removing bulbs from twist socket - instrument lights
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 24
Likes: 2
From: Washington, D.C
1988 300E, 1993 400SEL, 2000 BMW M Roadster; 2001 Toyota 4Runner
removing bulbs from twist socket - instrument lights
I am in the process of switching over to LED lights for my instrument lights and warning lights and have removed the cluster. I had no problem with the larger T10 lights in removing the bulbs from the sockets, but I have not been able to remove a single bulb from the smaller T5 twist socket. Am I missing something? They don't seem to come as a single piece, because it seems you can buy them separately, so what gives? None of them are burned out or melted onto the dash in any way. Note: I can twist the socket out of the dash but cannot get the bulb our of the socket. As a solution, I ordered some T5 twist sockets, thinking I would just use new ones, but they just arrived and do not fit the holes for the OEM sockets. New OEM sockets seem to be around $5-7 a piece, which seems pretty outrageous. anybody else have this problem? I already cracked one bulb trying to pull it with pliers.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 24
Likes: 2
From: Washington, D.C
1988 300E, 1993 400SEL, 2000 BMW M Roadster; 2001 Toyota 4Runner
Thank you Trevor. All the T5 bulbs (1.3w, I believe) for my W124 (1988 300E) are of the clear variety and all seem to be soldered into the socket (hence my inability to get them out). My cluster has no red, green or black caps or sockets; they are all black, and the bulbs are all clear; the yellow caps you show seem to be for the larger bulbs (though I believe they are T10, not T5, no?) and they do indeed come out of the cap without a problem. I guess I have an answer. Order new bulb/socket combos where needed.
Separate question: I note your photo shows the small bulbs with the designation "286TM4". Do you know if this happens to be a UK-specific designation? I don't believe I've seen that on this side of the pond. My search of forums and commercial outlets seem to show the T5 and T10 as appropriate for the W124 instrument cluster.
Separate question: I note your photo shows the small bulbs with the designation "286TM4". Do you know if this happens to be a UK-specific designation? I don't believe I've seen that on this side of the pond. My search of forums and commercial outlets seem to show the T5 and T10 as appropriate for the W124 instrument cluster.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 24
Likes: 2
From: Washington, D.C
1988 300E, 1993 400SEL, 2000 BMW M Roadster; 2001 Toyota 4Runner
Another question: in the process of trying to replace the bulbs in my cluster (1988 W124 300E) I managed to accidentally disassemble the 15-pin connector. While I think I may have put it back together with al 15 wires in the correct order (thanks to someone else who did the same stupid thing), now my temp gauge, fuel gauge and oil pressure indicator gauge are non-functional. My first attempt at putting the wires back in the correct order resulted in the temp gauge shooting up to max as soon as the engine was started; the other two gauges were dead. This time they're all dead. Any ideas?
Trending Topics
Member
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 148
Likes: 18
mercedes w123 260e
eds -300 Look you need to find the right 15 pin layout for your car there are a combination and you might have the wrong one .So do this . Google search page ..now look up to your right you will see = images .Now if you click on images the search box will change it wont look as if it has but images will be now showing . So in the search box for images you now put - W124 15 pin plug lay out just keep searching till the plug layout shows up ..good luck
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)
Verdad Gallardo
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 24
Likes: 2
From: Washington, D.C
1988 300E, 1993 400SEL, 2000 BMW M Roadster; 2001 Toyota 4Runner
Thanks, Trevor. I did find a source on the web with a photo and legend identifying the color wires for the 15-pin. After much intricate work, I seem to have put it back together and the three gauges that were not working are now working. Now I think I only need to replace the T5 bulbs that I managed to break trying to figure out why I couldn't remove the bulbs from the sockets and I should have a functioning and lit-up instrument cluster. Let this be a lesson to other idiots out there!
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
