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Replacing dash/instrument lights Revised.

47K views 71 replies 33 participants last post by  Marc W 
#1 ·
I felt that the current write-ups available were sort of lacking in detail so I took the liberty of following through with my own. Did this on my 2001 SLK320. Feel free to give me any feedback!


First, take the interior fuse panel off using a flat-head.


You'll want to take the side air vent out. This pops off via flat head as well.


undo these two screws you see here.


Underneath the steering wheel and below the telescoping lever, there's a single screw. Take that out.


Once you take that steering wheel cover panel off, you will now see two additional screws to each side of the steering column. er the plastic pieces was already cracked when I took the cover out -___-


Once all the screws have been undone, you can begin to start sliding the lower part of the panel off. Do so carefully as you do not want to break any of the brittle plastic inserts.


Now moving onto the other side, do the same by sliding the lower portion out. Once that has been done, you can carefully and slowly slide the entire lower panel out. Now, it is not necessary to actually take the lower part out, it just needs to slide out so that you can get the top portion of the panel out.


Looking at the cluster faceplate.


Since you can now lower the bottom part of the steering panel out, you can easily slide the top cluster cover faceplate out.


Removing the cluster faceplate.


Cluster without the plate cover.


Once the cluster cover is off, you'll see two screws on top. You know what to do...


Two more on each side on the bottom side of the cluster.


You'll want to pull the cluster out from the side like so.


Be sure to undo this power connector by sliding the guide out. There's also another connector on the other side - Don't forget about it and definitely don't yank the cluster out with the other connector still plugged in!


Cluster is now out and on my lap ready for service.


My now empty dash...


Behind the cluster with all the bulbs exposed.


Everything Re-assembled.


Now everything is illuminated like it should! Happy & safe driving!



Killahkal
 
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#2 ·
Thank you Sir for the nice Step by Step. I gonna print this one because i want to change over to the Blue Lights. And since you got half of the Dash apart it would be a good time to refinish you Dash if it peels. Thx again well done.
 
#3 ·
as a sidenote, small sized flat heads will be useful in getting the smaller bulbs with the socket base out and you can use a long needle nose pliers to get the 2 larger cambus socket bulbs out (orange base).

No need to replace the actual sockets unless they are burnt or melted...You can just buy the actual bulbs and slide them back in. I bought my bulbs from autohausaz.com but I also hear that Sylvania/Eiko branded 194 bulbs work just as well - although slightly brighter. Not sure if that's an issue or reduce the lifespan since they are higher watts, but it's a thought.
 
#34 ·
as a sidenote, small sized flat heads will be useful in getting the smaller bulbs with the socket base out and you can use a long needle nose pliers to get the 2 larger cambus socket bulbs out (orange base).
I did not manage to get the final stage of removing teh cluster to happen, so I did the bulb change in situ.

For the smaller bulbs, I find it easier to use a 6mm socket, which effectively extends the holder and provides a directional reference for the bulb, meaning that you can replace the bulbs without fully removing the cluster.

But for the two larger bulbs that light the cluster, I struggled to get a grip on the holders, and eventually had to get a pair of snipe (long) nosed pliers in there (along with my hand, a torch, and being able to see).
Does anyone have a recommendation for a tool for these that would act like the 6mm socket for the smaller bulb holder?
 
#12 ·
I'm with you on that Durk! Let's keep everything on our forum! The attachments are not too big since they shrink in size when you upload them, so hope the server storage can manage that :biglaugh:! And they will never go away =)):rb:rb:rb I don't mind against small thumbnails at the end of the post!
 
#14 ·
Check this thread: http://www.slkworld.com/slk-r170-general-discussion/33568-dashboard-lighting.html
The lilred320SLK might do this project soon so you can ask him do document.
Or you can follow these instructions: http://www.buellwinkle.com/r170/
I'm also planning on taking my dash apart to swap all my lights to LEDs. But it will be sometime next week when I receive the bulbs. Did take it apart like 3 times already for number of reasons. Just remember - be gentle, the plastic pins are prone to breaking and Do not over tighten screws when you put it back together =) Pretty easy to do though.
 
#16 ·
I can't confirm this yet, hopefully still this week end . . . maybe . . . The two larger bulbs provide most if not all of the background illumination of the cluster. The smaller bulbs provide all the indicator lights. (23 I'm told.)

Looks like there are;

7 warning lights on the left and
7 on the right side panels,
1 Fuel low light
2 Blinkers
1 attention

And I'm assuming 1 each for the LED displays? (Alternately they might illuminate the needles and/or as well . . . ??)

That still means it has to be one of the two bigger bulbs out if there is a background illumination issue . . . (That would appear to be the case on mine.)

Since I will have to do all the work to get to them, I'm replacing all of the bulbs; for about $25 in bulb costs.
 
#17 · (Edited)
Hi there!
While I took my dash apart I decided to change my instrument cluster lights to LEDs!








