Replacing bulbs in ML instrument cluster

[wwhopper]

The middle light(s) on my insturment cluster (speedo tach etc) have given up. while the 2 lights on either side still work.

What is the correct procedure to open the cluster up and get to the back for replacement of the bulbs?

Thanks for input on this

[cerbomark]

I have a 99, but first there was a black plastic trim that popped off by hand and then just remove any screws you see until it s loose. Then work the whole cluster out and bulbs change from the back of the cluster. Don t make the mistake I did by separating the cluster. (Bulbs change from the rear). Takes about 1/2 hr.

[wwhopper]

The two best tools on this job are patience and logical thinking!
And of course some decent tools - every time I do something like this, I am glad that I have a variety of them.... Every Job goes better when you have the right tools. And this time the small ones came in very handy, like the jewelers screwdriver and tweezers for removing these tiny bulbs.

In all it was not too hard a job - and a half-hour was about right. The hardest part was pulling the two side panels beside the steering wheel off. (This is where the patience comes in) Then the instrument cluster bevel - DOES NOT pull out, it slides down and out. Then the cluster itself, held on by two hex screws and 2 plastic flat screws - with holders that popped out when the cluster was pulled out (so be careful there not to lose them.) There is a main wire connector with a black ring lock that unclicks and then slides to the right and the harness connector pops out.

All that was left to do was slide the cluster out to see the many bulbs, all the same size! (Here is where the logical thinking comes in handy.) Figuring out just which 2 bulbs needed to be replaced. There are many more bulbs back there, especially right around where I thought the ones were that needed to be replaced.

The parts guy said "how many bulbs do you want - it does not indicate in here how many you need” So I went for 4 and he said, "I will get you 5, just incase." There are bulbs that light the LED's for the clock, temp & odometer. Bulbs for all the idiot lights -I knew they were not it, then a variety of others. I found 3 that were cloudy - and others that were not, so I replaced the cloudy ones, and everything lit up just fine. There were 2 empty spots in the idiot light section, so I put them in there as spares. Was quite surprised when I got a new light on the dash at start up about the air bags being off, that turned off once the computer checked them out!

One Tip - take a marker and mark the new ones, so you can tell them from the old ones that you pull out, they are so small and they all look alike...

Now on to the HVAC display on the C-class, which also is the dark!

[wwhopper]

Replaced the C class ('97 C-280 - digital read out display) HVAC insturment light too! Even easier than the ML dash lights!

With the radio removal tool that I bought off of e-bay for 9 bucks plus shipping. Pulled out the control unit, un-connected it from the 2 harness connectors - just as easy as before, slide the holder to the side and the connector pops out. then on the bottom was a white button where the light lives.. You have to remove the radio removal tools while the unit is out, release the tiny clip with a small screw driver... and pull the 2 tools out and then the unit is ready to clip back in.

Used needle nose plyers to get the light bulb holder pulled out, replaced the old bulb with the new one, placed the bulb holder back in, turned it tight and reconnected the harness to the unit. Checked it with the key in the on position and it needed a little touch to make it light. Then placed the unit back in the dash until it clicked... Done - less than 10 mins....

How many MBCA Club members does it take to replace a dash bulb? Every last one of them! Thanks for being there for support!