Today, I heard a blend of a buzzing/humming sound from my dashboard, then all my instrument gauges collapsed, except for the speedometer. Because the car was still running and I was able to stop and restart it, my initial panic gave way to common sense and I checked the fuse box -- where #5 had blown (with a hairline fracture that was not noticeable until I pulled the fuse and pressed the metal). What I was not aware of was that the dashboard would hum/buzz if the #5 fuse blew (and I wonder why there is no similar audio warning for low fuel, hot coolant, etc.) Has anyone else got "I was not aware of that" experiences they would like to sahre? I thought this one was kind of neat.

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2001 E430 4matic
122,xxx miles
Black/Charcoal Interior

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Gone but not Forgotten:
1995 E320, 252,xxx miles, Black/Grey
1989 260E, 223,00 miles, Black/Black

hmmmmm, could you hum a few bars......
William Rogers.......

do you think it was meant to humm or was that a fluke ?

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'95 s500 (bought for wife but can't bear to share!!!) 125kms
'92 legend 180kms
'88 tbirdturbo(fantastic car-only regular maint.)120kms
'87 mustang gt(gone)
'86 tbirdturbo(gone)
'85 mustang gt(gone-but not forgotten)

I think it was intentional. It sounded like a buzzer that had gone weak from never being used. It would also occur at regular intervals, so I am sure it is an intentional warning. That would make sense since it is important for drivers to know that their instrument cluster has just died.

In another thread, someone discovered you can close/open your windows Volkswagen-style via the door locks and I think this is just another one of those little surprises that MB never bothered to tell anyone about.

To test it, W124 owners can simply pull the #5 fuse and listen for results. I am thinking it would also be nice to be able to disable this on demand -- to get out of speeding tickets:
"I am so sorry officer; my instrument panel fuse just blew and I am on my way to get a new one. See for yourself (holding up blown decoy fuse). " :p

(In my first post, I mentioned the speedometer worked, but I was wrong. Something else was still active but I am not sure what.)

__________________
2001 E430 4matic
122,xxx miles
Black/Charcoal Interior

------------------------------------
Gone but not Forgotten:
1995 E320, 252,xxx miles, Black/Grey
1989 260E, 223,00 miles, Black/Black