There are two big T10 type LED bulbs
Update:

I would also recommend not to use T10 bulbs since after couple weeks one bulb lost contact and now I need to disassemble it again =( My best advice is to order another set of B8.5D from superbrightleds.com (which I'm going to do now) to replace the T10 ones! :tu: Costs just $2.59 each and you need just 2 =)
B8.4D and B8.5D replace the hassle of swapping the bulbs, especially those B8.4D with (t5 wedge equivalent) which are soldered to the contacts...


and 5 of B8.4D (sometimes simply called B8.4) LEDs that illuminate the main part of the instrument cluster.
Here's a picture to compare the B8.4D with the regular Mb bulb and the T5 type that I inserted to match the regular bulb.
From left to right: B8.4D LED, OEM MB bulb, OEM MB socket with T5 SMD 5050 LED.
Now, the problem here is that the OEM bulbs are soldered to these small metal pieces on each side of the bulb socket and they just slide in. Save yourself time and money, and simply buy LEDs with the sockets. They run about $2.50 each. But if you Ebay it they have a pair of 3528 SMDs for $3.00. But it takes a while to receive them =)



I didn't bother changing the other ones on each side. Just checked them. I did change one for the "Low fuel". Thus, I used 6 of B8.4D leds. I ordered mine from Superbrightleds.com
http://www.superbrightleds.com/cat/instrument-cluster-gauge/

So here's how it looks like at night:




They are a lot brighter. I just don't like that old school yellow look :rb
And I used these T5 LEDs for my air conditioner switches:
 
#18 ·
Hi there!
While I took my dash apart I decided to change my instrument cluster lights to LEDs! . . .
I just haven't had the time to get to mine with all the traveling for the holidays. So:

How many bulbs are there in total? (I know there are the two big ones . . . couldn't quite count from the pictures I've seen for the small ones.)

Were there any particular difficultings in getting the panel out? (I've heard a couple of versions of that; particularly if you have to unfasten the upper dash from the center console?)

Thanks,
 
#25 ·
Yes, all the stores how that you need T5 and T10.
T10=8.5D and T5=8.4D.
https://www.superbrightleds.com/cat/instrument-cluster-gauge/

Please refer to my post http://www.slkworld.com/slk-r170-cl...ash-instrument-lights-revised.html#post353913 and see the pic where I compared 3 sockets. I explained how they differ. Judging from my experience is that it's better to buy B8.4D instead of T5. These are just sockets with built in LED. This way you don't have to solder new T5 LEDs to the contacts in your socket. B8.4D's and B8.5D's come as one piece socket and smd LED! I'm going to use B8.5D's instead of T10's also. Plug-and-play sockets. Since my T10's lost contact and one of the bulbs doesn't light up =(
I hope Mercedes sticks to one standard :tu:
 
#31 ·
Hey, Probably too late but still,
How did you change the bulbs for the air conditioner switches?? I have a few T5's lying around so...
Thank in advance!:)
You have to use a small flat head screwdriver or some plastic tool. you put it behind the switching know and it pops out (preferably you need 2 small flat head screwdrivers and position them in a 180 degree pattern). Then you need thin fingers or some tool to pop the bulb out =)
Be patient! :tu:
 
#33 · (Edited)
Well, with the windy, cold weather here, I thought it would be a good time to replace the burned out instrument panel bulbs. I followed the instructions here, and got it out, but, man, without a steering wheel that "telescopes", it was a feat. Is there any easier way to get this back in besides removing the top of the dashboard?



In the words of Emily LaTella: Never Mind..... :rb Helps if you remove the steering wheel cover. Just that 1/8 of an inch certainly makes a difference.
 
#36 ·
By steering wheel cover, I mean the padded cover I have over the steering wheel. I did not remove the steering wheel itself.

It took some wiggling and wrangling to get the cluster out, and a few choice words. But, patience prevailed.

I did change out all of the bulbs while I had it out.
 
#37 · (Edited)
OK, thanks.
I need to remove the steering wheel to get to the mounting screws for my indicator stalk, and also need to access wiring near the radio-fob/key validation module, as I think a previous owner's mod there has damaged a basic car function.
Hmm, expecting a long and frustrating day, but having been there once already (and planning to go there this time) I wonder if it might be easier.
Anon
 
#38 ·
Quicker second time around

Much much quicker the second time around.
Probably only about 15 minutes from starting to having the instruments in my hand, and then looking at the (for me) important modules behind the instruments.
Didn't even need to remove the steering wheel; this can be a separate investigation.

Grabbed the chance to confirm that the warnings sectors with the removed bulbs were blanks; never can trust previous owners!

Anon
 
#57 ·
HELP!




All my LED's arrived same day as my new instrument cluster. Been putting them in and of course, saved the 2 bigger bulbs to last. Guess what? I've got all the B8.4D bulbs in and they're the right size. However, the 2 B8.5D bulbs are the same mounting diameter as the B8.4D bulbs, just the back end is a bit longer. Did the company send me the wrong bulbs? The B8.5D bulbs are 2w and definitely should have a bigger mounting base like the originals. Did they send me the wrong bulbs?? Of course, they're closed until Monday :frown:
 
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