The bulb that illuminates the odometer / trip odometer LCD readouts on my 96 C220 has failed. The display is readable in the light, and the odo still works, it's just not backlit anymore.
What im assuming is that a bulb failed, the outside temp display and clock are both illuminated, and all of the other gauges work.

How hard is it to remove the instrument cluster and get to this bulb? Secondly, will this affect the odometer, as I would rather leave it like this, than make it look like it was tampered with. It isnt that significant, but it's the only thing wrong with my car, and it's driving me up a wall.

Any suggestions or thoughts as to how to proceed will be greatly appreciated.

Best wishes and take care,
George Androulakis

George,
I just recently had all of the bulbs in my dashboard replaced, but I had it done at the dealer.
As for the removal of the cluster, you are supposed to use the CLUSTER hooks (can be purchased at dealer) that you put in on either side of the cluster, twist so the hooks get the cluster, then pull it out.
But Spiderman (donald) says you can use coat hangers. Either way I would use a lot of caution when attempting this. I don't think it's hooked in by anything, just a snug fit.
Don't know how to replace the bulbs though...?
Good luck.

__________________
2006 E350 w/ 155k miles (Daily Driver)

Previous:
1993 300E 3.2L Sedan w/ close to about 300k miles
2003 E500 Brilliant Silver (Had 217k miles when totalled!)
1989 300E with 289,000 miles (had for <1 yr while in HI)
03 CLK 500 cabrio (Mom's)
2006 C230k (Dad's)
1999 S420 (Mom's/Dad's)
2000 C230k Sport sedans
2001 CLK320 Cabrio (Mom's)
1995 C280 My First Mercedes-Benz... (155k miles. EXCEPTIONAL AUTOMOBILE. Was Very hard to let go of!)

Hey David,
How much did they charge you to replace the bulbs? If it's not that significant, I might as well go ahead and change the bulbs at the dealer, Instead of messing with it. I was talking to someone else, who had a w140, and some of the bulbs in that cluster were on the PC board, and thus you pretty much had to dismantle the whole thing to get to it. Sounds like a royal pain, so it may be well worth it to have a dealer do it.

Best wishes and take care,
George Androulakis

I think it costed me about $75. I had a few other things done (SRS light reset which was $90), and one or two other small things. The total was just less than $200, so it must have been about $75. And they were really nice to not even charge me for the bulbs! He asked me if I wanted to just replace them all, about 22 or 23 of them, but they would each cost $3 or $4 (but this IS the dealer)!! 3 or 4 times 22 or 23 is close to $100! So I said just to replace a few of them, well they replaced them all without charge.
Anyway, I don't think it's that hard for them to do. I do know that the C-class is MUCH simpler in very many aspects than a 140.
You should call your dealer and find out the price. Good luck!

__________________
2006 E350 w/ 155k miles (Daily Driver)

Previous:
1993 300E 3.2L Sedan w/ close to about 300k miles
2003 E500 Brilliant Silver (Had 217k miles when totalled!)
1989 300E with 289,000 miles (had for <1 yr while in HI)
03 CLK 500 cabrio (Mom's)
2006 C230k (Dad's)
1999 S420 (Mom's/Dad's)
2000 C230k Sport sedans
2001 CLK320 Cabrio (Mom's)
1995 C280 My First Mercedes-Benz... (155k miles. EXCEPTIONAL AUTOMOBILE. Was Very hard to let go of!)

Does your car have telescoping steering wheel? If it does I recommend changing the bulbs yourself. It's very simple. If not, it's difficult to remove cluster and some people prefer removing the steering wheel in these models.
You better leave it to de dealer if this is the case.

Vinamg