Is there any way to brighten the dash lights?
If I turn the switch all the way up they turn off, but even when they are at the highest setting that they work they are pretty dim.
Is there any after market bulbs that will be brighter?

Thanks

Forgot 1984 300 CD

Solder a jumper across the two tabs on the rheostat.

Brighter bulbs carry the risk of melting the plastic reflectors.

Man it just sucks. I look at this vehicle and can't believe the engineering and then these lights. Can't believe they didn't back light.

Just look up price on that part . Looks like I'll try to repair or by pass.

Do a search, some have improved the brightness:
1. Solder across the rheostat
2. New (but correct) bulbs
3. Clean the reflectors
4. Paint outside of reflectors silver or white
5. LED's are discussed but no clear recommendations

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Charles
1983 300D, bought new, 215k+ miles, donated to Purple Hearts veterans charity but I have parts for sale: http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=296386

Most important is #2, new bulbs. Old bulbs have some of the filament boiled off; the metal plates out onto the inside of the glass bulb, acting as a neutral density filter. New bulbs really helped my '85. Once you have new bulbs and have cleaned the plastic light pipes you can think of other options (if necessary).

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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

If you like soldering you can remove the plastic light channels and replace them with 4 leds each. I'll post pics if I can find the time later tonight. 20 page paper due this weekend

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$60 OM617 Blank Exhaust Flanges
$110 OM606 Blank Exhaust Flanges
No merc at the moment

Thanks guys. Looks like I might have some time this weekend to explore all options. I have a friend with a 83 300 D with no dash lights so we are going to experiment on his first.

Making a jumper to bypass the rheostat will keep the lights bright all the time. I know when Iam driving late at night I like to dim the lights down when my eyes are tired.
The contacts in the rheostat can become corroded, after all these are 20+ yr old parts.
Yeah that part is a little pricy, as much as a good parts car.

I bought a housing out of an 80 300D since my lense was cracked. I must have used the rheostat from it, because my lights are brighter than they have ever been. also the turn sigs are larger arrows.

Charlie

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there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works

Well I took my dash out and repainted the needles orange, Painted the light housings white,replaced the bulbs and took the dimmer switch apart and cleaned it and now have lights you can see . Then I did and friends 300 D, and his 300SD what a difference. Thanks for all the advice and instructions I found at this forum.

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Moss Gate Bed & Breakfast
1985 300 TD GG done in by a red light runner
1984 300 CD Sold
2008 Titian
2000 Cadillac SLS
1966 FLH Sold
2003 Harley Ultra

When I did mine I put in new bulbs and a brand new rheostat I found on a cluster in a junk yard car. The lighting is plenty bright now.

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-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)

I know, the jobs's done but let me throw something I did into the mix!

After cleaning everything really well I added foil tape pieces to the little 'recesses' that the bulbs set into along with new bulbs. This helped tremendously!

Sounds like you have them in better condition than you started with - congrats!

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Dale

Be sure to let the needles dry completely without touching the stop pins or you'll get sticky gauges, especially the speedo.

I want to change the bulbs and repaint the needels. Did you guys pull the needles out or you painted them on the gauge. I am afraid to pull them out. I had a bad experience with a BMW instrument cluster.

Also I am assuming you use spray paint, or is there something else.

Thank you

Paint with the needles in place. Use some tape on the center cap to keep the needles off the stop pin.

I used fluorescent orange model paint.