3 Things to Do to Increase Dash Light Brightness on '76 to '85 W123

Just changing the bulbs may not be enough. Years of excessive heat can cause damage to the housings. Links to repair/upgrade resources: mercedessource.... In this video, I will remove an instrument cluster from 1983 240D and open it up to show you the problems and options for repairing them.

[@andrewjohnson9279]

Always appreciate your contributions to the community, Kent!

[@LesterLovesWatches]

Could you post a link to the right LED bulbs? Thanks, great video.

[@ThorneyedWT]

Last summer I patched whole inner surface of those bulb housings with high-temperature aluminum tape and kept original bulbs there. Hope that will also work as small heatsink. So far so good.

[@blueridgerennsport]

I've seen that kind of damage (from minor to completely melted) in every cluster I've had out of any European car made in the '70s-'80s. Decades of heat from those little incandescent bulbs kills the white plastic and can make it very brittle. Twenty years ago, before LEDs were a viable option, I starting using "real metal" chrome foil (made for model cars) to line the yellowed bulb chambers. Nowadays there is a certain kind satisfaction I get from taking a VDO cluster from an older car and relamping it with LEDs.

[@VintageVaughnVehiclces]

Thats great I will do that to project w123 i always remember when I have that thing out to repaint the yellowing faded needles back to orange.with flouresent orange water base paint. A boss I worked for kept telling customers who ran their car hot to watch their gages. I was at home rebuking a cluster and got a bright idea from mom's sewing basket she had those glue on eyes for stuffed animals eyes white round with clear dome and a black disc that moves around inside so I glued one onto the center of the needles small ones on individual gages and a bigger one in the center of the speedometer I had the car at work and asked the boss to come over and look inside and as he looked at the cluster I said watch those guages I said see they have eyes now ..?the look on the man's face was priceless. Watch those guages lol.?

[@peckymother]

How do you push the unit back into the dash - I've been trying with plastic trim tools but can't seem to do it.

[@vintage76vipergreenBeetle]

Great info, Kent. 👍

[@ese30]

Wonderfull, thanks!!

[@williamdavis2607]

You might want to start 3-D printing new light housings for your customers.

[@mercedesbenz7758]

Thank you 🌹

[@ericisexploring]

Mr. Mercedes God..I love your video. I’m confused about something. My dash lights are not working. I sprayed some cleaner into the dimmer switch and tinkered with it, the AC and hazard button light came on, but still no dash lights. The bulbs are the led ones like the ones you sell so I’m sure they’re not the issue. Any suggestions?

[@Mercedessource]

there are a lot of bad bulbs out there. Some are polarity sensitive and some are not even wired correctly for Mercedes bulb sockets - especially if you bought them on eBay. Many look the same but are not.

[@rarerides]

Wish I could find a W123 diesel wagon

[@arthurdardalis]

Can a LED be fitted to the alternator light? I think not

[@faressh772]

Good jop