My Knob's Melting!

[pashtun]

This is following on from a strand I started called Dashboard Lights about the small bulbs used for lighting the heater knobs and fan speed knob in a 1985 230CE (thanks Spike and others for advice then!).
I bought some 1.2 watt bulbs from the local parts shop, but these seemed to make the knobs really warm after a while once I'd replaced said knobs back onto the spindles. So down to Mercedes Manchester Central for 'proper' bulbs, but the guy said that they are also 1.2 watt? Is this right does anyone know, as I assume these Merc issued bulbs will also create too much heat behinds the controls too? (54p each by the way, fact fans!)

 

[numbnuts]

My Knobs melting also but both bulbs are OK. :lol:

 

[jberks]

back the dimmer off a touch.

 

[pashtun]

Of course! Thanks jberks, dunno why I didn't think of it! Obvious really, wood for the trees and all that!

 

[190]

I got my bulbs from MB dealer they are grey in colour with white domes on my heater controls heat up very slightly even with the dimmer switch turned up.

 

[Geoff_Slade]

I thought it was just me :? Sounds like poor design and I'm also a bit concerned about what's happening behind the panel, is the plastic starting to melt. Can anyone give any assurance that this is another one of those things were they are "designed that way sir" (like the temperature gauge that sticks at 80 day in day out until you're in a queue and then it starts nudging 100). Just a thought but is it to compensate for the lack of heat out of the middle vents!

I've backed the dimmer off as well so that they are pleasantly warm :wink: but it makes it more difficult to see the speedo (although in a 300D that's never going to be a major issue)


As for price I got mine from Merc (can't remember the price less than a pound but more than 54p). When I needed some more I went to the factors 20p ish each! I needed a few to start with as there were quite a few out (usual culprits vents, light switch, temperature guages and knobs). Once I'd replaced them all it looked like Blackpool illuminations. The ones I took out were as described but any new ones have always been clear glass throughout.

 

[190D]

Get the original bulbs from Mercedes they are not clear glass they are a grey colour with a clear tip on them that is why they don?t heat the knob as much.

 

[landover]

Get the original bulbs from Mercedes they are not clear glass they are a grey colour with a clear tip on them that is why they don?t heat the knob as much.

You will need to go slower 190 that's twice you have told them and no one is listening.PS where did you get the bulbs from?Are they clear.Do they heat up.Is your knob warm????????.

 

[190]

To answer you questions landover my knob is warm the bulbs aren?t clear and I got them at vardy. and they heat up a little

 

[landover]

To answer you questions landover my knob is warm the bulbs aren?t clear and I got them at vardy. and the heat up a little

I must check my knobs tomorrow I hope they are warm as it is cold when you go out these mornings..Hot knobs must be the in thing at the moment

 

[markku]

I bought some 1.2 watt bulbs from the local parts shop, but these seemed to make the knobs really warm after a while once I'd replaced said knobs back onto the spindles. So down to Mercedes Manchester Central for 'proper' bulbs, but the guy said that they are also 1.2 watt?

The correct wattage for these lamps is 0.3W. 1.2W lamps will melt the knobs as you have noticed. The correct lamps ( available from the stealers ) are far more expensive, thus people try to use incorrect lamps.

 

[Geoff_Slade]

My stealer sold me the clear bulbs as suitable for the heater knobs. I'll go back and ask them to supply the correct ones. Landover I'm quite capable of reading English but the fact is that when I asked for bulbs for the heater controls he supplied clear bulbs not the grey tipped ones. It looks like the dealers need to read 190D's comments as they don't seem to be aware of the difference.

For information what are the correct wattages for the different displays? Is 0.3w the correct wattage for the heater control knobs, lighting switch, temperature and fan displays and air vents or do they all use different wattages?

 

[pashtun]

Geoff,
I was sold the 1.2w bulbs by MB Manchester, and MB Stockport also said when I called them that his manual or PC or whatever he was looking at said that the heater bulbs should be 1.2, so who knows? Plus both blokes in the Parts Dept. weren't aware of 0.3w items at all!
Incidentally, does the light switch just pull off also to reveal the bulb, I've not tried it yet?

 

[pashtun]

Geoff,
I was sold the 1.2w bulbs by MB Manchester, and MB Stockport also said when I called them that his manual or PC or whatever he was looking at said that the heater bulbs should be 1.2, so who knows? Plus both blokes in the Parts Dept. weren't aware of 0.3w items at all!
Incidentally, does the light switch just pull off also to reveal the bulb, I've not tried it yet?

 

[jberks]

Yes the knob does just pull off.
Aren't the original ones' wattage marked in any way? - You'll need a magnifying glass though.

 

[pashtun]

Thanks jberks, There is something written on the bulbs at the base, but from memory it seems to be random numbers rather than a clear indication of the wattage-I'll look again though.