how do you change the light bulbs behind an SLK speedo

[Paul Buck]

How do you change the speedo light bulbs on an SLK? Do you need to pull the whole dash out?

 

[turnipsock]

It would be easier to buy a new car.

Seriously, the pod part pops out really easy if you have the correct tool. The stealership can do this in seconds and if you had an E class they would do this for free.

It's a two minute job and I would be surprised if a dealer would charge for this.

 

[louisjames]

out of intrest, why would they do it for free with an e class??

 

[C280sport]

Free?

My dealer charged me $100 to replace 2 bulbs behind odometer and tach.......nothing is free.

 

[louisjames]

ouch!!!

$100??? jesus. thats unreal.

 

[big x]

To pull the display you get 2 coat hanger wires and bent the ends. Carefully ease them into the side of the display and turn by feel so they engage the rear lip of the display and then pull the display out. There are quite a number of bulbs so you may have to remove a few before you locate the right one. They cost under a pound each. The whole display can be removed from the dash if required by unplugging the electrical connector. There is a wire catch on top of the connector that needs to be spring forward first.
I found this out by trail and error, the good thing with Mercedes is unlike some makes things are designed with disassembly in mind and for the most part no special tools are required.
The guy who was charged $100 was taken for a ride and should invest in a C-class Haynes manual as even if you have another model many components and logic of construction are the same throughout the Mercedes range. It's ironic that the better the quality of a car the easier it is to work on but that the Dealers then feel to charge an arm and a leg to touch it!
adam