W210 Instrument Cluster Light Bulb Replacement

[Southern]

I replaced my center light bulb on my 98 E320 today. Thanks to the posts which identified how to replace the bulb, I was able to replace mine.

I used a coat hanger as the special tool and had to pull harder than I thought. The replacement light bulb I got from the Mercedes dealer has a tan base. When I replaced the bad bulb, I noticed that there were three bulbs (one located directly below each lower center instrument cluster bulbs. These bulbs have a brown base. I took one out and noticed that the bulb is red.

Does anyone know what the red bulbs are for. I didn't see any reference to this in the owners manual. Will the message display scroll "Merry Christmas" on Dec. 25th?

Replaced my bulbs as well. My dealer charged me $3.80 per bulb; thot that was a bit steep. (only one was burnt out but figured when one goes they all go...)

Anyway, I too tried the clothes hanger route, but gave up and went through the left speaker grill/defrost vent. Much, much easier.

And re: the red bulbs, according to an MB source, it's NOT merry christmas. It's happy valentine's day. Guess we'll have to wait a few months to verify that one.

I would suspect that a red bulb can't be for anything good so maybe it's just well we not find out?

Gobble gobble.

[Southern]

HaYN Benz ,

$3.80 per bulb is not a bad price (especially in Hawaii). I paid $4.37 for my bulb.

How many bulbs did they replace?, I thought I counted at least 8.

Perhaps Mercedes should have used green bulbs, they could be used for Christmas and St. Pats day.

[Southern]

After searching some more for my "red bulb" question, it appears that the "red bulbs" are fuses. Who would have thought. From my experience the white bulb did a fine job acting as a fuse.

[Ashman]

I colored my bulbs red so my cluster had a red tint at night now.. I like it better...



All it took wa s ared permanent marker and a few minutes since I had the cluster out anyway...

So technically you could make them blue, green or any other color that permanent markers come in...

I wouldn't recommend painting them the permanent marker goes on in color but clear.

Alon