Group Buy for LCD? $66 for those with heat related fading.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,055
Likes: 50
From: SoCal. Desert
'16 E350, gone: '03 c230k
Yep, thanks again for going thru all this Trey. Mine's on its way back. No worries on timeframe - if you want to wait until you gather the bad ones to send back. 
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,263
Likes: 169
From: So. Oregon Coast
C230 Sport Coup + 2006 W164 ML350 + 99 Ford Escort RIP
Ok. sorry for the delay. I was kinda waiting to see what the company says they're going to do.
I futzed with it today, and when I have a good solid connection, yeah, all lit up.
But in between, doing like Trey did, with the connector loose, it comes up for fractions of seconds. I thought perhaps I could get the connector just right, and it would come up. But no go. But point being, it will actually display characters for fractions of seconds, and quite clearly.
So...it seems to me, that either we have an issue with different spec display, or consoles.
So, what happened when you tested hahaitzmickey's
screen?
Please test the screen prior to sending back, and on return.
Then we'll know if the screens are bad, or if it's compatibility.
Of course, putting the old screen in, everything comes up, no problem, though today, it's a little
dim around the edges due to heat.
Just dropped at post office.
I futzed with it today, and when I have a good solid connection, yeah, all lit up.
But in between, doing like Trey did, with the connector loose, it comes up for fractions of seconds. I thought perhaps I could get the connector just right, and it would come up. But no go. But point being, it will actually display characters for fractions of seconds, and quite clearly.
So...it seems to me, that either we have an issue with different spec display, or consoles.
So, what happened when you tested hahaitzmickey's
screen?
Please test the screen prior to sending back, and on return.
Then we'll know if the screens are bad, or if it's compatibility.
Of course, putting the old screen in, everything comes up, no problem, though today, it's a little
dim around the edges due to heat.
Just dropped at post office.
Last edited by C230 Sport Coup; Mar 23, 2012 at 07:10 PM.
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 65
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio , Texas
2001 C320
ok i just had time to install my screen today but i failed miserably , really....
so miserably that i actually bought about taking it to get installed at the dealership (of course I'm not)
but wth guys what do i do, i followed everything alex thread said the DIY thing
and i have done many DIY on my car, even my bmw i installed a head unit, obc, bulbs, fixed door panels, i even fixed the window once,
and for the love of god i couldnt even get the damn speedometer off.....
i put 2 hangers, 1 on each side of the hole, facing away and i could not feel , or get any "tab" to get unstuck, and i tell you i was out there for a good while -_-
and the hangers were perfectly straight, and bent at a 90 degree angle .
any advice?
so miserably that i actually bought about taking it to get installed at the dealership (of course I'm not)
but wth guys what do i do, i followed everything alex thread said the DIY thing
and i have done many DIY on my car, even my bmw i installed a head unit, obc, bulbs, fixed door panels, i even fixed the window once,
and for the love of god i couldnt even get the damn speedometer off.....
i put 2 hangers, 1 on each side of the hole, facing away and i could not feel , or get any "tab" to get unstuck, and i tell you i was out there for a good while -_-
and the hangers were perfectly straight, and bent at a 90 degree angle .
any advice?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,263
Likes: 169
From: So. Oregon Coast
C230 Sport Coup + 2006 W164 ML350 + 99 Ford Escort RIP
Pefectly straight.
Just shove 'em in like a 2 bit ***** on a busy night.
You won't feel anything.
No click, nada.
Just put 'em in straight, they should bottom out, you'll feel just
a tiny bit of resistance.
If you put 'em at an angle, they just go off into the limbo.
Keep them towards the inside.
and pull on the speedo a little when you stuff 'em in.
Maybe try one at a time.
Then comes the fun part with the connector, which I posted on.
Push the clip down, and slide the grey thing down.
Be careful when you split the clamshells, not to break the trip odo reset
shaft. I just kinda hangs there.
Be especially careful when removing the old display.
You pull on the tabs, to open the connector, but be careful.
Don't break it. It's been connected a long time.
I got mine to go by pulling on each side separately a little to loosen it.
Just shove 'em in like a 2 bit ***** on a busy night.
You won't feel anything.
No click, nada.
Just put 'em in straight, they should bottom out, you'll feel just
a tiny bit of resistance.
If you put 'em at an angle, they just go off into the limbo.
Keep them towards the inside.
and pull on the speedo a little when you stuff 'em in.
Maybe try one at a time.
