SDL. 250,xxx on #14 Head. One eye always on temp gauge.. Cruising towards 300K

On my car I just removed the trim around the headlight switch, reached up, and pushed the cluster out.

-Jason

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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.
2014 Cadillac ELR
2013 Fiat 500E.

No problems disconnecting the jungle of wires back there?!

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1987 Mercedes 300SDL; SOLD
1985 Mercedes 300D; SOLD
2006 Honda Pilot - wife's ride; 122K;
1995 Toyota Land Cruiser - 3X locked; 182K

Nope. All the single lights are numberd too, so they're easy to put back.

-Jason

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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.
2014 Cadillac ELR
2013 Fiat 500E.

No fundamenal difference between a W123 and a W126.
Same operation, same design.

Even easier, though. No mechanical oil ine or speedo cable....

Jim

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14 E250 BlueTEC black. 45k miles
95 E320 Cabriolet Emerald green 66k miles
94 E320 Cabriolet Emerald green 152k miles
85 300TD 4 spd man, euro bumpers and lights, 15" Pentas dark blue 274k miles

Sorry to high jack the post. But I have a 87 SDL and the odometer doesn't work anymore. It doesn't even turn. Do you know where I can purchase that small plastic peg that goes in the back? I'm thinking it went out and will need to be replaced.

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Professional greasecar installer
Austin TX


98 Jetta TDI with grease car kit + veg-therm (totaled)
87 MB 300SDL running on B99 / greasecar kit + 30 fphe
www.austingreaseguys.com

Finally pulled out the SDL's instrument cluster for cleaning - had some kind of spots everywhere behind the plexi glass - finally got it all cleaned out the way I like...

I remember that there was some type of light grinding noise at idle (or minimal speeds) coming from behind the instrument cluster and I've assumed in the past that it's probably the speedo cable that needs to be lubed... now that I see that it's electronic I know that this isn't it....

So, what else could be making the low grinding noises back there that I should investigate while the whole cluster is out?! Ideas welcome...

James

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1987 Mercedes 300SDL; SOLD
1985 Mercedes 300D; SOLD
2006 Honda Pilot - wife's ride; 122K;
1995 Toyota Land Cruiser - 3X locked; 182K