Instrument cluster
Description
The Instrument Cluster is also known as the Instrument Panel or Multi-function Display.
Hidden Menu
Instrument cluster hidden menu allows to see voltage measurement, vehicle VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) and other data.
How to Access
Watch this video or see Access - MFD Hidden Menu Steps below.
Access - MFD Hidden Menu
- Get into car and turn Ignition Lock to Position 1 (ACCESSORIES) but DO NOT start the engine.
- Set the Instrument Cluster Multi-Function Display (MFD) to show mileage (total vehicle mileage and trip miles).
- Push the R (reset) button on the Instrument Cluster three times within 2 seconds.
- The MFD will display something like "UB:12.3V".
- Use the Steering Wheel ‘UP’ or ‘DOWN’ buttons for other Hidden displays. The MFD Hidden Menu will scroll through;
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Setting Clock
With COMAND unit present, the time can be set in COMAND by pressing Service->System->Clock->Set Hours etc.
The time shown on instrument cluster can be set using steering wheel buttons only if COMAND has been disabled using DAS.
Swapping Instrument Cluster
Pre-facelift vehicles have no redundant mileage storage, thus the only place mileage is stored is the instrument cluster.
Remove instrument cluster
Instrument cluster removal tool is required to remove W220 instrument cluster.
If the right side of the instrument cluster cannot be pulled out, then the central AC vent can be easily removed and the clip holding the cluster pressed by hand.
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Fixing faulty instrument cluster
- No Backlights
- Total Power Failure
It is very common for the cluster to start flickering and eventually completely dying once these cars go beyond 100k miles or over 10 years. This malfunction caused a recall notice with Mercedes. Recognized for up to 10 years from MY, for registered owners, Mercedes will honor the recall, with enough coaxing. For everyone else, repair is the only option.
The culprits are one or all of 3 mofset transistors or the high voltage transformer. You could purchase these for 100 USD or less on eBay and replace them yourself, which requires quite a bit of work.
Alternatively, you can send your cluster to an eBay repair shop for less than 200 USD (google: "W220-W215 Instrument Cluster Repair Service").
Repair
The W220 S-Class, has an interesting lighting architecture, incorporating LEDs and fluorescent tubes to generate illumination and back-lighting on the gauges.
Usually, the parts that have to be replaced are transformer and 3 transistors:
- VOGT transformer
- MOSFET BUZ102S transistors (2pcs)
- MOSFET BUZ102SL transistor
It is useful to purchase original VOGT transformer, as there have been reports that cheaper Chinese replacement transformers are sometimes going bad some time after replacement (see the photo above).
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Repair instruction videos:
LED upgrade
Video below shows how to test wiring of the instrument cluster connector and how to replace fluorescent tubes with LED strips.
Missing Pixel Repair
Very detailed article on how to fix W208 2002 CLK430 instrument cluster which has missing pixels. Should also apply to other MBs including W220.
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Display Defective Warning
