Make sure you haven't blown a fuse. If you don't disconnect battery while removing cluster, this often happens. Don't ask how I know!

Worse situation, is fuse does not blow,, but you blow one of the traces on the cluster circuit board that feed the cluster bulbs.

Regarding bypassing dimmer, there are threads here on how to do that. Just a short jumper wire across dimmer terminals.

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Graham
85 300D,72 350SL, 98 E320, Outback 2.5