Then comes the fun part with the connector, which I posted on.
Push the clip down, and slide the grey thing down.
Be careful when you split the clamshells, not to break the trip odo reset
shaft. I just kinda hangs there.
Be especially careful when removing the old display.
You pull on the tabs, to open the connector, but be careful.
Don't break it. It's been connected a long time.
I got mine to go by pulling on each side separately a little to loosen it.
Last edited by C230 Sport Coup; Mar 23, 2012 at 08:25 PM.
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 38
Likes: 1
From: Spring, TX
C300 4Matic
Benzos4theteam,
I took me forever to get mine loose, literally like an hour of figihting with it. I could get one side loose but not the other then the loose one would pop back in. There is a track on each side that the hanger has to follow and it has to be perfectly straight but in my case i didn't have any wire hangers but what i was using kept popping out of the track and going off to the side. You have to make sure what you are using is not too thick.
I took me forever to get mine loose, literally like an hour of figihting with it. I could get one side loose but not the other then the loose one would pop back in. There is a track on each side that the hanger has to follow and it has to be perfectly straight but in my case i didn't have any wire hangers but what i was using kept popping out of the track and going off to the side. You have to make sure what you are using is not too thick.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,263
Likes: 169
From: So. Oregon Coast
C230 Sport Coup + 2006 W164 ML350 + 99 Ford Escort RIP
I think I posted this elsewhere.
Standard pliers have a wire cutter built in, unbeknownst to most people.
Take a wire coat hanger.
Cut the straight part in the middle, then cut it off at the bends on each end.
Viola.
Perfectly straight functional tools in about 30 seconds.
Standard pliers have a wire cutter built in, unbeknownst to most people.
Take a wire coat hanger.
Cut the straight part in the middle, then cut it off at the bends on each end.
Viola.
Perfectly straight functional tools in about 30 seconds.
Last edited by C230 Sport Coup; Mar 23, 2012 at 11:54 PM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,263
Likes: 169
From: So. Oregon Coast
C230 Sport Coup + 2006 W164 ML350 + 99 Ford Escort RIP
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,055
Likes: 50
From: SoCal. Desert
'16 E350, gone: '03 c230k
For those having trouble getting the cluster out, I think the key is to feed the tool (coat hanger) into the slot pushing slightly inward, towards the cluster. This keeps the tool in the channel which guides it to the tab you're trying to unlock. Otherwise the tool tends to want to go out of the channel (i.e. away from the cluster) and you can push it past the tab without hitting it. I had no problem getting the cluster out a couple years ago, but had to play with it for a good 10~20 minutes this time...
Super Member
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 651
Likes: 5
From: So. Cal.
'02 C320 Wagon, '78 308 GTS, '06 Highlander Hybrid
Time for some good news...here's mine after sitting in the Santa Barbara sun all day.
Thanks for all you've done Trey...sorry it turned into a cluster****
Thanks for all you've done Trey...sorry it turned into a cluster****
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 53
Likes: 2
2008 ML320 CDI
Hit 81 degrees this weekend and my display is still perfect. As a quick fix for the polarization problem, I ended up cutting a piece of overhead transparency to cover the LCD. It sort of worked. I can read the display with my polarized sunglasses now, but it's still a bit blurry. Did seem to tone down the brightness a bit, which is a good thing. Sorry some of you drew duds on this one, but I think minitools should come through with working replacements in the end.
Oh yeah, my car is a coupe.
Oh yeah, my car is a coupe.
Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 142
Likes: 6
From: New Orleans, LA
C230K Sedan
Benzos4theteam,
I took me forever to get mine loose, literally like an hour of figihting with it. I could get one side loose but not the other then the loose one would pop back in. There is a track on each side that the hanger has to follow and it has to be perfectly straight but in my case i didn't have any wire hangers but what i was using kept popping out of the track and going off to the side. You have to make sure what you are using is not too thick.
I took me forever to get mine loose, literally like an hour of figihting with it. I could get one side loose but not the other then the loose one would pop back in. There is a track on each side that the hanger has to follow and it has to be perfectly straight but in my case i didn't have any wire hangers but what i was using kept popping out of the track and going off to the side. You have to make sure what you are using is not too thick.
I just shoved 2 coat hangers straight in and stabbed it *didn't have to even twist or turn* and pulled each side out from the bottom. *grip the center bottom of the cluster and pull as you jab the tabs* It came out easily
? I need a big truck to haul my big boat.. My tacoma is weak...
