W126 Headlight Switch Illumination?
 

Before I go pulling things apart, is there any lighting for that rotary dash switch? I did a search and read about a rear fog light indicator, but I want to know if the switch itself is lighted. Im always fumbling to turn it off, since its not a stalk-type switch like my other cars.

I have never seen illumination in these switches. Some of them do have a very small bulb in the center of the shaft that comes on when the rear fog light is turned on... but that does not illuminate the switch itself.

Good enough. I just find it odd that they put a fiber-optics light show on one side of the dash, and then complete darkness on the other side. Oh well.

I'll check mine out tonight and let you know...just haven't paid any attention when I did have the lights on,,,just got the car about 2 weeks ago.

89 560SL's is lit. quite nicely too.

The switch knob itself is not illuminated, apart from the central indicator for the rear fog light, which comes on when the switch is pulled out to the second detent position. The indicators around the switch knob are lit from behind, so either the bulb has blown or the bulb holder is unclipped.

Pull the knob, undo the big nut holding the unit in place and pull the unit out to check. Be careful when you unlip the plastic panel from the dash, it's clipped in and the plastic tongues break easily. The bulb holder clips into the back of the switch unit. If you have vacuum adjustment for headlight level, watch out you don't lose the hoses when you pull the unit out, the job can escalate from something simple to pull the dash nightmare if you are not careful.

You'll probably find the switch comes off in your hand when you try to pull it out to activate the rear fog. If so, you can get some relief by prising the two prongs of the switch unit apart slightly.

good luck

The icons around the knob look like they are painted onto black plastic, but I will pull it apart as you described. Thanks!

Well, I checked last night and I too do not have any illumination on the head light switch. All other switches, etc are illuminated. Seems odd that one switch would be out but I will pull it and see if there is bulb burnt out.

The white icons around the switch are lit by a small light. I replaced mine a few months ago. Simmo described how to get to the light well.

Good Luck

The logic is you have to find the headlight switch in the dark! That is, before it's turned on. If you can do that, do you need lighting to find it to turn it off?

There is definitely no lighting on mine. Just solid plastic and the little bulb in the middle for some sort of fog lights I don't have.

Correct. On model 126, the headlight switch surrounds were lit only from 1986 onward.

Does anyone know how to remove the headlight switch on a w126 gen 2? i have a 1991 560sel and the switch is not working too well. The headlight will only come on if I nudge it further more to the right after it's been turned fully to the right.

Hi Simmos, your instruction is pretty clear, but LandYaughtLover mentioned that "What next! Headlight switch will not turn to full on. Just parking lights and fog. If I push hard, they may come on when I hold it but running it out.

At least I found a better way to remove it. Hence the thread. The two threads I read said to pull the knob and remove the nut. Which is fine. But if you have knee impact things you can not just pull it out form behind as suggested. I found that removing the cluster made it a breeze to pull out.

Note: The wiring looks fixed to it. But it basically pulls apart in halves. No need to pry on a connector, etc.

Now I need to see if I can take it apart and fix what I assume is a spring and small ball bering gone off. "

Does your instruction apply for the gen 2 w126 as well?

Also wondering if a newer switch with the light on the center stalk will work on this car? Saw one on craigslist with the description: "95 - 99 Mercedes C230 C220 C280 W202 W124 W126 W29 Headlight Switch OEM 000 545 6004" I'll try to post a picture later.

First you need to drop the lower dash paneling so you have access to the back of the switch.

To remove the switch you need to pull off the knob cover, then use a 27mm socket (or something that will work in its place) to disconnect it from the dashboard. After that you should be able to pull it back out from behind.