daytonabeach

I searched but couldnt find anything.

How do i remove the cluster, is it fixed with screws, or just squeezed in?

I need to replace the bulb for temp gauge and the clock.
Its a 1996 model.

Thx!

Chris

saintz

try searching for "coat hanger"

You basically just pry it out. It's a pressure fit. You can find pictures and instructions.

ohlord

can also tear up the dash or if it breaks cause more issue than it started with.
You can get a set of hooks that are purpose built to hook into little teeth between the place where the wood meets the dash.You insert the hooks and turn inwards to engage the teeth and gently wiggle the cluster out.
Or go cheap and try the coat hanger, in which case I wish you well.

ejsheltra

Or four blunt dinner knives at 10, 2 4 and 8 O'clock then wiggle the unit out. Look at a replacement unit to get a good idea of exactly where the smalls tabs are. Once out there are two leads to the back which are easy to disengage and cannot be hooked back up wrong

daytonabeach

Thanks guys, any clue where i can find pics of this?

kyosuke

https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w...1999-e320.html

daytonabeach

I can get a grip of the cluster, but it wont come out, how hard can i pull without destroying anything, do i need to pull real hard?

Or is more to hit the tabs at the right spot so its released?

ohlord

wiggle side to side and work it out.
Are you using the hooks?

daytonabeach

Yes, im using the hooks, but i dont seem to hit the release clip, so it feels like im going to rip the whole thing appart if im tearing to hard...

Ive ordered the ebay orig hooks, but wouldnt mind to fix it before that one arrives

ohlord

are no clips. In the gap between the wood and the dash material insert the hooks straight up and turn clockwise on the left one and counter on the right so they are parallel to the dash and pull if it has never been out it will seem like you are needing to pull very hard that is why it is best to just pull on side at a time and work it out bit by bit.It is a press fit.

daytonabeach

I hear ya

But im still afraid of destroying anything that cost to much to fix, but does it come out easier from the bottom or the top, or should it come straight out?

RichardM98

You may be inserting your 'hooks' too far up. The correct location is near the bottom on the side. (See crude sketch below.) If you have '+' and '-' buttons and 'h' and 'm' buttons then you want to insert the hooks at the '-' and 'm' location. Mark the hooks about 8cm (about 3 1/4") from the hook end. Insert them straight in to that point, rotate the hooks 90 degrees so that the tip of each hook is pointed inward. Now flex the handles outward (away from the steering wheel) and pull slowly until the hooks engage the teeth on the edge of the cluster. ALTERNATE -- left then right then left. As others have stated you want to 'wiggle' it out NOT pull straight out with both hooks. Clusters that have not been removed for a very long time are usually quite tight.

In addition, you can remove the panel under the steering wheel column. This exposes the lower part of the cluster and you can push on it from the back as well as pull with the hooks.

Note: You can protect the dash vinyl by inserting a thin piece of celluloid such as an old microfiche between the dash and cluster and insert the hook between the cluster and the celluloid material.

BTW, do you have an adjustable steering wheel? If so, extend it towards the seat. If not, you need to remove the steering wheel to remove the cluster.

Good luck.

daytonabeach

Thanks for the tip Richard!

Ive decided to wait for the original hooks to show up, probably next week, but tell me, do i really have to remove the steering wheel to replace the bulbs if i dont have an adjustable wheel?
How do i acces the center nut, wouldnt it be a problem with airbag system and stuff?

Isnt it possible to twist of the bulb with the cluster resting just outside the whole when it lays between the wheel?

ohlord

pull the cluster and just work your hand in the space available.

RichardM98

Well, it wouldn't hurt to try. Worse case is you'll have to push the cluster back in. Procedure I was quoting is factory and to them removal probably means complete removal (take to bench).

Procedure for removing steering wheel is part of a DIY on 'loose turn signal stalk' in the W210 forum over on benzworld_dot_org. Center nut can be a bear but otherwise it's a 5 min job.

Kevsta

I've just had my instrument cluster out to fix the diminishing pixel problem. I made two hooks using a metal coathanger cut to 9 inch lengths and a 1/2 inch at 90 degrees creating the 'hook'. Using these, my fingers and a little gentle persuasion saw the cluster out. Only once it was out did I notice that in the bottom corners (position indicated by Richard 98 above) there are cutouts or slots which will make using the hooks much easier.

Once the cluster was out I needed to figure out how to disconnect the two connector plugs at the back. These are held in by a grey coloured flange. On the back of the plug body alongside the flange is a small square button which needs to be depressed to enable to grey flange to slide towards the plug side at the same time pulling it from the socket.

Fortunately, I have adjustable steering so was able to drop this to allow me to remove the cluster from the car. However, I believe that if I wanted to just change the bulbs then this could probably be completed by not removing the cluster from the car, but may mean that I would probably need to get into some interesting positions to do this!!

daytonabeach

Fixed it now, but i hadnt managed it without the orig hooks, i had to pull real hard on the left side...

But tell me, are there suppose to be any light in the + - 0 and clock buttons on the side of the cluster, and how about the driving light switch, not the switch itself, but the icons above it, any light there?

Chr

RichardM98

On mine (1998) the buttons + - O and m h R are not illuminated but the icons across the top of the light switch are. Also, there are illuminated green and orange 'dots' at about 7 o'clock for the front and rear fog lights.

daytonabeach

Ok, so how do you access the main light icons for bulb replacement?

RichardM98

Sorry, haven't been there or done that. You might try the DIY stickies in the W210 forum on benzworld_dot_org or the DIY section of mercedesshop_dot_com (maybe it's peachparts_dot_com now) or the ever useful Search feature of any of these sites.

Good luck.

MercBimmerman

I'm surprised no one has taken photos of this procedure

guess I'll do it once I get to fixing by sisters cluster
the clock isnt displaying correctly
must be a bad contact with the ribbon cable

ohlord

of the light switch bulb diy
You go in throught the fuse box located along side the switch between the area when the door opens.
Someone even posted a video if you search.

daytonabeach

So you know where that video are but you dont wont to tell us how to find it and what to search for?

I tried a search, but couldnt even find a thread with the DIY itself, maybe there is a thread on how to search for well hidden topics in here as well

saintz

http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w210...-lighting.html

Search for cluster

johnmumie

hey guys im new on here.. i have a 1998 c280 and my car doesnt have the teleaspotic streeting on it.. and my temp , clock and mileage is partially there.. and when it gets hot it comes back completly... or on random days?! i was reading and someone said that if u cant move the steering wheel you need to REmove it... did anyone do this b4 .. is it anywhere on here i could look at.. this is my first mercedes... so im a total noob to all these things.. i came from the dsm/honda world :/ please help me out