Hello
Could someone let me know where i may be able to obtain the hooks for the removal of the cluster,or if someone has a pair they want to sell??Its for a w124 300E/1988
Thanks
AV

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Brother of The Benz, AV
I too have a 300E, some what older than yours, mine is a '87.
I as so many have made our own "Cluster Hooks".
It's quite complicated, so I'll walk you through it slowly.
Obtain a length of welding wire, typically 36"OAL by 0.045 or 0.060 inch in diameter.
Cut two lenghts that when placed at the cluster will clear the steering wheel.
At one end bend a 90 degree hook approximately 1/8".
At the opposite end bend 90 degree the length to fit your palm.
Disconnect the negative battery cable, you know the one with the - sign.

The proper technique using your hands only is to pull the cluster out(to the rear)as far as possible before using the fancy smancy hooks.

Next insert the hooks at about 10 and 2 o'clock position and rotate 90 degrees for the small hook to catch the cluster.

Now gently pull and the cluster will follow.

Reaching behind the cluster, unplug the amphenal plug and the vac line to the econo- gauge.

Pull the cluster out and up to the right affording room to reach the speedo cable; un-screw it from the cluster.
You may have to push the speedo-cable up from the firewall for slack to reach the nut for unsrewing.

That's about all there is to it, you've just soloed cluster removal.

Please don't take my humor personally.
Happy Trails Beep Beep from The Spiderman in Houston!!!

You can also make the hooks from a wire hanger

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Michael
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76 450SL
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I found it helpful to look at a cluster out of a car down at the local shop. I was able to determine where I needed to insert the homemade hooks (coathangar wire) in order to grab hold of the housing. I went home and yanked it out without any trouble.

is to buy a set! Nice to have a standard set of tools and at this price, everbody can afford it.

Link to Technic Tool:

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Brothers of the Benz
Talk about DIYers.
Use a wire hanger to fabricate the cluster removing tools.
Amazing, I didn't know there were any wire hangers left and the ones we do have use a cardboard tube at the middle!
The cardboard tube was the longest part of the hanger, so I tried to make a puller out of it but it wouldn't hold it's shape.
The rest of our hangers are plastic and I tried to make a set from one of them but I couldn't get the bend at the right angle.
Wire Hangers?
Happy Trails Beep Beep from The Spiderman in Houston!!!

AV, on another point, I had to remove my steering wheel on the SL to obtain clearance for the removal of the cluster. I used an air wrench to loosen the steering nut. If you should find that this is necessary, just pop off the center portion of the wheel (horn actuator), then be sure to make a mark of the position of the steering wheel spline with the shaft. Next, just back off the large flanged nut and wheel should just pull off by hand. Did 88's have air bags? This, of course, complicates things a bit and in which case, do not do the above!