This morning when I started my 91 300E I had no dash or console lights, they were working fine last night though. I changed a couple of the fuses (slot 3 & 5) to no avail. The other items hooked up to these fuses work fine; tach, parking lights, fog lights ect. Where do I go from here? Is it DIY? Burnt out buld or busted dimmer pot? Grr, I've had this car for 7 days and already the muffler fell off, headlight lens cracked and now this. (Muffler replaced @ no charge)

I just went through the same problem. The very first thing you have to do is check the rheostad or dimmer controller which doubles as the miles reset in your instrument cluster. It is the left "handle" in your cluster. Turn it right and left a few times. If after doing that, still does not work, you may have to replace the fuse behind the cluster or the rheostad itself. My car a 86 300E does not the fuse behind the instrument cluster (it looks like a lighbulb, red in color?), MB started installing the fuse in 87's but, I do not know if this applies to your car, since is a 91.
I bet you turned the mileage reset handle by mistake during the day. Try the first suggestion. Good luck!


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J.H.
'86 300E

Yep... the dimmer knob was the first thing I tried, twisted and turned every-which way. Since I've only had the car for a week I have no manuals (other than the owners), could somebody tell me how to remove the instrument cluster so I can get to the dimmer pot.
Thanks.

Her's a follow up to the problem... hopefully somebody will find this of use when looking through the archives.
A mechanic pulled the intrument cluster with a pair of long, straight, thin Allen Keys bent 90 degrees 1/4" from the ends. Inserted them where the dash meets the air vents on either side of the cluster, twisted and pulled. After disconnecting the bulbs, and a few other wires a quik inspection revealed a broken solder joint on, what I believe, was the dimmer pot... a quik and easy repair.
Now I have my dash and console lights working again, making night time driving a little bit more enjoyable.

Cheers for now.
EADG
91 300E

THANKS FOR THE INFO I WILL TRY THAT NEXT.SO FOR I AM USING THE FLASH LIGHT .