My experience with mechanical radio stuff comes from my small collection of antique radios, including some amazingly complex tuning mechanisms. Messing around with things like that is risky if you've never done it before and don't have a complete set of instructions. I like the idea of finding an identical (similar?) model in a junkyard and "practicing" before tackling yours. Then again, it may not be that difficult for someone who does it every day. I recommend at least asking a shop what they would charge to replace the bulb. (It does sound strange that so much is required just to replace a bulb but Becker would know their own stuff.)

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"Buster" in the '95

Our all-Diesel family
1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car
2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car
Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022)
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762
"Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz."
-- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970