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 65
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio , Texas
2001 C320
i don't see why you would get a raptor, does thing are def strong enough to pull ur boat, but thats not its main objective. the raptor is a "serious of road vehicle"
but seriously , the money it takes to buy a raptor , might as well get a platinum.
or a Fx4 or lariat, and something for you mercedes
i also like dodge. they way they look .
and tundra is ok my mechanic / father in law bought a new one like 2 weeks ago, pretty rad.
my dad is wanting to buy a new 2012 lariat ECOBOOST in the summer but we will see :0
.....
anyways guys i finally was able to get the gauge panel to click open, but guess what?
i couldn't remove it cause my steering wheels is stuck up high, i press the button and it doesn't go down?
(it was working like 2 weeks ago -_-) what do i do now? lol
Last edited by Benzos4theteam; Mar 28, 2012 at 01:10 AM.
Super Moderator
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 5,295
Likes: 22
From: VA
THE C350
OK sorry for not updating everyone in a few days. Ok so I have received the 4 defective screens and tested them to insure they are in fact defective. The next step is that I am shipping them back to Italy on Monday. Once they have tested them and sent me new ones I will refund the two of you who wanted a refund and the two of you that wanted a replacement will be sent theirs after I test it myself. I know one or two people wanted one so I will have 3 screens when this is said and done for sale. I will be charging a little more $80 for the headache I now have lol.
I know
1. billbraskyjr
2. djf5665
wanted one so I will let you both know once I have one in my hand that works.
I know
1. billbraskyjr
2. djf5665
wanted one so I will let you both know once I have one in my hand that works.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,263
Likes: 169
From: So. Oregon Coast
C230 Sport Coup + 2006 W164 ML350 + 99 Ford Escort RIP
You got mine right?
So, I'm getting a replacement, correct? Assuming the Italians don't try to screw us, correct?
Today was warm, and the screen unreadable.
I remembered why I wanted to be in the group buy! Ha.
If you had done this in the summer, you'd have had 20-30 people.
So, I'm getting a replacement, correct? Assuming the Italians don't try to screw us, correct?
Today was warm, and the screen unreadable.
I remembered why I wanted to be in the group buy! Ha.
If you had done this in the summer, you'd have had 20-30 people.
Last edited by C230 Sport Coup; Mar 31, 2012 at 06:00 AM.
Super Moderator
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 5,295
Likes: 22
From: VA
THE C350
You got mine right?
So, I'm getting a replacement, correct? Assuming the Italians don't try to screw us, correct?
Today was warm, and the screen unreadable.
I remembered why I wanted to be in the group buy! Ha.
If you had done this in the summer, you'd have had 20-30 people.
So, I'm getting a replacement, correct? Assuming the Italians don't try to screw us, correct?
Today was warm, and the screen unreadable.
I remembered why I wanted to be in the group buy! Ha.
If you had done this in the summer, you'd have had 20-30 people.
Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 117
Likes: 0
From: McLean, VA
2004 C240 4Matic
You got mine right?
So, I'm getting a replacement, correct? Assuming the Italians don't try to screw us, correct?
Today was warm, and the screen unreadable.
I remembered why I wanted to be in the group buy! Ha.
If you had done this in the summer, you'd have had 20-30 people.
So, I'm getting a replacement, correct? Assuming the Italians don't try to screw us, correct?
Today was warm, and the screen unreadable.
I remembered why I wanted to be in the group buy! Ha.
If you had done this in the summer, you'd have had 20-30 people.
How can a company charge that much money retail for something and have no concern for QC... Gotta love big business.
Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 165
Likes: 0
From: OC
E55
I just came back from my vacation in Asia. The LCD came in the day after I left. Anyways I replaced it today and after three attempts my LCD works. On the first attempt, I got the blank screen. I then put the screen the other way and that did not work. On the third attempt, I reconnected the ribbon and lined up the two black tabs and it worked! I have not tried it in the sun. It is cloudy in LA today. I hope it last. We shall see.
BTW: I cannot lock the instrument cluster back to the car. After removing the cluster, I took out both hangers. I tried to snap it back in but it will not click. I did not want to use too much force b/c I did not want to damage the LCD connection. Is there some trick? Thanks
BTW: I cannot lock the instrument cluster back to the car. After removing the cluster, I took out both hangers. I tried to snap it back in but it will not click. I did not want to use too much force b/c I did not want to damage the LCD connection. Is there some trick? Thanks
