I have a 2003 E320 and this is the 3rd time that the instrument cluster goes wild. All of the lights come on the gas gauge/oil guage don't register and the directionals work on the outside but don't display on the instrument panel. The dealer fixed the problem 2 other times (so they thought) but it has continued again and now my warranty is expired. Anyone else have this issue and what was the fix? This time the dealer is saying it's my instrument cluster. The other two times they replaced a SAM?....Any info would be helpful.

THanks,!

 

Hi,
Expamation is feasible. Need to know exact details to comment further. Are symptoms IDENTICAL or just similar?
SAM's are the units that send info to the pack.
Instruments pack (lighting) WAS a problem on 2000 vintage vehicles of various sorts.
If dealer states that the pack is the problem this is most likely correct. Whay evidence is there for the pack rather than a SAM / wiring being at fault?
These devices are digital and circuitry is complex.
Since (I assume) vehicle is only JUST outside warranty I'd get MB to consider Good Will contribution.
Stuart

 

Hey Stu, maybe you can help with my 99 e320. i got it used with the light out on the outside temp. display. it was simply dim. the mileage and clock lit up jsut fine. i went down to the stealer and they just gave me the bulb. i went out to the parking lot, pulled out the cluster with the specialty hooks and replaced the bulb that was burned out. hmmm...now the entire display showing mileage, clock and outside temp is completely blacked out. i pulled out the cluster again and moved the bottom 3 bulbs wround and nothing. i can jsut see the "lamp defective" come on cuz ive had a brake light out but i do believe its not related. all gauges work and backlight works, etc. only mileage, clock and outside temp is blacked out? i checked fuses in engine comprtment and next to drivers door. everything is fine? did i burn out display? if i buy another display...what woule the mileage read? my mileage is only 70K but not under any warranty. what do you think?

 

Hi,
Unfortunately my personal experience is not on E Class. However I expect the technology to be the same or similar as my own 2000 S Class.

Things don't seem to quite add up in your post but this is possibly due to some misunderstanding or incorrect assumption on my part.
You state that the outside temp and mileometer displays have separate imcandescent type replaceable bulbs and that after changing the outside temp bulb other warning lamps e.g. the Bulb Out warning light have gone bad.

Was the Bulb Out warning on before you made the bulb change or only afterwars albeit dimly?

On my S Class (which of course may be different) some of the warning lights are incandescent replaceable bulbs (ign, oil, turn, high beam) and some are LED's which are non replaceable (brake, check engine etc).
The lighting for the speedometer chaplets is specialised LED so that it can work in conjunction with the cruise/speed limiter.
Odometer, outside temp etc are LCD. I'm not 100% sure what backlighting method is used for the LCD but it certainly isn't an incandescent bulb. Its all contained within the LCD units on the PCB.
I can forward hi-res pictures if you PM me your email address. For whatever reason this site will not allow me to attach photos even when reduced in size!!!

The replaceable incandescent bulbs line up with the graphics on the front of the cluster casing.

I just don't see how changing a bulb can have led to the problem you are now experiencing.

Was the removed bulb blown or just silvered?
How did you check that the bulb was blown (multimeter)?
Was the rating of the "new" bulb the same as the old?
Exactly which lights were out and which are now out.
Did you disconnect the harness multiplug? If so was the ign on or off at the time?

If you change the cluster you will have to recode the "new" cluster even if the new one comes out of an identical vehicle.
MB have software checks to avoid unauthorised cluster replacement in order to avoid/discourage casual mileage clocking. Most of the pack will work OK but the mileage display section will read ----- plus a display faulty message or alternatively lock up when it realises that reading discontinuity has occurred.

 

THANKS FOR THE RESPONSE. I WAS A BIT CONFUSING IN MY POSTS. SORRY. I BOUGHT THE CAR WITH "DEFECTIVE LAMP" RELATED TO THE BRAKE LIGHT. NEVER BOTHERED ME. ITS ALWAYS APPEARED WHEN I PRESSED ONM THE BRAKE (IN THE BEGINNING). HOWEVER, THE LAMP WHERE THE MILEAGE, CLOCK, & OUTSIDE TEMP WAS DIM ON ONE SIDE WHRE THE OUTSIDE TEMP WAS. AFTER READING THE DIFFERENT THREADS, I BOUGHT THE TOOLS AND PULLED OUT THE CLUSTER. I SAW THE BULB THAT I NEEDED AND REPLACED THE CLUSTER BACK. NO PROBLEM. SEVERAL WEEKS LATER, I WENT DOWN TO THE STEALER, AND ASKED FOR THE 3 BULBS, (FIGURING I SHOULD REPLACE ALL 3) HE GAVE ME JUST ONE BUT GAVE IT FREE. I DIDNT QUESTION HIM SO I TOOK IT AND LEFT. WENT OUT TO THE PARKING LOT AND DECIDED TO PUT THE NEW BULB IN RIGHT THERE. I PULLED THE CLUSTER OUT AND TOOK THE OLD BULB OUT...WHICH "LOOKED" FINE, AND PUT IN THE NEW BULB. AFTER REPLACING THE CLUSTER BACK IN, I STARTED THE CAR AND NOTICED THE AREA WHERE THE MILEAGE, CLOCK, & OUTSIDE TEMP ARE........WAS ALL BLACKED OUT. I COULDNT SEE ANYTHING AT ALL. I TOOK THE CLSUTER OUT AGAIN, CHECKED THE SEATING OF THE BULBS A FEW TIMES AND STILL ALLL BLACK. HELP.

 

You didn't respond to the various questions i raised.
I fear you will need a new cluster.
Try http://www.bba-reman.com/content.asp...edes_Dashboard.
They will no doubt tell you more re the failure. However I consider them expensive and would go the eBay route from a used vehicle.
let us know how you get on.
Stuart

 

OKAY FELLOW ENTHUSIASTS...AN UPDATE. I WENT DOWN TO THE STEALER AND BOUGHT THE BULBS THAT I THOUGHT SHOULD BE REPLACED AND A FEW EXTRA ONES AS WELL. TURNS OUT THAT I WAS REPLACING THE WRONG BULBS. AS SOON AS I PUT IN THE RIGHT ONES, MY DASH LIT UP JUST HOW IT SHOULD. SOMETHING SOOOO EASY WAS OVERLOOKED BY IGNORANCE. ADVICE? HMMM, WHEN IT DOUBT, START FROM THE BEGINNING AND CHECK THE MOST SIMPLEST POSSIBLE ITEM. THANKS SNANCEKI FOR THE FEEDBACK. YOUR INSIGHT IS A BIG HELP TO US ALL.