SL/R230: repair foggy instrument gauges in SL55 AMG
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Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 46
Likes: 14
2004 SL55 AMG
repair foggy instrument gauges in SL55 AMG
just purchased a 2004 SL55 AMG. has the 'normal' foggy instrument lower section. I tried search but could not find a thread on this.
this is the little windows just below the speed and tach gauges. seems pretty common on these.
sorry if I did not search diligently enough. any advice or a link on repairing this would be appreciated.
this is the little windows just below the speed and tach gauges. seems pretty common on these.
sorry if I did not search diligently enough. any advice or a link on repairing this would be appreciated.
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 407
Likes: 137
From: Houston, TX
2005 SL600
That's not my video, I just know that it's a common repair for R230s. Haven't needed it for my car. I'm pretty sure mine has spent all its parked time in a garage or some kind of covered parking, as it has no sun damage at all. It currently lives in my garage most of the time, it's not my daily driver.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 1,329
Likes: 365
From: Gretna, NE
'03 SL55 Black, '03 SL500's Aegean, Mars Red, Tazanite, Alabaster, '11 S550 Flint Gray
I sell the displays and will replace them also if you are not comfortable in doing it yourself. I will PM you the details.
Newbie
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 1
Likes: 1
R230, W211
cloudy flaking LCD on SL55 AMG
My LCD dash displays also looked like they were "iced" over, making it impossible to read the display in daylight. Watched the repair videos on replacing the LCD screen and also on replacing just the polarized film. I was skeptical about the polarized film replacement working but I figured I couldn't do much damage...why not? For one LCD, I removed the polarized film with a razor blade and rubbing alcohol, made sure all the glue residue was cleaned from the LCD. For the other LCD, I scraped all the white, flakey top layer of the polarized film off but left the film that was exposed when the white layer was removed. For the LCD that I had completely removed the film, I oriented the new polarized film in the correct direction. Took them out to the car to test and surprisingly both worked. So if you're looking for a quick fix you can scrape the cloudy, white, flaking layer off and enjoy the afternoon.
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 328
Likes: 22
2004 SL55 AMG
My LCD dash displays also looked like they were "iced" over, making it impossible to read the display in daylight. Watched the repair videos on replacing the LCD screen and also on replacing just the polarized film. I was skeptical about the polarized film replacement working but I figured I couldn't do much damage...why not? For one LCD, I removed the polarized film with a razor blade and rubbing alcohol, made sure all the glue residue was cleaned from the LCD. For the other LCD, I scraped all the white, flakey top layer of the polarized film off but left the film that was exposed when the white layer was removed. For the LCD that I had completely removed the film, I oriented the new polarized film in the correct direction. Took them out to the car to test and surprisingly both worked. So if you're looking for a quick fix you can scrape the cloudy, white, flaking layer off and enjoy the afternoon.
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Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 328
Likes: 22
2004 SL55 AMG
I tried holding/rotating new polarizing film over both LCDs and in the normal daylight they did not help with the brightness of the LCDs (2004 SL55 AMG). I recall always being a little disappointed in the brightness of the LCDs even 10+ years ago BUT now they are completely unusable during the daylight (BUT very nice at night).
1) Are new LCDs better/brighter?
2) First person experience with which recommended brand/vendor (a link would be nice).
Thanks,
Tom
1) Are new LCDs better/brighter?
2) First person experience with which recommended brand/vendor (a link would be nice).
Thanks,
Tom
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