going dark inside...interior lights W124 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

dieseldude · #1 10-02-2002, 05:32 PM

Hi all,

I'm asking on behalf of my brother-in-law who just bought a very nice '95 E300 (Blk. Pearl on Grey, 106kmi, runs great).

Here's the list of interior lights that are out:

1. Main Dome light (not the reading light)
2. Shifter gate light
3. Lighting switch
4. Window switches on rear doors only

Anyone have any experience changing these - i.e. know tricks to getting to any of the bulbs? He really likes the car and doesn't want to damage any interior peices by just prying away.

TIA

Regards,
- Ryan

JCE · #2 10-02-2002, 05:50 PM

Hi dieseldude:

the 95 has a few differences from my 87, but I think all of these are discussed in more detail in the archives, so you might want a search as well. On mine, the main dome light assemply is slid sideways to one side (forget which way, but it only moves in that direction) until the clips are visible, and then is tilted/swivled to the side and down until it is clear and the bulbs are exposed.

The shift gate requires lifting up the center console around the shifter. I believe his has the storage box unlike mine, so that is more involved, but is also in the archives.

The headlight switch has a bulb behind the panel. the switch pulls off on mine, a nut behind the switch is removed, and the panel is slid to one side and swivled away from the dash for removal and change of bulbs. This one is also in the search engine, particularly under the Euro light self levelling switch discussion.

I don't know if my rear window switch lights are working or not (or even there!) I don't get much use out of the back seat any more

dieseldude · #3 10-02-2002, 06:05 PM

Hey thanks JCE! I had tried searching for 'Dome Light' (since that was the most annoying to him of them all) and found nothing, so I lupmed them all together (I am a compulsive archive searcher

)

Thanks for pointing me to the others I geussed right on a couple

I imagine the rear window switches require removal of the cover plate surrounding the door handle if not the entire door panel itself

Thanks again - and the rest of you don't stop with the advice!

Regards,
- Ryan

JCE · #4 10-02-2002, 06:49 PM

The dome light slides to the right up front.
Dome Lamp Control Switch - Lighted?

Shift console on the later w124 body:
Shift lever backlighting - 1994 E320

headlight switch:
Light switch illumination?

rear window switch removal for a 1995 E320cab:
Window switch won't raise rear window

Good luck on the bulb project.

MikeTangas · #5 10-02-2002, 07:07 PM

Before you start tearing the doors apart to replace the switches, try turning the child proof switch off. On the 560, I found with the child proof on, the rear switches have no power and do not illuminate the mini bulbs in the switches.

400E · #6 10-02-2002, 07:25 PM

Mike,
My thought exactly! Same on the W124. Darn clever of those German engineers to shut off the lights on the rear window switches when they're disabled ...

dieseldude · #7 10-08-2002, 12:55 AM

You're right Mike - the child window-lock was the culprit for the rear window switches going dark - interesting (and thoughtful)engineering indeed!

As far a the the rest of the 'light project', the list is as follows:

1. dome light - done. Easy-peasey as the archives indicate.
2. shifter gate - light works fine, Bro-in-law must have been into the good stuff the night it was 'out'

3. lighting switch light- this one's still stumping us....

Out of curiousity, I went to check on my own W124 after telling hime what I found here and noticed the same thing he does: Pulling out on the switch (in the 'off' position) meets with hard resistance as to make one not want to break the switch and let go, when a spring action snaps the switch back flush into its recess. Are we being chicken in not pulling hard enough?

My W123's light switch is easily removeable as stated in the above thread, but our late model 124's aren't as cooperative. Any more help for we special folks is much appreciated

Thanks again all!
- Ryan

Freestyler · #8 10-08-2002, 01:42 AM

On my W124, the light switch is also very hard to pull off. But it does eventually let go if you pull hard enough..

Freestyler

Ed Hanna · #9 05-17-2003, 08:00 PM

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by dieseldude

3. lighting switch light- this one's still stumping us....

Pulling out on the switch (in the 'off' position) meets with hard resistance as to make one not want to break the switch and let go, when a spring action snaps the switch back flush into its recess. Are we being chicken in not pulling hard enough?

dieseldude and freestyler:

Stop pulling on those headlight switches! If you look up at the knob from below, you will see a very small slot where you must insert a small srewdriver. Just put a little pressure on the screwdriver as you pull on the knob.