Dashboard light

[Johannes]

I would appreciate if anybody could help here
I have 1996 MB 280 E. When I bought it there was no light in the dashbaord (tacho, clock rev etc) I bought new bulbs but when changing them old ones was ok !! Sombody told me illumation is turned down but I cant find any wheel or knob to turn it up !! Is there any or what ?
Annother thing, when I turn on headlights the illumination on the radio goes black out but radio still works !! Could there be a connection between these problems ?

Thanks

Johannes in Iceland

 

[jberks]

Hi,
The dimmer is operated by turning the trip meter reset knob if its a w124. If its a W211, its operated by pressing the up and down buttons on the left of the binnacle. I doubt there is a connection between the radio and this problem, though I guess if the radio is clever it could dim with the rest of the lights (I've never checked my W211, maybe it does ..). I suspect that the radio is configured to dim when the lights are on (most generic (Pioneer,Sony etc) radios do this) . If the dimmed bulbs don't work you'll get this problem. You could simply disconnect the signal wire so the radio doesn't try to dim in the first place.

 

[Johannes]

Thank you wery much I cant wait to go home from work in morning and check this. I had never thought of the tripmeter reset knop for this purpose. I bought this car in Germany and the owners maual is in german. Silly me ! I hope this is the problem so I can stop using small torch during night driving

Thank you