W210 Thumbwheel Light bulb - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

phouse · #1 12-03-2002, 10:21 AM

I have asked this question before many time, and have never gotten a answer.. Does anybody have any experience with changing that bulb? It is the passenger side vent... How does it come out ? Do you have to remove that wood trim right above it. ? The second bulb is the ashtray bulb .. How does that come out ?

Does anybody have any experience with these two bulbs...? I hate to take it to the dealer and have them charge me a arm and leg to replace it... Plus risk door dings and them messing something else up...

NormanB · #2 12-03-2002, 05:50 PM

but I have done similar on a 1989 230 TE ( not imported into USA I believe).

I assume you are talking about a vent louvre thumb wheel.

If so, vent louvres are normally held in by spring clips (normally 4 - 2 top and bottom) and easily visible if you look with a strong flashlight.

The idea is to hook these using jewellers screwdrivers or similar (2 at a time just one side - top and bottom) and put clips under tension while easing out louvre that side - but see note below - then move to other 2 clips and repeat. Repeat whole process until louvre withdraws completely. Turn it over, follow the wire and the bulb holder/bulb will be evident.

Note: Some louvres have additional fixing which you will need to remove first for example:

Glove box side (open glove box and search for a phillips screw that lines up with vent louvre - remove this first and replace last.

Centre (normally double louvre) shine flash light into top section and you should see an allen headed machine screw - this fixes louvre and vent flap - remove first and replace last.

As I opened, this is for my model and may give you some idea how to proceed with yours - I shouldn't imagine it will be too different MB ain't great innovators with this sort of kit!

Hope you get a more targetted reply - Have fun

Regards

NormanB

cerbomark · #3 12-04-2002, 10:28 AM

Dealer informed me that to change the ash tray bulb the wood around the shifter would have to be removed and scared me into letting them do it not to cause any damage.

jcyuhn · #4 12-04-2002, 11:07 AM

I haven't done a louver bulb on my 210 yet, though I think one of them is dead. But it's way over on the passenger side...

The shifter wood surround is ridiculously easy to remove. The plastic surround around the shift gate is removed first. Just slide a credit card underneath a corner and lift up. Work around all the corners until it's loose, then just pull up and out.

To remove the wood, open the cover for the rear cupholder. This exposes the trailing edge of the wood (It's really a wood veneer over plastic & metal) cover. Grab the edge and give it a sharp yank upward. It takes quite a bit of force, don't be shy! Comes right out.

Tools required: credit card. Total time: 1 minute.

DuckMuck · #5 12-04-2002, 07:51 PM

The bulb in the vent louvre thumb wheel on the passenger-side of my '95 W124 E420 is out...since my car has an airbag in place of the glove compartment, can I assume that there is no screw that I must remove beforehand, and it is simply unlatching the 4 clips as described in this thread? Thank you...

phouse · #6 12-05-2002, 01:54 PM

I looked into the vent. And I can see some clips on the bottom. I tried to use two modified paper clip to raise the two clips, but it would not come out.. I was thinking about the side panel on the right that comes out.. I will try to see if there are some screws there that can be removed.. Thanksss

#7 02-14-2003, 11:57 PM

Anyone have any luck replacing the center wheel control vent light bulb on a late model W124? (Mine is a 95 E300 Diesel)

There is no glove box due to the airbag.

After shining a flashlight into the center vents(there is two vents in the center, controlled by 1 wheel) there is 2 of those metal spring loaded clips, 1 on top & 1 on the bottom, both on the left hand side.
(compared to the 2 side vents, which each have 4 spring loaded clips, 2 on top & 2 on bottom)

Additionally, I could move the bottom clip, but the top clip would not budge, even after applying alot of force. Im thinking I may have to force it backwards & then try prying it down?

95 E300 Diesel w 154,000 miles & runs like a dream...

MarkC · #8 02-15-2003, 05:34 AM

I too have wondered how to replace the light bulb illuminating the air temp wheel on the passenger side as well as the right spin dial, that is used to change directions of incoming air (defrost/feet/ vents etc.).

I removed the wood around the shifter (now all cracked up). I removed the radio, I tried but failed to remove the wood above the radio (where I believe the light bulb resided). I did remove the center top vent above the wooden plate, but since I didn't undo the hidden allen head bolt until last, I damaged the plastic part where the wheel in the vent is. It also fell into many different parts, but I was able to reassemble and replace it.

After tearing all of these things from the car, I still could not remove the center wood section above the radio. Defeated, I replaced everything and lived with not being able to see the position of the right knob (to change the location where the air will come in) or the temp selection on the passenger side air temp wheel, at night.
Car: W124 89' 260E, no airbags, no AC (Euro).
MarkC

Jon Hrut · #9 02-16-2003, 11:31 AM

Confused here by all these different "fixes" discussed on the wheel lights. Seems like some are talking 124 versus 210. I have a 210.

I too have one of my "thumbwheel" vent lights out on the drivers side vent.

Where is this light located? What part is required?

BTW: The shifter wood replacement is easy on 210s. I had a chip in mine from prior owner or mech not knowing how to remove it. I bought a new one plus PRINDL piece (plastic had become brown from light burn) + light (the shifter light under PRINDL went out) [total $303]. Was easy to replace but the only tricky thing was working on the "child-safety" switch for the rear windows that had gotten messed up.

Total time to do all of it was about 2 hours and that included a 30 min break to talk with new single neighbor with a question about her car

djcheung · #10 08-19-2003, 05:08 AM

Does anybody still wants to know how to get to the light bulb on the passenger side air vent thumberwheel on a W210?

jcyuhn · #11 08-19-2003, 10:16 AM

It's kind of academic for me, as I sold my 210, but I would like to know. I looked at it for a while, couldn't figure it out. Unlike the 124, the 210 vents do not just pop out of the dash, at least not without a bunch of other disassembly. Inquiring minds want to know.

- JimY

djcheung · #12 08-19-2003, 10:43 AM

JimY,

1. Pry off the cover at the end of the dash of the passenger side
2. Remove the screw holding the tweeter cover and lift the cover slightly until it clears the trim
3. Open the glovebox and slide a flat blade tool underneath the trim and lever it out slower - this is held by 3 fasteners - spring tensioned - starting from the left air vent. You can hear them clicks as they come out
4. Once you have released the 3 fastener, there are 2 more fasteners holding the trim in place. Slide the trim to the left towards the passenger door and pull out away from the dash
5. Undo the two screws holding the passenger air vent ( exposed by removing the trim )
6. Use two small screw drivers and lift the spring clips inside the air vent and ease the vent out.

This is for a RHD 210, so reverse the direction for a LHD 210.

I am still trying the centre air vent !!!

I hope this is useful.

phouse · #13 08-19-2003, 11:22 AM

I have pictures if you like to see them.

jcyuhn · #14 08-19-2003, 12:00 PM

I kind of suspected the wood trim strip had to be pulled. It does not sound like too bad a job. Thanks for following up and satisfying my curiosity.

The 124 just has four of the spring loaded clips like the bottom two on the 210. No other disassembly required.

- JimY

djcheung · #15 08-20-2003, 03:43 AM

Peter,

Yes please!

David.