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  #1  
Old 05-02-2002, 02:37 PM
190D22's Avatar
Driver's Side lights
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Columbus, Ohio
Posts: 876
How do I change the instrument cluster lights?

I have at least one dead cluster light bulb (can barely see the tach at night. Yes I have tried the dimmer on the trip reset. MB told me that I need at least one changed, but it was going to cost like 180 bucks... I said no I'm fine. How hard is it to get to those bulbs and are the bulbs easy to find. Once I'm in there I'm going to replace them all so they're all fresh.

I wish they'd have something that's completely fiber-optic and you'd have a few bulbs that are easy to replace down by the pedals or something.

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1984 190D 2.2 Auto 220k
2001 Jeep Cherokee Sport 70K
2004 Lexus RX-330 ??K
2005 Chrylser Crossfire LTD 6K

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  #2  
Old 05-02-2002, 04:18 PM
190D22's Avatar
Driver's Side lights
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Columbus, Ohio
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That seems a lot less complicated than I imagined. I read in my haynes manual (its for the english cars so who knows what it takes for those) that I have to remove the steering wheel and do this that and the other thing and 2 hours later I've got new bulbs in, that seems like a 10 minute job! When I get my car back from merc getting the tumbler replaced I'll do that.
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1984 190D 2.2 Auto 220k
2001 Jeep Cherokee Sport 70K
2004 Lexus RX-330 ??K
2005 Chrylser Crossfire LTD 6K

Play guitar? Go to www.cyberfret.com for free online lessons!
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  #3  
Old 05-02-2002, 10:08 PM
jobah's Avatar
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Location: Chicago native-W.MI transplant
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my $.02

I have taken out my instrument cluster at least a dozen times over the years. You do not need to remove the steering wheel. There is more than enough room to maneuver and to withdraw the instrument cluster with the steering wheel in place.
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Jovan

'84 (11/83) 190D 2.2 5-Speed; Silver/Blue; Motor No. 00354, 402k mi (340+kmi mine)

'89 Porsche 911 Turbo Coupe; Black/Black; 53kmi
'05 BMW 530i 6-Speed; 302kmi
'19 Range Rover; 30kmi
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  #4  
Old 05-02-2002, 10:43 PM
190D22's Avatar
Driver's Side lights
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Columbus, Ohio
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Hey Jobah. what is the process that you do to remove the cluster? Since you're a fellow 190D 2.2 guy... I'll be getting her back tomorrow with a new tumbler and I'd like to do some work on it myself while I'm in the mood! Thanks a lot for the replies guys!
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1984 190D 2.2 Auto 220k
2001 Jeep Cherokee Sport 70K
2004 Lexus RX-330 ??K
2005 Chrylser Crossfire LTD 6K

Play guitar? Go to www.cyberfret.com for free online lessons!
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  #5  
Old 05-02-2002, 10:59 PM
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Location: Chicago native-W.MI transplant
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Procedure
1. take off panel from under driver's side of dash.
2. reach in the area and remove the corrugated air line that goes to the driver's side vent.
3. reach further up and unscrew the speedo cable (only hand tightened).
4. push the unit from behind so that it begins to pop out of the dash.
5. along the left, you disconnect the oil line (8mm, as I recall). Remeber to tighten this one real well when reinstalling to prevent oil leak.
6. next remove the other connections (13 pin electrical, seat belt light, cruise speed sensor, outside temp display). These are the only ones that I can remember, but I think that there are a couple more.
7. lastly, remove the fiber optic lines which are on the upper corners (the left has one for the interior switch and the right one has one for each of the sunroof, antenna and defroster switches).
8. pull the unit further out and slide it out between the dash and the steering wheel.
9. the installation is the reverse.

While it is out, you can replace the bulbs, fix the clock if it does not work(see posts on this for repair-- the only thing that I will add is that on the 190 you need to desolder the ground which is soldered directly to the instrument cluster), clean the inside glass, clean the odometer numbers, etc.

I cleaned out both of the instrument panel lamp housing then lined it with an aluminum duct tape (aluminum foil with an adhesive backing). This made the instrument panel substantially brighter.

All in all I rate the procedure a 6 (on a 1 to 10) the first time that you do it. It gets substantially easier as you do it again, but I remember the first time that I removed it, it took me a long time and I forgot to reconnect one of the wires so I had to open it up again.
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Jovan

'84 (11/83) 190D 2.2 5-Speed; Silver/Blue; Motor No. 00354, 402k mi (340+kmi mine)

'89 Porsche 911 Turbo Coupe; Black/Black; 53kmi
'05 BMW 530i 6-Speed; 302kmi
'19 Range Rover; 30kmi
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  #6  
Old 05-02-2002, 11:14 PM
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Yes, I think that you can replace the top instrument cluster bulbs without removing the full instrument panel. I have never done this, as my removal was linked to other projects (one time in 1993 to replace the dash as I have the dreaded blue dash).

