Hi

I know this subject has been covered many times, and I would like to have more clarification.

I am having an 88 W124 260E. I have changed the light bulbs on the instrument panel last year, and after the change, the lighting was better. However, if I compare it with my frined's W124, my ligthing is still dimmer than his.

What is highest wattage light bulbs we can safely fit on the instrument panel? I have read somewhere where higher wattage generate more heat, which in turn caused things to melt. I don't want to cause any melt down, and only want to fit the highest safe wattage. I think the bulb I am currently using are 1.2W Thinking of changing to 2W or 3W. Any comments? :)

Thanks
Lim :)

Just making sure...you DO have the dimmer switch turned ALL the way up, right? If you do, I understand sometimes the potentiometer in the dimmer itself gets dirty or goes bad. I'd start there. I know there's lots of threads on this forum covering this problem. Try a search...I'm sure you'll find your problem!

Good Luck...Peter

Thanks Peter for the reminder.

That dimmer is the first that I checked. Everything lighting in the car work fine with the dimmer, even the lighting of the instrument panel. My only "complaint" is the lights at the instrument panel is quite dim (better after the first bulbs changed) I can hardly read the reading of the odometer.

Regards
Lim :)

Hi Lim,
I've got a friend who drives a 300sel, w126. A friend of his did a simple mod to his instrument cluster, simply by shorting the potentiometer. In other words, the dimmer doesn't work anymre and it's on at one position. If you don't turn the dimmer a lot, which I guess most people don't, you could try it! By the way, the brightness increases by about 20-30% more.
Alternatively, you could change the cluster housing, which might costs you more!
Just my opinions!

Lim,

The older the car gets, the duller the instrument lights will become. The-dash-cluster-bulb-light is re-/deflected by a diffuser like plastic part inside the dash cluster. If you insert a bulb with a higher wattage, this plastic diffuser will melt and get a brown tint (=dull light).

If you take out the dash cluster, you can read at the back of the cluster what bulbs should be used (I thought the bulbs are 2 Watt??) and if you peak in the cluster bulb holes, you can see whether the plastic diffuser already turned brown or not...

greetingz,

better illumination
 

From an earlier thread...

You will probably find that the lights are still too dim with the rheostat to full right. I've found three things that help to get adequate illumination: 1) clean and polish the inside of the lens with plastic cleaner and polish (Novus), 2) replace the bulbs with new, and 3) bypass the rheostat by soldering a jumper across the terminals.

Barrie
'86 300E
-------------------------

I don't think there is a higher wattage bulb that size that will fit in there, unless it is a special order item.

Solid State Voltage Controller
 

Lim, the rheostst for controlling the instrument cluster and all other controlled light, does not control the lights.
M/B realised that there were too many bulbs(too large a load) for a rheostat of the size fitted on the cluster to control the lights.
Behind the cluster attached to the body is a "solid state voltage controller".
Turnig the dash knob controls th S/S controller.
Modifing the pot will not increase the output of this item.
You run the risk of damaging the controller and that would pop you for around $150.00.
Do as we all have done, squent your eyes, or as I, keep in the center console a small one cell pen light.
Happy Trails Beep Beep from Houston!!!
Donald, El Cheapo

Hi Lim - Klang AirCond Company has MB bulbs from Japan that produces 50% less heat. I changed the aircond bulbs to this one. Perhaps they might have one for your dashboard with a higher voltage?

The address:
11, Lrg. Raja Bot
41400 Klang
3341 1998

Instrument Panel Lighting on W124
 

I just replaced all my bulbs in the instrumemt cluster of
1990 300CE. The big bulbs are 3W from the factory as I got the new bulbs from the MB dealer. You should not have a problem with the melt down. My 1989 300Te also has 3W bulbs.

I'm going with xenon dash lights. that way I have a tan all year round:)

better illumination
 

The instrument illumination rheostat serves two functions (speaking for a 124) - it directly dims the instrument illumination bulbs and 2) dims other internal illumination through a control unit.

In any case, you needn't worry about doing any damage by jumpering the rheostat. All you're doing is bypassing any extra resistance (due to oxidization, etc.) that may have built-up over time between the wiper contact and the resistive element. The end result is the same as turning the knob of a new rheostat to the full On position.

Little Red Capped Bulb
 

Lim, on W124 instrument cluster, the bottom row of bulbs, there is a red capped bulb.
This is not a bulb but a fuse.
Do yourself a favor and modify this while you have the cluster out.
Remove the red bulb and solder a 16 ga. twin lead wire to both terminals of the bulb holder.
Replace in the housing without the fuse, then route the wire behind and down the instrument panel and under the floor mat or insulation.
At this end of the wire solder a mini-blad fuse holder and use a mini-blad fuse of the right value.
Now should the fuse blow and let's pray it doesn't, you can easily replace it being under the floor mat not in the instrument cluster.
If I seem vague about values, they are referenced in my Shop Manual Electrical and I,m too lazy to go get them, but you will do fine by following the bouncing ball.
Happy Trails Beep Beep from Houston!!!
Donald, El Cheapo

I had my bulb lights changed in the instrument panel yesterday. There were 2 2V, and the other small ones were about 1.2.

Because they stocked 5V, I changed the 2V to the 5V, and the rest remained as they were.

I noticed too that the plastic casing where it covers the odometer has a cube that places the 2 (now changed to 5V)bulb. And it shines through a clear plastic. Over time, this plastic becomes darker (from the bulb heat), and thus I cannot switch the lights on fully lest the plastic becomes darker at an accelerated rate.

So perhaps if you could open up the instrument panel, and get a replacement part for that particular plastic casing (measuring approx. 1.5 cm x 1.5 cm , then maybe your instrument panel can become brighter?

Are you trying to freak out the mercedes part-boys by asking for impossible built-in replacement parts??
They will probably sell you a complete dash cluster (housing) or absolutely nothing... :D

greetingz,