No lights on my W124 Climate Control
 

Sorry for the dumb question, but are there replacable bulbs for the climate control on my '89 260E?

I can't find the climate control on the parts CDs...

Thanks

Can't speak directly to your W124, but the '84 W201's used a fiber optic cable to light the HVAC and shifter console. The next year, '85, they used the tiny Italian made bulbs.

No, the W124 is different than the octopus design of the earlier W201. Remove the wood panel (two screws on the underside of it) and you'll see that above the row of buttons, there are two pieces of foil or electrical tape.

Remove these and inside are the bulbs. They are Sylvania part #2721. To remove them, I recommend that you find a tube that will fit in the hole, apply a drop of superglue at the tip of the tube, and hold it inside the hole against the old bulb until the glue sets, which should be less than a minute.

Removing the tube should pull the old bulbs right out...

speedy300turbo: Your insite into how to get the bulbs out is amazing. The reply that you gave is the reason I always read this forum. Makes this "place" so great!

That is simply tremendous. What a great idea.

I brag about this resource all the time.

Thanks a million!

I just did this the other day on my 94 E420. Although I didn’t fish them through the holes....I actually took everything apart. And I do mean EVERTHING. Next time I'll try it though the holes. I got the bulbs from the dealership. Didn’t realize they could be had after-market.

Speedee,

Clever solution. I've done many,and what a PITA. What was MB thinking?


Peter

I picked up the bulbs at AutoZone. Instead of the superglue method I used a drinking straw to pull out the old. Then I used some plastic tubing from the fish tank to push in the bulbs and twisted it slightly to release the tube from the bulb.

A nice 15 minute DIY job....

I agree, what WAS MB thinking about that design?

Oh, beautiful
 

I used a straw that was slightly too small in diameter (which is exactly what you want), and cut it ever so slightly so it would expand out a bit. Even 1/4" is too much. You want like, 1 mm cut into the straw end. Push it on hard, hold the hard plastic piece so it doesn't come forward, and gently pull the light bulb out. Worked like a champ. No glue needed. To put the new bulb back in, just use the straw to insert the bulb, when in place, turn the straw gently while backing it out, hopefully your bulb will stay in place.

Thanks guys, you made my life easier. And I would have never found those bulbs! When you said a piece of tape over them, I thought you were referring to the tape on the wire harness that meets up on the back of that unit (I'd already taken my climate control unit out).

jeff 1991 300d

Watch out when buying aftermarket bulbs. The wattage is too high. There's a chance that that plastic will be melted.

Ok, that's good to know. ;)

Next question. How do get at the center vent "wheel" bulb on a 124? :confused: Mine died.:o
(1988 300CE)

Thanks for sharing these tips, I just did this replacement of the 2 bulbs in the climate control unit. The way I got them out was a bit different so I thought to share another method:

- wrap some duct tape around the end of a drill bit sticking out around 1/4" from the end (approx same diameter as the bulbs)
- stick the tape side in and once the tape is over the bulb, twist the drill bit - the tape will wrap around the bulb tightly
- once you got a good grip, pull the bulbs straight out!

Worked easy for me, got both bulbs out on the first try.