JosanK

The displays under the speedo and tach are easy to read when it's dark. But, on sunny days, or with the top down (sunny or not) the displays are barely readable. With sunglasses on I can't read them at all unless I go into a tunnel or under a bridge. I have complained to two dealers and called Benz about this, they apologize but say that's the way it is. They say that the displays aren't broken, that what I'm seeing is as bright as they go.

I'd like to fix this. I notice the displays on the 2004 E class are much brighter and have better contrast.

Any advice/experience with this?

The NAV display isn't the brightest either. Was with a friend in a new Honda Accord the other day and I was amazed at how good the NAV was, and how bright the screen looked in noontime California sunshine.

tntmcj

try going to your svc button on navigation/radio display, go to settings, go to brightness and see what setting it is on, you can adjust brightness. this may help you.

JosanK

Tried this. Almost no effect, that is it gets brighter if you are in the dark but in direct sunlight it doesn't help. Looked at some 03 and 04 SL500's and SL55's at the dealer. They are pretty much all the same as mine.

Is your display (especially under the tach and speedo) bright enough with the top down in the day? What year do you have? Do you know the manufacture date?

As I said earlier the displays on 04 E's are much more visible in daylight. I'd like to have displays like that retrofitted it that's sane or possible.

barryf43

I've noticed the same problem on my 2004. One thing that helped for me was to use non-polarized sunglasses. Doesn't help the brightness issue, but it does make the displays easier to see in normal sunlight.

Greg Elmassian

Actually, non polarized sunglasses usually make a big difference. Wear some polarized one, look at the dash, and now **** your head 45 degrees each way... the display will wink out at certain angles.

(all lcd displays are inherently polarized - to different extents)

Greg

JosanK

When I had a 04 E320 as a loaner I found that the displays were quite visible even in bright sunshine wearing polarized sunglasses. Everything was white on black.

Greg Elmassian

my gauges are ok as long as I don't tilt my head much from vertical, then the display does go out..

Greg