Yes, the complete picture is good, you did right by mentioning everything.
I would say the instrument lights are a symptom of the problem.
They typically come all on and dim when you lose a belt, or the alternator and the battery is bleeding down in voltage. Remember, a slipping belt from being wet, lose, or misaligned can cause the alternator not to turn or lose voltage just as easy as a broken or slipped belt, then later it can work again just fine, until next time...

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Christopher Henkel
1990 190E 2.6 - Arctic white SOLD
1986 190E-16v - Blauswartze
1993 300CE - SOLD
2003 W208 CLK 320 Cabriolet - Magma Red