Lighting bulbs in dash
Can somebody explain me how I need to proced to change the lightingbulbs in the dashboard. It is a 463 model 250 GD, year 1990.
Half of the dash is black and the other side is not so eluminated as it should be.
Thanks for everey usefull info.
B.V.
Belgium
250 GD
When you say "dashboard", are you refering to the instrument cluster behind the steering wheel? If not, can you be more specific?
You will need the 2 special tools with part number 140 589 02 33 00 and follow the instructions contained in MB workshop manual 82.51, page 7.1/1, to remove the instrument cluster. I would assume that once this is done, you can access the bulbs beneath the cluster and replace them, but I have never done this.
As you can see in the pic below, the tools are nothing but a couple of hooks that you might be able to fabricate yourself.
Otherwise, your best best would then be to take the car to a MB garage or an independent specialist that has access to the special tools.
MB workshop manuals are available to GWOA members.
The dash board is not that difficult to remove. I have done it several times.
The tools that Jesus mentioned can easily be made from a piece of stiff wire like a welding rod or coat hanger. You only need to pull it 10mm and then use yourr fingers to avoid damage.
Prior to pulling the dash you must remove the steering wheel . This requires a 22or 27 ? mm socket a extension bar. Flip out the MB emblem carefully and the nut is down below. Its stiff so hold the wheel and get a mate to do the socket. Don't use the steering lock to hold the wheel as it may break.
You need to align the sttering wheel prior to pulling it so you can reassemble it correctly. There is no master spline.
The 2 bulbs are on the top left and right of the dash at the back.
I think you need to pull the speedo cable from the back of the dash to get it out. It only needs to come out far enough to get your hand to the bulb holder. Don't drop them behind as you will never find it again.
Nothing beats a bright dash when they have been out for a long time.
roly
Hi friends,
I have done the job this morning. It took me 17 minutes to do the operation, including the make of the hooks with a coat hanger.
Like Roly explained, it is best to remove the steering wheel, but do not be afraid it is a job of nothing with a 27 mm socket and extension. To do it very comfortable you first pull out the whole mid- cushion of the steering wheel, so you can realy look very good at what you are doing, no need to flip out the MB emblem.
After removing the steering wheel you take the two hooks like indicate on the draft and pull out carefully but firmely one side and than the other till you have pull it out for approx. 10-15 mm. After that you can use your hands to do the rest of the job and pull it out as far as the length of the Speedo cable let you do. But here again no panic, you do not need to disconnect this cable. I do not have women or children fingers but I could easely acces at the two bulbs at the top of the clusters. I changed them both. The original are 3W bulbs, but I put 5W in. I hope it will not be to warm in the cluster ? But I have O so much more light ..."nothing beats a bright dash"... like Roly said !
Before re-install I suggest to put on the contact and to control all the other lights, specialy the one down on the cluster like coolant, brake,defrog ,..etc... because with the manupalation it could be possible that one of these is not so good in his socket. The best is to let the contact one during the re-install operation, so you can see of everything is working.
I realize that the writting of this note toke longer than the repair job, sorry for my bad english.
Thanks both of you for the very usefull info.
Best regards,
Benoit
Keep him rolling the G.
Benoit:
That's absolutely brilliant! I did also replace the bulbs of the speedo/combined unit of instrument cluster of my older 460 series with more powerful ones and at such low wattages I don't think that it did any harm but at the same time it improved the appearance of the car at night exponencially.
Talking of which, I'd now like to do the same to my 463 series G and the question is: what type and MB part reference number are the 5w bulbs? I'd like to buy them before dismantling half of the car...
BTW I see that you own a 250 GD. Is it a SWB or a LWB? I would like everyone to fill the fields in their profile so that I don't need to ask these questions!
TDIYou are right, so here are the info about my G.
It is a SWB 463 from 1990 (one of the first builded in that range). I buyed 2 years ago from a guy in Ulm-Germany. He was the first owner. The car hat only 130 000 Km. At this moment 155 000 km. As you know the 250 GD was only built two or three years with maybe exepsion for the Italian market. It was never imported in Belgium in this configuration. So I was the first and it give me some problems at the begin to become a registration, but at the end with the help of MB problems where solved.
OK it is the lowest powered MB diesel, but you know with the speed limits it is not realy a problem. If I want to seed up i take my other privat car, a Audi A6 avant 2.6 with
350 000 km, realy also a very fine car or my company car a Passat 19TDI with 130ps.
But let we go back to the G who is used at most by my wife, you know the sound of the 5 cylinder it is a pure symphonie. Consumption is OK 11,5-12 l/100Km. With extrem from
9,8 l on Highway at average speed 110 Km/h to 14,5 l with a 2 500 kg trailer.
The color is light metalic gold-brown (champagne) and I have 225 Michelin tyres.
I will try to put some photos on the web.
Concerning the bulbs: I buyed them on the aftermarket buy Norauto, a package with 4 bulbs at € 1,50. They fit perfectly in the MB sockets.
Best regards
Benoit
Benoit:
I guess that my 300GD must look like real quick compared to your 250 GD! However you can say that you own a fairly rare GWagen, of which very few were made. I asked if yours was a SWB or LWB because had it been a LWB that would have made it even rarer: only 16 were produced, making it the rarest of G-Wagens!
Regarding the bulbs, what size/shape are they?
Cheers
Jesus :
To find to right bulb, I suggest that you go to www.osram.com
You go in the section Products and click product catalogue, there you click Automotive and click "Lamps for auxiliarylights, interior...."
after that in the new section choose "Display and Dashboard backlighting"
choose there "Glass Base Lamps"
and click W5W and you will find a draft from the lamp I mean with product number 4050300842912.
Best regards
Benoit
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Yes, it is what I mean !
During driving in the dark I can not read the instruments any-more.