Stripping the dash on a W210

[jberks]

I have just completed getting the binnacle out and stripping it down. Didn't do me any good but I thought I'd share the experience in case it does anyone else some.
1) Disconnect the battery. Remove the rear seat swab. I just dropped the earth terminal off - 10mm nut.
http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/attachment.php?attachmentid=274&stc=1
Just make sure it can't reconnect until you want it to!

2) Drop the under dash panel. 2 screws at either side, one in the middle and a white plastic disc/screw by the brake pedal. I also removed the heater outlet cover hy turning the screw 180 degrees and lifting it away. The panel then unclips (note the rectangular holes in the dash and console - these house the clips.

http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/attachment.php?attachmentid=273&stc=1

3) There are tools for this but I don't have them and didn't need them anyway. So, push the binnacle out from behind. Do it gently alternating either side and easing from the front where you can. It came out after a few mins of fiddling.
http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/attachment.php?attachmentid=272&stc=1

4) pull the binnacle forward and disconnect the terminals. There are some rather clever light grey clips held in by a small ridged catch. ease the catch down with your finger nail and slide the grey clip over the top (away from the cables). As it moves to 90 degrees, the plug comes out.
http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/attachment.php?attachmentid=276&stc=1

http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/attachment.php?attachmentid=277&stc=1


Now just ease the binnacle out of the car. It does come out, even if, like me, you don't have a tilting wheel. Just make sure the wheel is straight first.

 

[jberks]

Ok so now its out, the really interesting stuff
By easing the clips round the ouside, the top half of the binnacle comes off. Note the 2 triangular bulb display covers that 'fall' off as you are doing this. Put then to one side for later (obviously!)
http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/attachment.php?attachmentid=278&stc=1

Then by working from the top, you can ease the bottom plate off in the same way to reveal the PCB.
http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/attachment.php?attachmentid=279&stc=1
http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/attachment.php?attachmentid=280&stc=1

 

[jberks]

Reassembly

Ok - reassembly is basically a reversal, BUT, note the following
1) When I got it all back together, the fuel gauge just clicked and wouldn't move. If its not back together just right, a small amount of twist is put on the board and the dials will not move. Test all the dials, they should have a similar amount of resistance. If one is very stiff, check all the catches are home. the 2 triangular cards removed eariler had me scratching my head for a while. They don't fit!
The answer is that they are not installed until the casing is back together.
So don't try it this way, it doesn't work.
http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/attachment.php?attachmentid=281&stc=1

Instead, assemble the housing first and then 'post' the cards.
http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/attachment.php?attachmentid=282&stc=1
just ensuring the pin at the top and bottom line up.

Then just re-install and put it all together again.

 

[Blobcat]

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