I've got an '82 300td.

which controls are supposed to light up when you turn the headlights on?

my climate wheel, back wiper control, back window defrost, rear dome light and antenna switch DO NOT light up.... i think they're supposed to, right?

maybe time for some new ones!

It's a pain to replace all this stuff, but I love that car. It's worth every nickel

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'90 300SE --- 173k miles --- (Odometer just stopped working!)

'85 Cali 300D --- 193500 miles --- (Second one) Sold Nov '10

'82 300TDT --- 236,xxx miles --- (My first one) Sold July '09

It's not the switch. They use fiber optic tubes to light them. Behind the climate control module there is a little octopus looking thing. It's got a lightbulb in the middle. The window switches are also lit by it.

well the window switches and all the climate buttons are working.

How can I get to this fiber-octopus?

__________________
'90 300SE --- 173k miles --- (Odometer just stopped working!)

'85 Cali 300D --- 193500 miles --- (Second one) Sold Nov '10

'82 300TDT --- 236,xxx miles --- (My first one) Sold July '09

I just put an LED into each switch and threw out all the F-O crap looks really sharp I'll have to post some pics come time...

While on the topic...in my '80 SD what type of bulb does the headlapm rotary switch take???

__________________
RIP: 80 300SD
RIP: 79 450SEL
2002 E430 4matic (212,000km)
2002 ML500 'sport'

____________________________
FACEBOOK: PANZER450

82 300TD

The switches above the AC climate control panel ( rear windshield washer, rear defrost, etc.) are fed by a fiberoptic unit. The bulb assembly is behind the AC control panel/upper switch area. remove the AC control panel wood trim and Ac control panel for access.

The AC control panel illumnation is done by individual bulbs. 5 total on the wire harness.

The shifter panel has a bulb in the drivers side of the shifter below the wood panel.

check the post for wood removal. http://www.peachparts.com/Wikka/W123Evaporator

The window switches have light bulbs inside each switch.

The dash has 2 bulbs at the top of the dash at the rear, Brown based bulb holders ( usually ). Each lower warning section has it own bulb, as well as the turn signal arrows

http://dieselgiant.com/repairyourodometer.htm

The headlight switch does not have a bulb.

good pages for a newbe

http://diymbrepair.com/

Dave

__________________
1970 220D, owned 1980-1990
1980 240D, owned 1990-1992
1982 300TD, owned 1992-1993
1986 300SDL, owned 1993-2004
1999 E300, owned 1999-2003
1982 300TD, 213,880mi, owned since Nov 18, 1991- Aug 4, 2010 SOLD
1988 560SL, 100,000mi, owned since 1995
1965 Mustang Fastback Mileage Unknown(My sons)
1983 240D, 176,000mi (My daughers) owned since 2004
2007 Honda Accord EX-L I4 auto, the new daily driver
1985 300D 264,000mi Son's new daily driver.(sold)
2008 Hyundai Tiberon. Daughters new car

Lot of good info, but the headlight switch does actually have a little bulb that lights the center red dot when you turn on the fog lights. However, for some reason I've never been able to get either one of mine to work. If you pull the headlight knob off, you will see a little bulb in the center. I almost forgot about that, now it's going to bug me again. Maybe I had the incorrect bulb installed?

I posted a pic of the octopus/spider a while ago, let me see if I can find it again.
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?p=1056582#post1056582

Craig, I thought that center light was an indication for the Euro fogs being on?

Maybe thats why it doesn't work.

Yeah, My Light Switch has a bulb.....and it tells you how to "renew" it in the ETM. it just doesn't tell you what type of bulb it takes..

Thus I ask again.....in a 1980 300 SD, What type of bulb does the headlight switch (rotary type) take??

__________________
RIP: 80 300SD
RIP: 79 450SEL
2002 E430 4matic (212,000km)
2002 ML500 'sport'

____________________________
FACEBOOK: PANZER450

awesome help guys! It turns out the bulb somehow mysteriously jumped out of the spider connection.
Popped it back in and.... BADA-BING! Lights again!

The climate wheel bulb is out, just gotta replace it. It actually looks identical to the one in the headlight switch.

__________________
'90 300SE --- 173k miles --- (Odometer just stopped working!)

'85 Cali 300D --- 193500 miles --- (Second one) Sold Nov '10

'82 300TDT --- 236,xxx miles --- (My first one) Sold July '09

He asked about a 300TD. The W123 does not have a nomenclature bulb ( the switch postiion diagrams). The SD does, Or at least my SDL did. Which bulb I'm not sure. Call the dealer

I did forget about the rear fog light bulb. It comes on when the light switch is pulled out. One clidk for the front fog lights and a second clidk for the rear fog light. ( A German requirement. If you pull it out 2 clicks a rear red light will illuminate is it brighter than the other rear lights.)

The Service manual does not show the rear fog light wiring diagram.

Dave

__________________
1970 220D, owned 1980-1990
1980 240D, owned 1990-1992
1982 300TD, owned 1992-1993
1986 300SDL, owned 1993-2004
1999 E300, owned 1999-2003
1982 300TD, 213,880mi, owned since Nov 18, 1991- Aug 4, 2010 SOLD
1988 560SL, 100,000mi, owned since 1995
1965 Mustang Fastback Mileage Unknown(My sons)
1983 240D, 176,000mi (My daughers) owned since 2004
2007 Honda Accord EX-L I4 auto, the new daily driver
1985 300D 264,000mi Son's new daily driver.(sold)
2008 Hyundai Tiberon. Daughters new car

I don't think this is thread hi-jacking, just reviving.

I have a bulb in the headlight switch of both the 300D and the 300SD.

The bulbs have been pulled out and tested with 12 volts to the contacts and they do light up.

Yet they do not light when car running, headlights on, switch pulled for fog lights to come on.

For those not sure what bulb I speak of, it is behind the orange lense at the center of your headligth switch.
Yank off (gently remove by pulling) the headlight switch control and you will see the bulb.

I thought it might be dirty contacts at the bulb but I don't think so. Cleaned 'em.

Fog lights do come on, too.

__________________
80 300D 340K Owned 30 yrs
83 300SD 440K Owned 9 yrs - Daily Driver 150mi/day
02 Z71 Suburban 117,000
15 Toyota Prius 2600 miles
00 Harley Sportster 24k
09 Yamaha R6
03 Ninja 250

The headlight orange bulb only comes on when the (euro) rear fog is on.

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1983 240D automatic, Orient Red, 174K
1983 240D manual, Biscayne Blue, sold at 341K

That is correct. Only on Grey market cars here in the States that have rear fog light operation will that bulb illuminate. The switch on American cars has no provision to supply voltage to the bulb socket.

It'd be cool to make it light up when the lights or regular fogs are on, just for the effect...

__________________
-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)