Tobias MB,

Just for completeness of our discussion here, do you have any contact information or a website reference for Programma?

Just yesterday, I asked the parts people at the MB dealer (Signal Hill, CA) about repair services for the instrument clusters. They said there is no repair available--and the replacement units are $1,400. Apparently, MB thinks that MB owners have so much money--that they're willing to throw away these instrument clusters.

You are correct. MB did have lot of problems with these instruments clusters and there were replacement circuit boards available at one time according to a July 1996 Technical Service Bulletin (Ref. MBNA 54/44A).

The TSB mentions six different part numbers--three for the 129 chassis and three for the 140 chassis. For the 140.032 chassis (up to 11/93 production) the part numbers are: 140 540 80 47 91 (W/O ASR) and 140 540 80 47 90 (W ASR).

Unfortunately, the dealer says the parts are no longer available.

I'm on the way to wire brush the fuse sockets as Gabby suggested. It makes sense. I sure hope it works.

Ed