w124 convertible front dome light assembly
 

The switch which turns on the lights when the driver's door opens works just fine. The switch for the map lights does not work. There is a plastic cover over these switches and I would like t remove it to get at the bad switch, and also to see if the installer of the mobile phone speaker wire tapped into the map lights. How do I remove the cover over these switches without cracking it in half? Do I have to remove the rear-view mirror first? Thanks for the help.

Yes, you must first remove the rear view mirror - it is on a ball joint that can be pulled out. Then you can remove the cover containing the lights and switches. You may find that bad connections on the circuit board are the cause of the problem.

Thanks. Would you happen to know if the switches are replaceable individually? The local parts dept. said they were not.

The switches are not listed individually.

Attachment 81993

You may be able to substitute another '3 position' switch - although I know of none on the E320 cabriolet. Or rebuild your existing switch using parts raided from a regular (e.g., window) switch.

But first carefully check the circuit boards (I think there are two). Mine had a couple of bad solder joints that when fixed, solved my courtesy delay and switch malfunction issues.

You probably already know to be careful handling the plastic cowling. All the plastic on these cars gets brittle with age. Mercedes charge well over $400 for a replacement courtesy lamp assembly.

Good luck.

I saw you posted a part of a parts page for the E320 Cabriolet, can you post the complete parts catalog for the 1994 E320 Cabriolet?

Thanks!

Careful with that part, really. One of my lenses for the map lights is slightly broken and not in its home. I need a replacement or try and repair what I have. Plastic parts for the cabrio are ridiculously expensive.

Just bringing this back to life - any wiring diagram available for the cables going to this module? Has 9 wires to main plug, does not match page in w124 1990 - on wiring diagram for 300CE. Salvage source for part?

Also, should I be looking at the E320 drawings as I have a 1993 US model?

As always, thanks for your help and guidance.

Removed circuit board, found a diode with one end un-soldered. Soldered carefully with 25 watt iron, plugged it back in, was rewarded with a pop and a puff of smoke from module..... could not find a pin in the connector that changes state (ohms to ground or volts to ground) when driver door opened. Driver door switch has three wires, none match the cable to courtesy lamp module.

Worried that if I buy a new $400 module I'll still have more problems yet to discover (the mushroom factor).

Will see if I can draw out a wiring diagram for the lamp module assembly, and figure a way to make doors light up the dome light. I work second shift, so I am tired of getting in my car with a flashlight...

How do you remove the rear view mirror ? I have removed the lenses and the screws but can't get the rest of the assembly loose. Don't want to break it. Is there a screw/ clip /slot ?

Careful
 

You remove it very, very carefully by grasping the neck of the mirror (not the mirror or its case) and yanking downward firmly. This is an extremely fragile and expensive part, so be careful not to damage the case to the mirror by doing anything to put stress on the casing. It's held together with ridiculously brittle plastic internal clips.