Wow! It sounds very promissing. Did you have to disconnect the battery (with all the reprogramming hassle) or can the cluster be removed/reinserted with connected battery? thx
Hello,
Just wanted to report my sucess at fixing a missing pixel problem on the temp display. I had the vertical part of the + missing as well as the lower horizontal of the capitol F. I removed the cluster by pulling gently back anfd forth with my bare hands, disasembled it ( just unsnaps) and inserted a small 1/16" thick slice of a rubber eraser between the existing rubber block and the ribbon cable that powers that particular display. I reinstalled the cluster by simply pressing it in and wa la. sucess. If you have any questions I would be glad to answer them as best I can. Thanks Benzworld for saving me lots of money.
I just started at the bottom in the middle and pulled gently, then grabbed at the sides where the wood meets the cluster. There is a spot where you can get your fingers in and the more it comes out the better grip you can get. Maybe mine was just a little looser than normal.
Last edited by allwheeldrive777 : 01-06-2007 at 09:01 PM.
as regards the cluster removal it is easy really ,mine just wiggles out ,left then right then left a few times,or if i remember correctly you can get to it by loosening or removing the cover above your feet,thread up your arm or your kids or someone elses kids arm and push it out,just dont get cramp in the process
inserted a small 1/16" thick slice of a rubber eraser between the existing rubber block and the ribbon cable that powers that particular display.
I have a 2000 E430 and there is NO "rubber block" or a ribbon cable.
I dissasembled my display and found my display consists of a soldered pin connector block and the wire harness contains the male end of the plug.
I have read this thread and there is no way to "loosen" my circuit board, no way to put a "spacer" in, etc.
It is a pressed in connector with a lever that swings over the connector to hold in place.
I even tried to press down, wiggle, coerce, the plug to no avail.
I have not tried cleaner yet as I have to get some, but I doubt that will help. It appears my pixels are dead and until I can live without the $250 and 1 week+ downtime, I can live with no gear select light and outside temp.
Good news and bad;
Your Temperature read out is missing pixels, very common problem. Soon you will loose the shift indicator, and clock in no particular order.
The good news is that if it is still under warranty, they will replace the console and re-program the odometer. Wait until near end of warranty and then replace. My 2000 E320 went thru one panels in warranty, one within one year after that and was replaced again. This third panel is also gone, with total of 115K miles
As an electrical engineer, I looked into it and seems to trace back to a single or perhaps two electronics chips that are temperature sensitive.
My MB dealer wants $ 1500 for a new one, only one year warranty.
I am reading these post to try to find cheaper replacement
Actually I have the same problem. Both my time and temp displays were so garbled you couldn't read them, like your situation exactly Mr.JP1. Can you post us some pictures that show how to remove the instrument cluster and also how to repair the time and temp displays with your kind instructions?
And you would be very appreciate by all of who have the same problem.
I really want to give it a try to fix it my self, I only need your support.
temperature readout is dim compared to mileage/clock
I dont have any problems with pixels dropping out, but my readout for just the temperature is dim compared to the rest of the displays. is this a bulb I can replace?
Cluster problem fixed 
Need pictures in order to give it a try. 
Linear Mode
