Greetings from sunny London-

I need to pull my instrument cluster this week to fix a dodgy bulb- can anyone tell me what kind of bulbs are used- are they the wedge-type as used for illuminating the console switches etc?

Also, how hard is it to remove the instrument panel lens in front of the gauges? I'm thinking about installing some chrome-gauge rings.

cheers.

__________________
1993 320TE M104
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past:

1983 230E W123 M102
1994 E300D S124 OM606 (x2)
1967 250SE W108 M129
1972 280se 3.5 W108 M116
1980 280SE W116 M110
1980 350SE W116 M116
1992 300E W124 M103
1994 E280 W124 M104
----------------------------------------------
"music and women I cannot but give way to, whatever my business" -Pepys

the mercedes number for the cluster illumination bulbs are 072601 012240 it is 12 volt 3 watt. it will look like the picture below. there are special tools that aid in removing the cluster, it could be damaged if you use other methods, they are tool number 140-589-02-33-00 i have sen them on ebay in the past, but none are there now. any mercedes deler can order them for you. see pictures below

You can take a look here. Maybe this will help get you started with the instrument cluster removal:

http://instrument.articles.mbz.org/renew/

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=71691&highlight=cluster+removal

http://www.peachparts.com/Wikka/W124InstCluster

http://www.geocities.com/ronaldnjoy/index.html

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?threadid=32102&highlight=cluster


Go to this website:
http://www.**************.com/

On W124 select "Body & Supension"
Then you will see "Dash Light Install Tools (INSTRUMENT REMOVAL)"
and then
Click on "Xenon Gas Dash Light Upgrade Bulbs (2)"


Regarding the bulbs:

Sometimes just changing old bubs for new oem bulbs brightens up the place. If you want a brighter solution, you can try LED bulbs. I tied red LED for the instrument cluster and the results were horrible! You can see the ones I tried here on page 6 (194RD):
http://www.toucanindustries.com/clientuploads/catalog/2005%20EUROLITE%20CATALOG(2of2).pdf

I removed them after 3 days.
I'm interested in a good solution too. Hopefully, someone else in here may be able to share a postitive experience.

Regarding the chrome-gauge rings:

You can ask these guys:
http://white-gauge-faces.com/html/gauge_bezel_rings__trim_rings_.html

You can email some of the ebay winning bidders and see what they have to say. I'm nost sure how they are installed, but I thought for some reason that they are pushed in from behind. I'm not sure about removing the instrument panel lens.

I will warn you about removing the speedo needles. I tried that and ruined my speedometer. Removing the cluster is the easy part.

Best of Luck!

__________________
1989 300CE Astralsilber/Schwarz
1992 300CE Schwarz/Schwarz

thanks for your replies- bit of a bugger if you have to go thru the back to fit the chrome rings tho- I really don't wanna be messing with the gauges and risk breaking a needle or something.

__________________
1993 320TE M104
---------------------------------------------------
past:

1983 230E W123 M102
1994 E300D S124 OM606 (x2)
1967 250SE W108 M129
1972 280se 3.5 W108 M116
1980 280SE W116 M110
1980 350SE W116 M116
1992 300E W124 M103
1994 E280 W124 M104
----------------------------------------------
"music and women I cannot but give way to, whatever my business" -Pepys

DO NOT remove the plastic lens from the front of the cluster. Remove the cluster using the hooks shown. You can get them for $10 or $15 each at your MB dealer. They are very handy for other jobs as well.

Once the instrument cluster is pulled out, you replace the bulbs from behind the cluster. Removing the lens will probably destroy it.

Good luck,