Stuttgarten

A few days ago, I got my hands on an AMG instrument cluster and I'd like to have it installed in my car. Dealer will not install since it's used. So, I've been calling around trying to see where I could have it installed.

So far no luck with shops that could install it properly. I'm told I could do it myself, but mileage will not show. I don't want that since mileage is so important to track stuff.

A buddy of mine suggested swapping the internal PCBs, which would give me the AMG look and retain the current car info. I'm wondering if that is doable. Someone else suggested just swapping the face plates. For me, the easiest thing would be to swap PCBs, if that's even possible?

Any ideas?

samaritrey

You can swap the chip that holds the millage and many have done it overseas but I have never seen a DIY guide or anything like that nor do I know if they were going from NON AMG to AMG they were usually just replacing it with the same part.
Remember when you mess with the IC a new one is 1k (that was the price for the w203 one so I am assuming its around the same price for the w211) So know that before you mess with this one. What I would personally do is fine a rebuilder of IC's and send them both and have them swap the cool looking parts into your current one. That said is the spacing and numbers the same between both because I have a felling that would be an issue if they are different.

Stuttgarten

I get your point. They look identical in terms of parts and so on. Part number is A2195406911.

Here is a link to it, it's #5.

https://mbworld.org/forums/w211-amg/...ace-plate.html

I really don't want to get rid of it, that is if I could get it on.

samaritrey

Okay good to see that it looks like the calibration of the needles shouldn't be an issue at all! I had never looked at an amg vs non amg gas cluster before as mine is a diesel has the lower red line.
Hopefully someone who has done this will post as this is a cool thing to do wish i could do it for my diesel lol

Stuttgarten

I found a "you tube" that shows how to change face plate. Don't even know where he got the face plate.

BagMan

See post 6 for how to swap the PCB. It's easy

https://mbworld.org/forums/w211-amg/...sassembly.html

Stuttgarten

That is an awesome link.

Stuttgarten

Well, I was able to do the work and it worked well, except for the bezel, mine did not fit on the AMG cluster's black face plate, so I ended up using my stock bezel. The AMG face plate has it's own plexiglas sealed; the clock, speedometer, and tachometer, but mine had the bezel's pelxiglas covering all 3 together.

So, how do I find the bezel for the AMG cluster, or does it have any, as it appears I can't use mine.

BagMan

Sounds like you have a CLS55 cluster. Same as the e55, but has individual lenses

Stuttgarten

Well, if that's the case, someone on fleabay is selling a CLS55 bezel, part # A2196890239 for $25, but would it fit my W211. If someone with access to MB parts catalog could check and confirm the AMG cluster part #: A2195406911 to see if it belongs to the W211 or the CLS, that would be great. Thanks in advance.

konigstiger

"219..." = cls

2195406911 = cls63

Yours: 211 surround 2116890439 shown here http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercedes-E...-/171279402343

2196890239 = cls55 & cls63 shown here http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mercedes-W21...-/251665796084

Stuttgarten

Do you think this trim from a W219 (2006) would fit in my W211? I noticed below listing is missing part number last digit (9). It's free shipping!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/06-Mercedes-CLS55-W219-instrument-cluster-speedometer-trim-cover-bezel-219689023-/391149639692?hash=item5b1255d80c&vxp=mtr

BagMan

It won't fit. It's shaped very much different.

EDIT: just to be clear. The actual gauges clusters of the CLS and E are interchangeable and can be swapped. The Bezel cannot.

It might be possible to use the CLS glass with the E bezel, but I'm not sure.

ra000052

I know its a little old and not intending to hijack your post but I did have a question on speedometer swaps if someone could chime in. I have the w211 (2004 E320) with the black face cluster. I have been wanting to update that to the silver face cluster. I see them on eBay with mileage nearly identical to what I already have (165k), If I locate a silver face from the same year, same model will it plug and play swap?

I saw some fitment charts saying the E320/E500 swap but from years ago when I used to mess with domestic cars and updating I knew you cuoldn't put a V8 cluster into a V6 mustang, the tach would be off but the speedo was fine.

I'm new to the MB, mostly just drive it but the old habit to customize to my liking has kicked in and I really like those silver faces.

(Any way to get red needles with out buying an AMG cluster to scavenge them?)

So I guess one of my concerns is, does the MB ECM send the mileage to the display on the cluster or is it saved in the cluster (what I'm used to) and will show what was on the donor car and does the ECM know which VIN each cluster is and think some fraud may be happening and not allow it to work?

Thanks all!

ra000052

I believe I just found the answer to my own question online. Searched before and it didn't hit me till now.

Bottom line is I cannot do this with out a large expense. Installing the 'silver' cluster will work however the mileage will "---------" blank out and the cluster came from a different car. Someone smarter than me with the right tools and knowledge must Zero the cluster then can program it to match the EIS and I'm good, but this looks like far more trouble than it's worth.

My next step after watching the above video and a few links it lead me to is to disassemble the two clusters and transfer the silver face gauges over to the original cluster and reinstall.

Hope that helps someone down the line thinking of the same swap.

Farau

I wanted to ask You one thing: with bezel You mean the housing of the cluster - internals(boards, gauges etc), will be fine to be swapped after replacing the housing, am I correct here?

Mackhack

I can help you guys with your cluster desires and needs. I can make them virgin, I can make them plug and play, I can activate the AMG menu, etc. pp.

Never swap the EEPROM or the PCB. Firmware is different with every part number, pre face lift and face lift clusters have completely different circuits and the cluster will look spotty with black spots if it's not done right.

ctravis595

Swapped the smaller pcb board from my e500 cluster to a e55 cluster, looks and works great!