Super easy/cheap dash light upgrade - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Catrinus · #1 08-21-2003, 01:11 PM

I've seen the "dash light brightness upgrades" on eBay for some time and wondered about them. But I found an excellent, cheap alternative, at least for my 73 280C. The stock lamps are 3 watt, and were never very bright (so I'm told) even when new. Over the years they also dim because of age. I found the same sized base in a 5W bulb. It's Sylvania 2825 (W5W) and I got it at the local auto-parts store. They were about $1.00 apiece and after I installed them (I replaced all the cluster lights) I was AMAZED at the difference. I even have to use the dimmer sometimes. I don't think they will overheat at 5W, either.

Anyway, try this before paying a bunch for fancy blue bulbs or hotter bulbs that might fry your dash.

Catrinus

Tomguy · #2 08-21-2003, 08:22 PM

My dash lighs are VERY bright as it is! I fixed the rheostat and replaced the burned-out bulbs and the bulbs that had their bases cracked, and they are VERY bright!

tosbt · #3 08-22-2003, 11:19 PM

I need to replace mine. How do you begin to take the dash apart enough to get to the lights?

Catrinus · #4 08-23-2003, 01:04 AM

I'm not sure if the all work the same way, but this is how it works in my 73 280C (114 chassis).

The instrument pod is actually just held in place by a huge rubber washer thingy. It holds the pod in with a little pressure. To pull the pod out, you just sort of grab it where you can and pull straight out. In my case, I also had to put the collumn shifter into "1" (all the way down) to get it out of the way. Once you get the pod out a couple of inches, you discover that there are a LOT of connections back there that need to come off. Most are pretty straight forward (e.g. the connectors only fit one way and only fit one thing). There is a big electrical connector (round with like 9 wires attached), a connector for the gear indicator that screws off (my gear indicator cable is broken so I don't know how hard this is to do otherwise), you'll need a small (10mm?) wrench to remove the oil pressure connector, and a couple of small wires that I'm not sure what they do. Oh, and the speedo cable unscrews, too. It's really not as bad as it sounds. Just take your time and notice where everything goes. You might not actually have to disconnect all of this, but I find it easier to work with the pod out of the car.

Once the pod is removed, it's simply a matter of unscrewing the many bulb holders (round black things) from the back of the pod. It just takes a half turn and they pop right out. Each holder is exactly the same. Personally, I would go ahead and replace all of the bulbs (I don't remember exactly but there are probably 10 or so of them). The only one that was tricky was the speedo bulb, because it was inside the speedo and I had to remove the speedo from the pod to get to it, I recall.

I'll see if my electronic shop manual has some diagrams and send them to you. Another idea is that there is a fellow in Bellingham, WA who writes REALLY good little "how to" repair books for old MBs. Check out his web site. I know for a fact he has one on fixing instruments.
www.**************.com and then click on "repair manuals"
You can also do a search of the ShopForum (this group) for just about any subject and see what has been written on any topic you're interested in.

Good luck!
Catrinus
73 280C

Tomguy · #5 08-23-2003, 09:48 AM

In my 108 the only thing restricting it from pulling out really was the speedo cable. The rest of the lines I left on and had ample room to yank the clock, lights, speedo, etc. It's not as bad as it looks. Just pull the cluster out! It MAY be bolted in in the back though - mine wasn't but it looked as if it had the connection to be, which would be a PITA to remove I'd imagine (from underneath, with steering column in the way)