temp gauge / clock w298 clk

[martineb]

on my 51 plate 230 clk the temp display does not light up and the clock and gear selector has lines missing from the digital display any one got suggestions on how to fix the problem please

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

From other discussions I have read on the forum the only way to rectify a digital display problem is to replace the complete unit. I think there is a thread somewhere so a search might help, there was a contact mentioned re repair, but that still means unit out while this is done.

No easy fix I'm sorry to say, so many of these units seem to develop ptroblems it must be making MB a fortune in the sale of spares. I've seen new units selling on e-bay for circa £100 so you may be lucky.

 

[television]

When one of the only options seems replacement,I would open up the unit and check for dry soldered joints (using mag glass) a dry joint looks to have a thin black line around the pin. LCD displays can also play up if there is any presure on the plastic face

Malcolm

 

[jberks]

As above. Its a very common complaint I'm afraid. The only official fix is to replace it and a new one is around £600 by the time its been fitted, VATted and programmed. I trawled ebay for months for the same unit. No joy I'm afraid. A couple of diesel ones popped up but no petrols. Eventually I sold the car. I stripped mine down a couple of times but I couldn't get to the offending connections without dismantling parts that were working ok and I didn't want to make it worse. I posted a few pics on the subject http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/showthread.php?t=10956 if you fancy a go.

I did find a chap willing to take a look, but it involved sending it away to Wales and there were no guarantees. He reckoned around £70-100 for a fix or free if he couldn't sort it. He sounded straight enough but as I said, I didn't take him up in the end so I can't vouch for him. If you want his details, PM me and I'll pass them on.
cheers,
JB.