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upgrade instrument panel lights
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Kozmob
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PostPosted: Wed Apr 21, 2021 8:03 pm    Post subject: upgrade instrument panel lights Reply with quote

I cannot see my instruments at times, especially when in sunny or bright light. I'm thinking of upgrading the bulbs in the instrument panel to boost visibility.

I see several youtube vids explaining how to remove the instrument cluster and lights, so I can handle that part. Any bulbs obviously have to be dimmable.

Has anybody here done this? Happy with the results? What bulbs did you use?
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smores
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PostPosted: Thu Apr 22, 2021 7:02 pm    Post subject: Re: upgrade instrument panel lights Reply with quote

Depending on your year, it is very difficult to replace the bulbs. They are mostly built into the different modules. (heater, switches, instrument cluster etc. ) My heater control slider light meant cutting heat-staked parts and removing a tiny bulb from a built-in holder and re-threading.

I believe the little bulbs in the instrument cluster are all individual bulbs with no bases. I forget what they're called. But again, very fiddly.

Not to say don't try, but it isn't a walk in the park.

that's for my '93
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Zeitgeist 13
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PostPosted: Thu Apr 22, 2021 10:17 pm    Post subject: Re: upgrade instrument panel lights Reply with quote

Are you sure the dash light dimmer rheostat is turned fully on?
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Kozmob
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PostPosted: Fri Apr 23, 2021 8:21 am    Post subject: Re: upgrade instrument panel lights Reply with quote

Zeitgeist 13 wrote:
Are you sure the dash light dimmer rheostat is turned fully on?


Hi bud. Yes, it is. I dial the rheostat when in the dark and the lights respond but not bright enough.


Last edited by Kozmob on Fri Apr 23, 2021 8:41 am; edited 1 time in total
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Kozmob
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PostPosted: Fri Apr 23, 2021 8:24 am    Post subject: Re: upgrade instrument panel lights Reply with quote

I saw this youtube video of removing the cluster and the lights. Overall a pretty complex process, but removing the lightes looked pretty east; just a twist with a pair of pliers. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXM7ZreBuuY

smores wrote:
Depending on your year, it is very difficult to replace the bulbs. They are mostly built into the different modules. (heater, switches, instrument cluster etc. ) My heater control slider light meant cutting heat-staked parts and removing a tiny bulb from a built-in holder and re-threading.

I believe the little bulbs in the instrument cluster are all individual bulbs with no bases. I forget what they're called. But again, very fiddly.

Not to say don't try, but it isn't a walk in the park.

that's for my '93
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Joshwa
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PostPosted: Fri Apr 23, 2021 11:38 am    Post subject: Re: upgrade instrument panel lights Reply with quote

Later Eurovan owners don't realize the poor dim lighting of the early van gauges. Especially when it's bright out. For a while I had a piece of white paper at the base of the gauges that would reflect natural light up into the gauges.

If you do pull your cluster and twist one of those lights out, could you kindly add a picture or part number for that twist out bulb. I will do the same if I get to it first.
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smores
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PostPosted: Fri Apr 23, 2021 8:41 pm    Post subject: Re: upgrade instrument panel lights Reply with quote

Joshwa wrote:
Later Eurovan owners don't realize the poor dim lighting of the early van gauges. Especially when it's bright out. For a while I had a piece of white paper at the base of the gauges that would reflect natural light up into the gauges.

If you do pull your cluster and twist one of those lights out, could you kindly add a picture or part number for that twist out bulb. I will do the same if I get to it first.


Interesting, maybe like Zeitgeist 13 said related to the rheostat. Mine is a 93 and instrument lights seem quite bright. Maybe broken rheostats that only go part way up.

Or maybe mine go to 11...
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Zeitgeist 13
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PostPosted: Mon Apr 26, 2021 2:04 pm    Post subject: Re: upgrade instrument panel lights Reply with quote

Sometimes you can cycle the rheostat rapidly a number of times to clean up any built up corrosion on the contact faces. This happens to older Mercedes, and I often just solder a bridge across to bypass the resister altogether.
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'01 Weekender --> full camper
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Whridlsoncestood
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PostPosted: Tue Apr 27, 2021 7:09 am    Post subject: Re: upgrade instrument panel lights Reply with quote

Agreed on the later models. The cluster is so deep in the dash that on bright sunny days it’s cast in a shadow void and the gauges are nearly impossible to see.
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RJ95
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PostPosted: Wed Apr 28, 2021 7:49 am    Post subject: Re: upgrade instrument panel lights Reply with quote

Hello,
We have a 95 EVC and are looking for advice related to this topic-- our issue is the lights behind the heat control panel.

Does anyone have experience changing out these lights on our specific year?

If you do and don't mind- please share your experience-- we are wondering how difficult is it to change these bulbs? what parts are needed? tools? part source?, etc

Advice is appreciated!!
Thank you Smile
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smores
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PostPosted: Wed Apr 28, 2021 8:00 am    Post subject: Re: upgrade instrument panel lights Reply with quote

RJ95 wrote:
Hello,
We have a 95 EVC and are looking for advice related to this topic-- our issue is the lights behind the heat control panel.

Does anyone have experience changing out these lights on our specific year?

If you do and don't mind- please share your experience-- we are wondering how difficult is it to change these bulbs? what parts are needed? tools? part source?, etc

Advice is appreciated!!
Thank you Smile


Hi yes. I did that light on my 93. It’s a pain in the butt. I think I took pictures of the process though. Let me look back and post some at lunchtime.
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RJ95
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PostPosted: Wed Apr 28, 2021 8:12 am    Post subject: Re: upgrade instrument panel lights Reply with quote

smores wrote:
Depending on your year, it is very difficult to replace the bulbs. They are mostly built into the different modules. (heater, switches, instrument cluster etc. ) My heater control slider light meant cutting heat-staked parts and removing a tiny bulb from a built-in holder and re-threading.

I believe the little bulbs in the instrument cluster are all individual bulbs with no bases. I forget what they're called. But again, very fiddly.

Not to say don't try, but it isn't a walk in the park.

that's for my '93


Thanks-- photos would be great! We also wondered what was meant with cutting the heat-staked parts... how did you reassemble? We are novices, but are willing to attempt small repairs and upgrades. again, all advice is appreciated!
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