Oddly enough the early 190's (mine is an early 1984 with a 11/83 buld) had oil lines to the instrument panel, and not an electric sensor. My 190 instrument panel is much like my 123 instrument panel.
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Jovan

'84 (11/83) 190D 2.2 5-Speed; Silver/Blue; Motor No. 00354, 402k mi (340+kmi mine)

'89 Porsche 911 Turbo Coupe; Black/Black; 53kmi
'05 BMW 530i 6-Speed; 302kmi
'19 Range Rover; 30kmi
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  #7  
Old 05-03-2002, 11:11 PM
190D22's Avatar
Driver's Side lights
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Columbus, Ohio
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Well I was able to pop the thing out, but I can't get it out far enough to get good access to the back. The vent duct is a pain in the @$$ to get out, I was unable to get it out. And whatever that aluminum pipe is going to the climate control is hot has hell and I kept burning my hand on it trying to reach up into the dash. Any tips??? I bought 4 bulbs like txbill recommended doing. Any help would be GREATLY appreciated! Thanks.
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1984 190D 2.2 Auto 220k
2001 Jeep Cherokee Sport 70K
2004 Lexus RX-330 ??K
2005 Chrylser Crossfire LTD 6K

Play guitar? Go to www.cyberfret.com for free online lessons!
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  #8  
Old 05-03-2002, 11:48 PM
190D22's Avatar
Driver's Side lights
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Columbus, Ohio
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Well, the oil line worries me. I don't want to ruin it and then have an oil leak in my car! Do you have any idea how I'd be able to identify it? I really have to pull on the thing to get the right side out. It's all too tight, no slack to really do anything.

By the way, what s that aluminum pipe on the right hand side that is REALLY hot? I have 1st degree burns from that piece.
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1984 190D 2.2 Auto 220k
2001 Jeep Cherokee Sport 70K
2004 Lexus RX-330 ??K
2005 Chrylser Crossfire LTD 6K

Play guitar? Go to www.cyberfret.com for free online lessons!
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  #9  
Old 05-04-2002, 09:10 AM
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You need to remove the speedo cable first. That will give you the room to remove the oil line. The hot Aluminum line if full of coolant and it gets reallyh hot, as you have found out. The way to get the vent tube out is just to tug, it will come through.

It is not that bad -- if you remove the speedo cable (you have to reach from under to do that).
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Jovan

'84 (11/83) 190D 2.2 5-Speed; Silver/Blue; Motor No. 00354, 402k mi (340+kmi mine)

'89 Porsche 911 Turbo Coupe; Black/Black; 53kmi
'05 BMW 530i 6-Speed; 302kmi
'19 Range Rover; 30kmi
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  #10  
Old 05-04-2002, 10:49 AM
190D22's Avatar
Driver's Side lights
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Columbus, Ohio
Posts: 876
Thanks a lot, guys. I'm pretty busy today, so I don't have time to give it another go, but I will do what you guys said.

Bill, I'm probably 20 min tops from gahanna and dublin (they are opposite directions from from eachother, so I guess I am the median between them eh?). The dealer I go to for service is in Dublin, Crown Euro Cars. I won't go back unless I absolutely have to, too expensive! They were the ones who wanted 180 bucks for the bulbs.

Though, thanks again for all the help!
__________________
1984 190D 2.2 Auto 220k
2001 Jeep Cherokee Sport 70K
2004 Lexus RX-330 ??K
2005 Chrylser Crossfire LTD 6K

Play guitar? Go to www.cyberfret.com for free online lessons!
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  #11  
Old 05-04-2002, 07:51 PM
190D22's Avatar
Driver's Side lights
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Columbus, Ohio
Posts: 876
Hey, I got the lights in today. THE hardest part was working with the air vent pipe and avoiding the hot coolant pipe (burned myself some more...). What was holding it back was the speedo cable, so I reached up there and felt the cable and unscrewed it. The guy at the auto store sold me the wrong bulbs, so I had to go back with the car partially disassembled and buy the correct bulbs. He sold me the tiny bulbs for the bottom indicators (preheat lights, seatbelt, etc). So I put one in the headlight switch just so it will glow even without rear foglights lol! It's not dark enough for me to see how much is lit up now. Thanks for all the help guys. You were really helpful!
__________________
1984 190D 2.2 Auto 220k
2001 Jeep Cherokee Sport 70K
2004 Lexus RX-330 ??K
2005 Chrylser Crossfire LTD 6K

Play guitar? Go to www.cyberfret.com for free online lessons!
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  #12  
Old 05-04-2002, 09:38 PM
190D22's Avatar
Driver's Side lights
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Columbus, Ohio
Posts: 876
Well, I assume that it is fine, I had it all apart once and drove, then had my hand back up there and no oil. I did what you said, push more line through the firewall, so I'm sure that gave me plenty of slack, it didn't seem stressed at all when I had it out. It's really nice having the cluster nice and bright! It's also nice being able to see my sunroof and antenna switches.

I JUST watched my car roll over to 139K. So I now have 139,001 miles. Not even close to what I expect it to run to!
__________________
1984 190D 2.2 Auto 220k
2001 Jeep Cherokee Sport 70K
2004 Lexus RX-330 ??K
2005 Chrylser Crossfire LTD 6K

Play guitar? Go to www.cyberfret.com for free online lessons!
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  #13  
Old 04-30-2012, 12:04 AM
gastropodus's Avatar
Mercedes Benz apprentice
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 434
How to remove W201 / 190D instrument cluster

Quote:
Originally Posted by jobah View Post
Procedure
...
2. reach in the area and remove the corrugated air line that goes to the driver's side vent.
...
I would like to say thanks to Jobah for this handy list. The key is step 2, since this is what allows you to get your hand up behind the cluster to undo the speedo cable. I want to elaborate on step 2, though, and tell you that you don't have to totally remove the corrugated air line. All you have to do is slide it off the heater box connection at the center console, and then free it up enough to get it out of the way. Don't mess with the vent end!

Kurt

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- '86 190D (W201-126) - 2.5 NA engine, 5 speed, cloth interior, manual climate controls, 33-34 mpg (sold to forum member).
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