What can I expect to happen if I swap out my existing instrument cluster (temp guage and clock/transmission indicator pixels are dead) with a used cluster from a slightly older (2001) vehicle? Also, is there a company that refurbushishes these in the US?

 

Won't exactly work like that. Clusters are version coded and locked to the vehicle.

 

A used cluster can be coded to your car provided it's the appropriate one. The dealer will need to do it unless you have an indie with a SDS.

There is a company which rebuilds clusters and IIRC the price was pretty reasonable. I'm sorry I don't remember the name but either someone else will or you can search this forum and maybe the W210 forum on benzworld.

There is also a 'pixel fix' DIY on benzworld you might look at.

Good luck.

 

Milage can only be coded once via sds or hht..there are places that can hack the cluster milage. Been down this road many times.

 

I unplugged the old unit and plugged in the "new" (older) unit and everything seems OK (except the car just gained 70,000 miles, and a couple of functions are missing on the on-board computer). Can I assume the car is drivable? Will the the computer shut me down for a mis-matched insturmemt cluster?

 

No it will not shut you down...you can drive all you want with no problem. But as you mentioned certain functions will not work till it is coded correctly. Which most benz dealers will not mess with. They are not to keen on used parts.

 

Cool - I found two seperate DIY threads, and I will definitely try the easier one first! Meanwhile I think I will drive around with the junkyard cluster... Thank you very much!

 

and vin range and it will plug and play. The version coding is not locked to the car it is locked to the version of the model.I.E. a e wagon cluster won't work for the fuel tank level since the sender is different for that tank.
You could drive the car with no cluster at all for that matter with no iussues other than you would be flying blind

 

Yes the coding is not locked, but the milage is. And yes a wagon and a sedan fuel level sensor are physically different, but not electrically they both vary the voltage from 8 volts to 0 volts, 0 being full and 8 being empty. All this info is coming direct from WIS and star wiring.

 

won't work without a trip to the sds to code it so it reads the correct fuel level if installed in a like engined like optioned sedan. If you locate a same optioned vin ranged model of same body it will work.This is from experience