Failed instrument cluster

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rascal - 01 Feb 2005 17:41 GMT

The instrument cluster on my wife's 1997 MB C280 has failed. The dealer
wants about $1000 to replace it. I have found a couple of places that claim
to be able to repair it and a couple of places that appear to have
replacements (used but guaranteed).

However, I have been told by my local garage mechanic (who would likely do
the removal/replacement work) that the new/repaired cluster must be
"reprogrammed" by the dealer and that could be almost as costly as having
them replace it.

Can anyone provide me the correct information on this issue, please.

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Rodney T. Grill - 01 Feb 2005 21:15 GMT

> The instrument cluster on my wife's 1997 MB C280 has failed. The dealer
> wants about $1000 to replace it. I have found a couple of places that
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
>
> Can anyone provide me the correct information on this issue, please.

The instrument cluster does have to be coded specifically for your vehicle's
engine, country, and optional equipment (but not odometer reading as that is
stored in the vehicles on-board systems and simply displayed on the cluster)
This programming requires the dealer's Star Diagnostics HHT to perform, but
there are some independent shops that have these tools. My guess is that
it's no more than a 1.5 hour job (of course that means it takes 15 minutes
to program and 1.25 hours to do the paperwork and cleanup). Have you
thought about replacing the cluster yourself? I'm not sure about your
model, but most of the modern electronic clusters are very easy to R&R,
being held in by just a few screws or clips and a single electrical bus
connection.

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- RODNEY

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Richard Sexton - 01 Feb 2005 22:33 GMT

>> The instrument cluster on my wife's 1997 MB C280 has failed. The dealer
>> wants about $1000 to replace it. I have found a couple of places that
[quoted text clipped - 19 lines]
>model, but most of the modern electronic clusters are very easy to R&R,
>being held in by just a few screws or clips and a single electrical bus

http://instrument.articles.mbz.org/ has a few helpful articles. They
really are just big circuit board with various things attached to them. Very
easy to repair.

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rascal - 02 Feb 2005 04:34 GMT

Thanks for the information on reprogramming the instrument cluster. I will
probably try buying a replacement and installing it myself. I do not have a
parts list for the MB. Can anyone out there provide me with the part number
for the '97 MB C280 instrument cluster? Thanks for the assistance.

>>> The instrument cluster on my wife's 1997 MB C280 has failed. The dealer
>>> wants about $1000 to replace it. I have found a couple of places that
[quoted text clipped - 30 lines]
> Very
> easy to repair.

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