Well I too had the garbled cluster pixel problem so I took it apart to have a look. I placed some rubber spacers just above the ribbon cables so they'd make better contact and it worked perfectly.
One problem though. I lost the entire center illumination of the cluster -- both of the large bulbs don't light up and they haven't burned out either. So I &^%$#&'ed something up.
Fixed one problem and created another. If anyone knows a fix or has experienced this problem please chime in.
I really do want to change the cluster for this minor problem. I do have an extended warranty. Problem is this vehicle is a late 2000 model with only 26000 miles. If I start to change instrument clusters it may effect resale value, unless the mileage can be certified by a dealer.
I believe you'll keep the same mileage reading on the new cluster. Ask the dealer to confirm.
Cheers.
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“Design embodies the values of a company. Even if there were no star, the car must always be recognizable as a Mercedes-Benz.” Peter Pfeiffer, Daimler AG
I have a 01 E nd it appears the temp readout is fine but the illumination becomes intermittent. This is the third time in six months that I had to give it a flick with my finger and it comes back on. I dont know if it is a bulb or not, but it does dim.I have the extended warranty for another four years. There were clusters with poor quality, and replacement clusters come from MB coded to the correct mileage, which the dealer has to certify. There are also companies who will repair them http://www.beckmanntechnologies.com/.
Search the site. This has been posted a few times.
The cluster is a tight friction fit. Usually pulled out with a pair of thin flat tools that slip in at the edge -- and have a hook on the end to grab the backside.
You can find them on ebay. It's a tight fit too. If you're uncomfortable with the high force, or afraid of breaking something....it's dealer or favorite mechanic time
BTW - Replacing the cluster doesn't affect resale. The cluster is programmed by DBC to your car with the exact same readings when its replaced. That's why you need a dealer to do it. It looks identical to the old one - including the odo number to the tenth. Only your wallet looks different
I have had this problem with my E-320 2000 when I first purchased the car, I thought is was just a bulb to my dismay, I was informed that the instrument cluster was failing and needed to be replaced. It cost almost 1k, to fix, the dealer gave me the runaround and I almost ended up taking them to court; but didn't want to go through the head ache..... to make a long story short they agreed to pay for half the cost; because the warrenty I purchased with the car did not cover it.
The plot thickens after mercedes took the car to repair it they told me the instument cluster had to come from germany and the last documented milage the had on the vehicle was the milage when I first purchased the car 58,200 I had already put about 2 to 3k on it before I had the cluster change.. When I received the car back it had the origenal milage that was on the car when I first purchased it 58,200 so my car really has about 2,500 more than the milage says! I dont know if thats good or bad!
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The plot thickens after mercedes took the car to repair it they told me the instument cluster had to come from germany and the last documented milage the had on the vehicle was the milage when I first purchased the car 58,200 I had already put about 2 to 3k on it before I had the cluster change.. When I received the car back it had the origenal milage that was on the car when I first purchased it 58,200 so my car really has about 2,500 more than the milage says! I dont know if thats good or bad!
That's the most retarded thing a dealer can do. Why didn't they just look at your mileage and program the new cluster accordingly. when I had mine replaced, it was programmed to near the exact mileage, not the last knpwn mileage.
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1989 300ZXT - mine
A pair of running shoes
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I just fixed mine. Both my time and temp displays were so garbled you couldn't read them. I removed the cluster and dissasembled it, loosened the circuit board just enough to slip a little strip of plastic under the pressure pad for the ribbon cable and reassembled everything. Now both diplays read perfectly. The whole job took maybe a half hour from removal to re-install.
I was planning to take pics, but then I forgot to once I got into it.
I just fixed mine. Both my time and temp displays were so garbled you couldn't read them. I removed the cluster and dissasembled it, loosened the circuit board just enough to slip a little strip of plastic under the pressure pad for the ribbon cable and reassembled everything. Now both diplays read perfectly. The whole job took maybe a half hour from removal to re-install.
I was planning to take pics, but then I forgot to once I got into it.
I used the above method from JP1 to correct my W210 Temp and Clock displays.
Linear Mode
