W210 Instrument Cluster Light Bulb Replacement
 

I replaced my center light bulb on my 98 E320 today. Thanks to the posts which identified how to replace the bulb, I was able to replace mine.

I used a coat hanger as the special tool and had to pull harder than I thought. The replacement light bulb I got from the Mercedes dealer has a tan base. When I replaced the bad bulb, I noticed that there were three bulbs (one located directly below each lower center instrument cluster bulbs. These bulbs have a brown base. I took one out and noticed that the bulb is red.

Does anyone know what the red bulbs are for. I didn't see any reference to this in the owners manual. Will the message display scroll "Merry Christmas" on Dec. 25th?

Replaced my bulbs as well. My dealer charged me $3.80 per bulb; thot that was a bit steep. (only one was burnt out but figured when one goes they all go...)

Anyway, I too tried the clothes hanger route, but gave up and went through the left speaker grill/defrost vent. Much, much easier.

And re: the red bulbs, according to an MB source, it's NOT merry christmas. It's happy valentine's day. Guess we'll have to wait a few months to verify that one.

I would suspect that a red bulb can't be for anything good so maybe it's just well we not find out?

Gobble gobble.:eek:

HaYN Benz ,

$3.80 per bulb is not a bad price (especially in Hawaii). I paid $4.37 for my bulb.

How many bulbs did they replace?, I thought I counted at least 8.

Perhaps Mercedes should have used green bulbs, they could be used for Christmas and St. Pats day.

After searching some more for my "red bulb" question, it appears that the "red bulbs" are fuses. Who would have thought. From my experience the white bulb did a fine job acting as a fuse.

I colored my bulbs red so my cluster had a red tint at night now.. I like it better...

:)

All it took wa s ared permanent marker and a few minutes since I had the cluster out anyway...

So technically you could make them blue, green or any other color that permanent markers come in...

I wouldn't recommend painting them the permanent marker goes on in color but clear. :)

Alon