Automatic Gear shift indicator.
 

Greetings experts. I am the owner of an 87 300E. At night, it is difficult for me to see where the gear shift lever is placed. Even though there is illumination on the panel at night, there is no indicator to show me, if the car is in the 'P', 'R', 'N', 'D', '1' or '2' position. Is there any colored indicator on this panel (below the ashtray) to tell me where the gear lever is engaged?

It should be lit...
Do a search on "bulb 300e console" etc etc. You should come up with the info on how to change it. This is somewhat common, but rather easy to change yourself. All the info you need should be in the archives.
GOOD LUCK

No indicator in window of selector
 

Greetings Zap,

If I understand you correctly, your shift window is lit but are wondering if there is a stripe that moves with the shifter so you know what gear the car is in?
You probably need to send MB this idea because none of us have any clue what gear we are traveling in either without turning on the overhead light. It would be helpful at times.

Charles

"Re-read it."

DUH! That's what I thought he meant originally!
Yeah..... he's right, you just have to look and see if it's in the right place.

I can tell what gear I am in at anytime on the selector cause my hand hardly ever leaves it. Its a comfy location... :) hehe

But do you mean the prnd2 is actually missing or just not bright enough?

You could possibly have one cusom made and have a bulb under it to illuminate it. hmmm

Alon

Guys, thanks for the useful information. To clarify, the gear indicator panel is illuminated, but at night there is no way to see where is the gear lever. One has to turn on the lights to see what gear the car is on. Granted, it is easy to say if you are on reverse (:)), but it would be useful if there is a pointer insight the illuminated panel that moves along with the lever.
It is hard to think that the MB engineers did not think of something like that, when other manufacturers have something similar. I understand that perhaps this is a detail, but MB has spoiled us with a lot of similar details.

Thanks again. All the nbest, Zaph.

Wasn't this one of the purposes of the gated shifter? In other words Mercedes assuming we would be able to tell what gear we are in by which notch the gear lever is in. Can anyone confirm?

Unfortunately, once you turn off the lights, you cannot see where the lever is, and it is even harder to feel on what notch you are, unless by touching you can compare the location of the level against some reference point you know.