E240 Estate -2000 Instrument Cluster

[KentBenz]

The outside temp and clock displays are failing.Have found a company that can repair this fault but need to remove instrument cluster to gain access to these units. Can anyone advise how the instrument cluster is removed and how easy is the job of then removing these units. Thanks

 

[television]

There are special tools, but many people including me finds that you can push the unit out from the rear, it is a hard push, first one side, then the other and It will come out. When out just remove the multi plug and that is it.

Do let us know how you get on with the repair.

Malcolm

 

[big x]

The unit is friction fit only.Get 2 pieces of coat hanger wire and bend the ends into a hook,this is what the Merc special tool looks like.(Make sure there are no sharp edges.)Carefully poke them through the sides of the cluster where the soft dash material is.Twist the wire so they catch the internal lip and pull the cluster half out.Then unclip the plug on the back of the cluster(normally theres a wire retaining clip that you unclip first.)Then you can with some practice move the cluster up and over the steering wheel.To avoid scratching the instrument plexiglass cover the steering wheel with a soft cloth.Takes about a minute to remove.
Pushing from the back works but is bad practice as instrument clusters in general don't like being compressed being somewhat delicate.

adam

 

[television]

Pushing from the back works but is bad practice as instrument clusters in general don't like being compressed being somewhat delicate.

adam[/QUOTE]

the unit has to be pushed quite hard to put it back in back, the case is very sturdy and if you push it out there is no danger of breaking the glass which many people do.

Malcolm

 

[jberks]

the unit has to be pushed quite hard to put it back in back, the case is very sturdy and if you push it out there is no danger of breaking the glass which many people do.
Malcolm

Agreed - Having stripped one down I can say with confidence that you'd have to be pretty ham fisted to damage it by pushing from the back. I removed mine twice using this method. There is a risk of breaking the front glass by pulling from the front, using either the tools or a hanger. Quite common as MB sell replacement front pieces for £50 to cater for these disasters.
Do remember to keep ignition off or dis the battery or the SRS will complain and you'll need a reset. Good luck on the repair and let us know how much and how succesful.

 

[MIW615]

I think these are the tools Mercedes use - shouldn't be too dificult to copy / make

 

[andy_k]

they are the tools but as everyone else has said it's much safer to push the unit out - as jberks says it's all too easy to crack the clear front panel

Just drop the trim below the steering wheel, reach up and give the whole unit a push and it will slide out.


Andy

 

[mercmonkey]

I think these are the tools Mercedes use - shouldn't be too dificult to copy / make

Just wondering how much do MB charge to buy such a simple tool?

 

[tom7035]

Just wondering how much do MB charge to buy such a simple tool?

They're £10.00!

 

[tom7035]

I think these are the tools Mercedes use - shouldn't be too dificult to copy / make

See how to make them here;
http://www.mercedesshop.com/diy/w124inst_cluster/tools.jpg

 

[KentBenz]

Success with repair of Instrument Cluster

The outside temp and clock displays are failing.Have found a company that can repair this fault but need to remove instrument cluster to gain access to these units. Can anyone advise how the instrument cluster is removed and how easy is the job of then removing these units. Thanks

Firstly many thanks to all the members that offered advice on the removable of the instrument cluster. The removal by pushing out definitely worked well.

Having removed the cluster I managed to have it successfully repaired at a cost of £275 + VAT. Luckily the Company who undertook the repair was only 15mins away. Their details are as follows BBA-reman Ltd. 9 Sabre Court, Gillingham Business Park, Kent ME8 0RW. Tel No. 01634 230055. This was considerable less tham Mercedes Benz quoted. One problem is that it took them a week to repair and the car is garaged for this time. Luckily I was able to deliver and collect which shortened timescale. If I can be of any further help just yell.

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

Pleased you got a result!

Technical support outside the realms of the MB dealership is so important, if only to keep prices and running costs down. I'm sure most 210 owners who intend keeping their cars for the long term (as I do) may find this useful.