Lights under the shift indicator 1994 S500
 

My other thing to fix is the light under the shift indicator. How much do I have to take apart to get to it. Thanks, Gary

It is simple yet involved, open the ash tray, take out the insert, loosen screw holding front cover of ash tray, remove cover by pulling up., put aside. The next step is critical, there are two "torx" screws that go from the upper panel to the lower panel. These are not the phillips yo see when looking down these are giong in sideways. The best tool is on ofset "torx" about a half a turn at the time, they have a big body and small thread and join the two panels. remove the ring around the shifter, it is held by friction, gently lift the front of the panel (where the screws were) and pull forward. the panel is held to the console by two fingers in the back. If you break them you are screwed.
You can unplug the connectors to work, the bulb is in the side of the shifter.
Be carefull, the radio panel comes off after removing the radio and the two screws in the radio opening and two more down in the ash tray area

not a quick job
 

Looks like this is another that I will have to do when I have more time. Thanks,

Gary

The pics below might offer some insight into Peter's description. Don't take the screw completely out when removing the ashtray wood cover - just loosen it enought to slide it up and out.

The directions below indicate screws 5 and 6 are allen. I'm almost sure they are torque, at least on my older w140.



1) on selector lever console
press up and out with plastic wedge.
Ashtray housing
open.
Ashtray insert (2)
remove.
Screw (3) in ashtray housing
loosen with offset screwdriver.
Wood cover (4)
remove upward.
Screws (5 and 6)
screw out (Allen wrench WAF 4 mm , 2.5 Nm ).
Cover (7)
press toward rear and lift at front. Then pry out cover toward front and up.

NOTE: Danger of damage, do not use sharp tools!

Plug connector on switch
disconnect.
Cover (7)
lay down.
Reinstall
in opposite order.

Removal and Installation


1 Press frame on selector lever console upward and out with plastic wedge
2 Open ashtray housing and remove ashtray insert.

3 Loosen screws (arrow) in ashtray housing with offset screwdriver.
4 Remove wooden cover (4) upward.


5 Screw out screws (arrows), (Allen wrench WAF 4 mm , 2.5 Nm ).


6 Press cover toward rear and lift at front. Then pry Out cover toward front and up.

7 Disconnect plug connector on switch.
8 Reinstall in opposite order.

It is most likely the bulb being burned out but if the bulb is good then it may be the fiber optic cable that gets the light from the bulb to the indicator or the plastic unit that the end of the fiber optic cable snaps into. The cable could have popped out or the plastic holder could be broken. In my 1992 300SE, the plastic holder had broken and the replacement piece (MB) was designed to slide onto the shaft in the shifter box. Rather than tear the box apart to get the shaft out, I notched the bottom of the piece so I could snap it onto the shaft and then the pin held it in place securely. Be careful to have the spring loaded plastic piece in the travel groove when reassembling.

Tim