On the 124 ('87 300E to be specific), I believe the instrument illumination dimmer is supposed to control the illumination not only of the instrument cluster, but also the illumination of the climate control stuff and the window switches, speaker fader, and mirror adjuster on the center console. Does anyone have a wiring diagram and can tell me which color wire (and ideally where on the back of the instrument cluster it plugs in) it is that adjusts the illumination of the climate/center console stuff? There must be a wire that runs from the cluster (where the dimmer knob is) to the hvac/center console to control the illumination. Thanks

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2005 Mercedes C230k sport sedan, 6 speed
1987 Porsche 924S - 968-engined track car

I'll have to check, but I believe that the dimmer only adjusts the cluster illumination. The dimmer is connected to the cluster itself by two pushon lugs under the rheostat, no external wires at all on there.

The vent, headlamp, console, and shifter bulbs are #73 Sylania "wheat" bulbs, really tiny and only a couple watts each.

Peter

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1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!

Peter, thanks for the answer and please let me know re: the illumination of the center stuff. I know about the dimmer adjustment; I removed the rheostat and just jumpered it so it is always on max illumination. But the problem with the stuff in the center not lighting up predated that.

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2005 Mercedes C230k sport sedan, 6 speed
1987 Porsche 924S - 968-engined track car

I would guess the lamps are burned out. Only the climate control and the right vent indicator light up on the 300D, the rest are out. I replaced all of them but the ashtray light on the TE while doing the evaporator, forgot to get another bulb for that.

Might be a wire pulled loose on the headlight switch, too.

I'd never personally leave the cluster at full illumination, it is too distracting to me. I keep mine just barely brigth enough to read the gauges, I see the road better that way.

Peter

__________________
1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!