TOOK MY 1996 C-CLASS TO DEALER LAST WEEK FOR GAUGE CLUSTER BULB OUTTAGE. THEY REPLACED 4 BULBS (PER INVOICE) AND IT WAS BACK TO NORMAL. HOWEVER, ON THE FIRST NIGHT TRIP, THE CLIMATE CONTROL PANEL WAS NOW COMPLETELY BLACK. DEALER SAYS THAT THIS IS ALL A COINCIDENCE, AND THAT PULLING GAUGE CLUSTER HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH CLIMATE CONTROL PANEL BULB OUTTAGE. I QUESTION THIS POSITION. WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Unless there is a charging system problem causing all of these bulbs to blow, I would think they would spend another 5 minutes & replace that bulb also.

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MERCEDES BENZ MASTER GUILD TECHNICIAN (6 TIMES)
ASE MASTER TECHNICIAN
27 YEARS DEALER M.B. Shopforeman
190E 2.3 16V ITS SCCA racecar

Thanks for your response. I agree, however, the climate control bulb was NOT a problem when the car went in. It was a problem when it came out, and they say there is no connection. I say there is. My question pertains to the R&R procedure for the gauge bulbs, and if there is any reason to suspect that the tech either knocked climate control bulb loose or caused the bulb to blow. Any insight into the procedure would be appreciated. I want to argue, but if there simply is no connection, I'll eat the cost to fix the climate control bulb today, on top of the $75 charge for the original gauge bulb R&R from last week, which I considered excessive.

There isn't anything related to removing the inst cluster that should affect the A/C/C control unit lighting. As the pushbutton comes out in 10-15 seconds on the 1996 model I would think bulb replacement isn't a big deal!!