Another huge thanks goes out to the forum here as I searched, printed 10 pages & got to work on the instrument cluster. Painted the inside reflectors (gloss white), replaced the bulbs, soddered the two post together and eliminated the dimmer swith.
Wow! What a difference.....I can actually read the odometer numbers at night.
Who needs a repair manual with this wealth of information?

Thanks again,

Don

__________________
DAILY DRIVERS:
'84 300DT 298k (Aubrey's)
'99.5 Jetta TDI IV 251k (Julie's)
'97 Jetta TDI 127k (Amber's)
'97 Jetta TDI 186k (Matt's)
'96 Passat TDI 237k (Don's
'84 300D 211k Mint (Arne- Undergoing Greasecar Conversion)

SOLD:
'82 240D 229k (Matt's - Converted-300DT w/ 4 speed

Congratulations, Don.

Sometime we have to have another mini diesel Meet in Western MI.

Considering a move to Kalamazoo. Afew diselheads in the area?

Soddering is a great typo-verb when talking mechanics.

__________________
306D 1975 (camper) - rusting away
W116 450 SEL 1975 - sold
W114 long wheelbase ambulance, 3 litre diesel 1974

VW Golf 1 convertable - midlife crisis item
VW T4 van - support vehicle

Mccan....and others:

We need to begin to establish a W. Michigan presence. I have two buddies up here in N. Grand Rapids area and we all have 2 older MB's. We'll post a potential mini-meet sometime this spring when its warm enough to stand outside.

Don

__________________
DAILY DRIVERS:
'84 300DT 298k (Aubrey's)
'99.5 Jetta TDI IV 251k (Julie's)
'97 Jetta TDI 127k (Amber's)
'97 Jetta TDI 186k (Matt's)
'96 Passat TDI 237k (Don's
'84 300D 211k Mint (Arne- Undergoing Greasecar Conversion)

SOLD:
'82 240D 229k (Matt's - Converted-300DT w/ 4 speed

Make that three, Don!
I forsee a great mercedes diesel rebellion taking shape.

After diesel don fixed his instrument cluster lights, I did the same with his help. Major improvement!
Ditto on the wealth of information note!!

__________________
Current: '91 300TE 4MATIC 317k and climbing...
Former:
'81 300TD Wagon 168K "Tank"
'83 240D 216K 4spd manual "Da Bear" (aka best car ever)

"Never sweat the petty things...
and never pet the sweaty things."

Great to hear , I will be fixing my odometer soon also with the great help from this board. I bought my 83 240 a couple of weeks ago and have done alot so far. As time and money permits I will start body work and get it ready for painting in the next few months.

__________________
A couple of Ford pickups F 150,250, 350 missed.
1983 240 D 256,000 miles ,auto, ac.

Diesel Don:

Now you have done it. You can show me how to pull the instrument cluster when we have the mini-meet. Did you buy the tools or you just made them?

I have read all the posts about how to pull it and am waiting that warm day in MI.

Speaking of the meet, March looks warm enough here.

Made two set out of coat hanger. Don't waste you time they bent out straight. May be able to use welding rod.
Charlie

Hey Guys:

Don't bother with a tool. Just reach up in the back and push it out. Takes about 2 minutes to get to it by removing 3 bolts on underpanel.
I did it twice the other night on my 2nd MB. The first time I forgot to plug in the tach. What a bummer.....impatience always gets me.
Might have to do it again as I just bought a 240d to replace Volvo with.

Don

__________________
DAILY DRIVERS:
'84 300DT 298k (Aubrey's)
'99.5 Jetta TDI IV 251k (Julie's)
'97 Jetta TDI 127k (Amber's)
'97 Jetta TDI 186k (Matt's)
'96 Passat TDI 237k (Don's
'84 300D 211k Mint (Arne- Undergoing Greasecar Conversion)

SOLD:
'82 240D 229k (Matt's - Converted-300DT w/ 4 speed

What do you mean about painting the inside reflectors white? How does this help to illuminate the cluster more. Thanks!

__________________
Sean Roland

2004 Saab 9-5 AERO 138k (for sale)
2000 VW Jetta GLS TDI 215k (sold)
1999 Toyota Tacoma 4x4 - 132k (sold)
1999 Saab 9-3se -- 84k (sold)
1986 MB 190e 2.3 16v -- 221K (sold)
1985 MB 190e 2.3 16v euro -- 145k (junked)
1992 Saab 9000t 5sp. -- 142k (sold)
1994 Subaru Legacy -- 264K (sold)
1998 Audi A4 1.8TQ -- 102k (sold)
1983 MB 240D stick -- 160k (sold)
1988 Saab 900SPG -- 156K (sold)
1983 MB 300D -- 270K project or parts (sold)
1986 MB 280SE Euro stick -- 150K (sold)

Make sure and avoid getting paint on the clear plastic strips which allow the light to travel from the bulb to the front of the instrument cluster.

The bulbs are housed in a little compartment which originally was white. That compartment yellows after awhile. In that compartment there is a plastic strip (about the size of a stick of gum) that allows for the light to travel through it to the front of the cluster where it throws itself onto the guages.

If you paint the compartment gloss white, there is more light reflecting and therefore it travels brighter through the plastic strip.

Hope this helps

Don

__________________
DAILY DRIVERS:
'84 300DT 298k (Aubrey's)
'99.5 Jetta TDI IV 251k (Julie's)
'97 Jetta TDI 127k (Amber's)
'97 Jetta TDI 186k (Matt's)
'96 Passat TDI 237k (Don's
'84 300D 211k Mint (Arne- Undergoing Greasecar Conversion)

SOLD:
'82 240D 229k (Matt's - Converted-300DT w/ 4 speed

i belieive the original reflectors yellow with age, and painting them back to white give them their original reflective qualities, thus they reflect more and absorb less light, therefore causing more light to enter the actual visible part of the cluster. I wonder what painting them chrome would do?

__________________
83 300SD.......sold
96 integra SE....sold
99 a4 quattro....sold
2001 IS300.......sold
2002 330i.........current.
2004 highlander limited....current.

Thanks for the reply. Too bad I just put my instrument cluster back together....mabye next time (although I hope there isn't one!) I also put in new bulbs, and it is pretty bright. Good enough...

__________________
Sean Roland

2004 Saab 9-5 AERO 138k (for sale)
2000 VW Jetta GLS TDI 215k (sold)
1999 Toyota Tacoma 4x4 - 132k (sold)
1999 Saab 9-3se -- 84k (sold)
1986 MB 190e 2.3 16v -- 221K (sold)
1985 MB 190e 2.3 16v euro -- 145k (junked)
1992 Saab 9000t 5sp. -- 142k (sold)
1994 Subaru Legacy -- 264K (sold)
1998 Audi A4 1.8TQ -- 102k (sold)
1983 MB 240D stick -- 160k (sold)
1988 Saab 900SPG -- 156K (sold)
1983 MB 300D -- 270K project or parts (sold)
1986 MB 280SE Euro stick -- 150K (sold)