Climate Controls bulbs sucess & a few observations - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

BENZ-LGB · #1 07-21-2002, 12:04 AM

OK, if you read my recent post in the Tech Section, you'd know that the bulbs on the right hand side of the Climate Control panel (pushbuttons) in my 1991 420SEL recently went out.

So I was asking for advice on how to best go about in changing the bulbs. Tis afternoon I was able to cahnge the bulbs and now my center panel lights up, the way it came out of the factory.

In the process of changing the bulbs I learned a few things:

1. Everything that Mercedes makes is expensive. three tiny bulbs set me back $7.50. Not a heck of a lot of money, but for that same amount I can buy a bunch of Sylvania 60W bulbs at Home Depot.

2. The Benz srvice manual CD is next to useless (well the two CDs make nice coasters). The indexing system is unworkable (oh, I forgot, there is NO indexing system).

Many of the illustrations are useless. Others are just plain wrong. The pics for the section on how to R&R the wood over the A/C controls shows a totally different car model. In the pics on the CD, the temperature and fan controls are two rotary dials (like in a radio). the step-by-step instructions don't help much. I can only assume that Benz techs are so well-trained that they do not need the CD...OR there is a secret, hidden manual that Benz techs use.

3. Benzes are superbly put together. I've taken apart the consoles and instrument clusters in a bunch of other cars. None, however, are put together as well, or as ingeniously, as a Benz. Looking "behind the scenes" is like looking at the workings of a fine Swiss watch. Everything fits just right, parts are solidly built. Nothing is cheap or flimsy. What a car!

4. If you don't have a manual, or a good set of instructions, you can still take things apart. Just don't force anything. If you run into a dead end, try thinking like a German engineer would, and you can usually figure out how things fit together or come apart...just don't use force.

5. Want to know the worst part of approaching (or advancing) middle age? No, not decreased "performance" levels (Viagra can take care of that).

And not gray hair (not even in the nether regions)--Grecian formula can take care of that. The real sucky part about getting old is the loss of visual acuity. Those darned bi-focals aren't much use when fiddling around with small parts in and around the dashboard

Well, I think these are enough "observations" for now. Feel free to add your own...

Have a geat weekend..............

The Warden · #2 07-21-2002, 04:31 AM

Way

!

I also appreciate hearing the feedback on the usefulness of the CD's. I was thinking about buying one, but with that and other opinions, it sounds like the CD's aren't worth their weight in dog-doo. Hopefully the Haynes manual will help out where needed.

speedy300Dturbo · #3 07-21-2002, 11:32 PM

You can get those bulbs (Sylvania 2721) at Kragen, Autozone, etc. for about $2.00 a pair. They're the small ones that light up the air vents and climate controls.