1989 300E internal lights question

I have just purchased a used 1989 300E and noticed while driving it at night that the middle section of the counsel, including the temperature controls, radio and gear shift are not lit - this makes it very difficult to adjust any of these things while driving. I am not even sure that they are supposed to be lit as it doesn't say anything specific in the owners manual. Also, the rear reading light and trunk light don't work. I checked all the fuses, they appear to be fine. Is this a replacement bulb issue or am I missing something? If it is a bulb issue - I haven't a clue how to access the center cousel area. Please help, thanks.

[md21722]

124's have separate bulbs for these functions. Fuses may look okay but disintegrate when you touch them. I would change ALL of your fuses including blower fuse as preventive maintenace. The dealer sells fuse kits, they $2-3, you'll need a few to get the right combination of red, white, and blue.

[NormanB]

Hi

I have a 1989 TE which is similar wrt the illumination of console.

Assuming you have not dimmed out the lights with the 'pot' then -

If your fuses OK and you are confident bulbs OK then you will probably need to pull the instrument cluster out. At the rear of the cluster there is another fuse (like a red hat) buy from yr supplier before you start.

You will need to take out yr centre console trim, ashtray, wooden trim around stick complete (the bit with the switches in - in front of the carpeted tray) to change any defective bulbs. The ones in the vents are PITAs.

Have fun

NormanB

The lights on the center console by the gear selector, the window up/down buttons on the doors along with some misc. lights stopped working when one bulb burned out on my E420. Some of the lights were wired in series, so when one, a couple others followed.

Start with the fuses - that's the easiest thing. If they are okay, it's probably a bulb (see Norman B's reply).

If you do have to start pulling the car apart, there are some posts on upgrading the bulbs if the instrument cluster isn't bright enough for your liking.

Good luck.

[md21722]

John, What bulb burned out to cause the other bulbs to go out?

Hi md21722 -

Now you are going to embarrass me ;-) I bought a Brabus wood gear shift and what to change-out the original leather gear shift. I pulled out the center console wood and storage box inbetween the seats. Then carefully disconnected the power window controls etc. That took about 3 minutes. Then I looked and stared at the transmission gear selector for 3 hours! I couldn't figure out for the life of me how the metal shaft came out. There probably some super-secret MBZ tool that does it in 30 seconds. I didn't have tool...

I gave up and put the car back together. A couple days later I notice some lights were not working. Hmmmm... What did I do??? I pulled everything apart 3 or 4 times and check connections, etc. It "looked" good, but no lights. All the switches functioned, just no lights... And, I gave up again. MBZ 2 / John 0!!!

About a month later the car went to the dealer and had the transmission replaced. At the same time I had them take care of lights, so I have no idea which bulb was the culprit.

As an aside - When the light by the sunroof and the one in the rear cabin have gone out, they took down a couple of other lights too. Once their bulbs were replaced all was good.

The only I think that still isn't working is the headlight switch - the switch lights up with all the headlight settings, but dial itself with the white line (so you know which you've selected) doesn't light up. However, I can't remember if that was supposed to light. If you pull it back for the rear foglight, the little orange light comes on okay. Does that dial light up???