eddieo45

My odometer is messed up (see below). GDawg suggested buying one on ebay and the ones I found have far fewer miles on them (I've seen them marketed as a way to "lower" the miles on your car!). In another thread, I read that the miles can be set to the amount on my car for about $200. I don't want to do anything unethical or illegal, but isn't $200 a ton of dough to reset an odo from 53k to 70k? also, how would I be able to tell exactly how many miles are on my car, given the messed up LED's? and FYI, the ebay seller I emailed says only a new display can be reset, not one of his used ones...???

wingless

The dealership should be able to determine the miles by interrogating the vehicle with their computer. It may be possible to repair the display by disassembling and repairing the components. Typically is is dirty connections that cause the problem. Typically opening, cleaning and reassembling the connection resolves the problem.

eddieo45

thanks; does that mean you've seen this problem before? my auto broker says it's common to german cars, but the posts don't bear that out.

wingless

Yes, but not with this assembly. There are typically two ways an LCD will fail. One is if they get wet. The other is the connection from the glass to the PCB. It is easy to fix the connection, if the assembly may be taken apart.

eddieo45

given how close you are to me, I have to ask: is it something you'd be willing/qualified to take a look at? I'm dealer-phobic (i.e. cheap).

str8ridin

So wait. My buddy's 2000 W208 CLK had a faulty fuse in his instrument cluster. Occasionally upon start, the Fuel, Speed, temp etc. gauges simply did not respond...and coincidently, as he drove a few miles, the odometer and tripometer did not turn and add miles. Only until he pulled over, restarted the car and drove off would it resume recording the miles.

This was fixed by replacing the instrument cluster fuse.

That's not good. If that's all it takes to not put mileage on a car, then how the heck do i know if the mileage on my car is true and accurate? I'm getting paranoid now....

I want to go to the dealer and check somehow if my mileage is true. There has to be another place to record the miles!

wingless

That would not be my first choice. But, if you pull the cluster, take it apart and post images, I will provide feedback.

If required I could examine the parts in person, but if the problem is what I expect it to be, then all the difficulty will be in the removal and disassembly, not the repair.

eddieo45

I got some tips on the removal, and, should I attempt it, I expect that there's a number of connections, given this photo I found of the back of the cluster:

how would I clean the connection; compressed air spray or direct contact of some kind?

wingless

The posted image was enhanced and has been posted again.

It clearly shows two connectors, on the top, on either side. My expectation is that these automatically mate and engage fixed connectors on the vehicle, so after removing the fasteners, this is just a pull / push operation.

The white circles permit lamp replacement.

Cleaning is accomplished using a lint free wipe. If increased action is required, then 100% isopropyl alcohol, not rubbing alcohol, may be used.

eddieo45

...but you don't think my problem is anything to do with bulbs/lamps? just a good wiping of the connectors that are at (approx) 10 and 2 0'clock?

wingless

No to both. If the intrument cluster is removed, then DISASSEMBLED, it will eventually expose the connections that may resolve the problem.

The LCD display is built on a glass substrate. That component has contacts that must connect to the circuit board within the instrument cluster. That connection is made by having exposed conductive pads on both surfaces. A rubber element is placed between the row of pads. That rubber element has fine stripes. The stripes are alternating insulators and conductors.

Sometimes these stripes fail to maintain the required electrical connection. Almost always it may be restored by dissassembly and reassembly, with some simple wiping clean.

eddieo45

seems somewhat beyond my comfort level; i'm afraid i'd make it worse, or break it.

wingless

Yes, a valid concern. I would imagine that the assembly is full of LOTS of parts and that their relative orientation must be restored prior to reassembly.

MB AMG

My instrument cluster was also screwed up in my W210 E320. The odometer read 999999 and it costed over $1000 to get it replaced.

eddieo45

[note this thread was dormant 1 year+, you must have STFFed!] I never considered simply having a dealer replace my display (I'm assuming your $1000 repair was by a dealer); if $1000 is what that costs, I'm happy not being sure WHAT my display says!