Replacing lights in heater controls

[Bob J]

I've got a 1995 E320 with the left half of the heater illumination no longer working. I assume it's just a bulb, but before removing the cover, has anyone replaced these bulb(s)? Does the cover just come off with the 2 screws? What's the number of the bulb and is it a Mercedes-only part? Any help would be appreciated. Bob

[S.M. Autoworks]

I THINK they are the fiber-optic style. The end may have simply fallen out of its home. But I am not 100% sure. If you pull the wood grain off, and unscrew the puhbutton unit, you should be able to see somethink askew behind there.

[sasha11]

First you must unscrew 2 screws located upward from radio player,then pull out ventilation and heater knobs,and then you must unscrew 2 securing plates on blower/clima switches.Now is wooddash free to be pulled.
In my 87 year 300 d is bulb under some kind of plastic diffusor,which disipates the light,that plastic thing need to be pulled also,and then you see litle bulb.

[St3ve]

Grab the blower knob firmly between thumb and forefinger and pull hard, the knob will come off revealing a bulb. Remove bulb. Grab the vent knob and do the same. Remove bulb.

Unscrew both of the flat brass nuts (I use a pair of pliers)

Take out screws that are on the underside of the wood trim above the radio.

The top of the wood trim just clicks out, lever from the underside about 45 degrees upwards and pull at the same time

[Bob J]

Thanks for all the advice. I was able to get the cover off and removed the components, but that's when the fun began. The bulbs (OS 12/1.2w 4f) are located in a narrow recess where it's impossible to grab them. I tried everything from small needle nose pliers to tweezers to heat shrink tubing. Eventually I dismantled the control unit, unsoldered the three pins holding the rheostat for the temperature control, and removed the holder for the bulbs. Then I was able to pull them out. Putting new ones in was quite simple at that point. There must be a trick to this or a special MB tool. Any one else figure this out? Mine's a 1995 E320 so the controls are a little different from some of the earlier E 300s.
Bob