hello all,
I need to get into the dash to check the speedo cable on the 89 190e. what is the best way to get in there? i assume the cable came detatched as the speedo and odometer both quit but I can hear the cable spinning in there. maybe the housing stretched? thanks in advance!

Opossum,
I can't really tell you the best way. I can tell you how I did. You should probably start by removing the steering wheel. If you have an airbag, it is held in by two #30 torx bolts from the back. First detach your battery!! Once the airbag is removed, you will need a 10mm Allen wrench for the steering wheel bolt. The vent to the left of the instrument cluster comes out fairly easily. Remove the air directional grate by pulling from the edges. Then there are 4 retaining clips which you just have to kind of pry up and work out. Once you get there, you will know what I mean. This should give you enough access to maybe get your arm in from the back and work the instrument cluster out. You may also be able to get your arm in to tighten it without removing the cluster. It is rather tight though. Good Luck

The safest (and I think it is the easiest as well) way is to remove the lower dash panel under the steering wheel (a couple of phillips screws), partly remove the flexible hose to the side ventilation opening and get your arm up to (dis)connect the speedo cable.
Pulling the dash cluster may damage the speedo cable that gets pulled out of its position (it can stand some pulling but not too much).
In the W201 you can leave the steering wheel on to get the dash cluster out; there is enough space to get the dash cluster out.

greetingz,

Ok
I, having just done this I am a little perplexed. MBenz, you are the almighty, but I couldn't get to the speedo cable from underneath. Everything was packed in too tightly. There was also one wire that wouldn't disconnect from the the bottom of the I.C. Do you happen to know what this one is?

Getting into dash
 

First thing to do is disconnect the speedo cable from the trans. so it can be pulled out enough with the instrument cluster to unscrew it. You need not remove the steering wheel or anything else. You'll need 2 handled hooks to slide in the top of the instrument cluster and hook it from behind on both sides and pull the cluster out.

thanks everyone,
stan, when you say 2 handled hooks do you mean like a skinny stiff wire or more of a slim jim? is there an area to look for to release anything?
thanks again, darren

Op these are speical tools mercedes has. You might find a snap on or a tool guy. Ask them if they sale the instrument cluster hooks for mercedes benz. Without these hooks your going to have tough time. There no way! your going to get your hand way up the dash it soo tight. Like the other guys mention you need to have the steering wheel removed with a #30 torx bit it has to be 1/4 drive with a small inch and half extension. You need to removed the under dash panel to guide out old speedo cable. Also you need to removed the speedo cable from trans and also a few clips that hold it in place. I'll tell you its not any easy
job. You need to have the right tools. dont use a 3/8 rachet you'll never get enough room to remove steering wheelairbag, Also a 10mm allen socket 1/2 drive to remove the steering wheel. be sure to have some touch up paint or liquid paper to mark the steering wheel center. Op dont be surprised if the speedo head unit went south. Make sure its ok.

Guido
Factory Tech 14yrs MB

Dash removel
 

Just skinny stiff (real stiff) wire with short 90 degree hooks on the end at the left and right top sides of the cluster

Stan are you sure a stiff wire. Have you tried this?

stiff wire works on an 81 sd but you have to be carefull or you will put little dents in the vinyl around the cluster.
William Rogers......

[Edited by william rogers on 05-24-2001 at 07:56 PM]

Stiff wire (mercedes special tool)
 

You can pull it out without having to remove the steering wheel. Just be carefull not to let the hooks come loose when you're pulling it out. And yes I've done this a hundred times

Lots of different MB models and lots of different dash clusters, lots of opinions and experiences...the clusters in the older MB models are fairly strong (read quality), the ones in the newer models are easily torn into pieces by these practical MB hooks everybody is mentioning.
Although we have these hooks as well, I never use them...dents in the dash-vinyl, torn off cluster front plates, cracked dash cluster housings, damaged speedo cables and so on.
The speedo cable in a W201 can be taken off from underneath after the flexible ventilation duct is moved a bit, Some of the W124's have enough space to release the speedo cable from underneath as well, some of the (later) W124's are too tight; I agree.
Some MB models need the steering wheel to be removed, some don't. The W201 steering wheel does not need to be removed.

Kodiak, what is IC?

greetingz,

I hate to sound like a coward, but from experience I won't do exhaust systems or speedometers. One is filthy and the other is just a bit too damn delicate. Get an estimate from a speedometer repair shop if you have one near you, then decide if you really want to do the work yourself.

MBenz
I just abbreviated I.C. for instrument cluster cause I didn't want to type it out.

Would this allow access to the speaker? My speaker doesn't work and I can't tell how to get to it and I need to get behind it to get it out.