Instrument panel light out on 99' E320 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

japuli · #1 08-15-2002, 12:03 AM

My instrument panel light located on right side of the LCD-like where the clock is located is not working. I called my local dealer and said it is not covered by the starmark warranty. I read some of the post that the instrument panel can be removed by using coat hangers or buying a special tool that would cos you atleast 20 dollars. The dealer told me that the bulb has a part # 910141000000. Please let me know if this is true.

Japuli

G-Benz · #2 08-15-2002, 10:37 AM

Burned out bulbs are a wear item, and are not covered under warranty. If it happened early in your ownership, they may have replaced it as a goodwill service.

I don't know what the 99 E-class cluster looks like, but I would venture a guess and say yes, you can pull the cluster in the same fashion as described by others on the forum.

I bought the pullers from FastLane for $15 about a month ago. Since then, I have pulled the clusters on my 300E and my SL500 to replace bulbs.

You can use coat hangers, but the MB tools are cheap and make the job a breeze with no damage. The cluster is a press fit, so a slow and careful tugging will allow the cluster to come out easily.

The bulbs are either the 2W or 1.2W bulbs. You can find the 2W bulbs at your local auto parts store, but the 1.2W bulbs are integrated into the bulb receptacle. At the dealer, they run a bit over $6 apiece.

For someone like me with more than one MB and a host of burned out bulbs to be replaced, the tools were a good investment.

I will add that I did get a little too earnest a few weekends ago and yanked on the SL cluster a bit too hard. Result: one of the pullers slipped and caught onto the lens, cracking it right off. Cost of my mistake: a trip to the dealer for a $327 SL instrument cluster cover!

japuli · #3 08-15-2002, 01:57 PM

G-Benz,

Thanks for your reply, I got mine pre owned 2 months ago. I think the dealer where I got the car is lacking GOODWILL service. Well I will try and do it. Thanks for the info...

japuli

japuli · #4 08-22-2002, 11:40 PM

I tried to remove the instrument cluster with the use of coat hanger but having difficulty, anyway I had a peek on those to clips located on 10 and 2 o' clock using a flashlight. my question is since the hangers are bent more than 90 degrees, do i have to insert them behind those clips and push the clip downward? And do you think that buying the puller tool makes the job faster and easier? thanks in advance for your advice....

japuli

omegabenz · #5 08-23-2002, 04:30 AM

What happens if you put 5W bulbs in the instrument cluster because I think that the 1.2 and 2 watt bulbs are way too dim?

They other day I was trying to get the cluster out of my brothers 300E with the right tools, and man it is super tight. Any ideas? I dont want to break it? I have taken out other 300Es, and they arent this tight. Also, the lights in my brothers 300E are really bright, thats why i was trying to find it.

On ebay I saw the pullers, but they are way too expensive, I bought my set of two from the dealer for like $12. i can get my part numbers if anyone would like. Oh man guess what this is going to be my 400th post...ya

G-Benz · #6 08-23-2002, 03:10 PM

I think MB was trying to keep the heat down in the instrument cluster...the cluster console has little or no ability to dissipate heat...1 or 2 5-watt bulbs probably won't do much harm, but 10 or so, well...

...I think the turn signal indicators on my W124 are too dim as well...I will probably bump mine up to 5W units as well.

As far as having a tight gauge cluster, try leaving the car out in the sun for a bit, and the dash surround may expand enough to ease the task. Otherwise, it might take a few firm tugs first, before a slow solid pull will remove the cluster.

I found the R129 cluster to be a much tighter fit than the W124...hence the snafu I encountered...

Get the tools...FastLane has 'em for $15...worth the expense and saves the grief of permanent (and expensive) cosmetic damage while attempting to replace cheap bulbs.

Next month's project...get out the tools and do the white-faced gauge treatment!!

japuli · #7 08-23-2002, 07:49 PM

Hi everyone,

do i have to insert the tools behind those clips and rotate the tool to push the clip downward ? I want to make sure what i am doing before making any damage

japuli

ejsharp · #8 08-31-2002, 10:49 PM

Insert the puller (bent coat hanger) with hook parrallel to the seam of the edge of the instrument cluster. Rotate the puller 1/4 turn so that hook is pointing toward the cluster. Tug on puller and cluster should begin to slide out. Move puller to different locations (top & Bottom of cluster) and tug so that cluster does not become jammed.