230SL Instrument Cluster Removal

[mistertj]

Have to take out the center instrument cluster to access the oil pressure gauge. Is there an easy way to access the cluster. I remember being behind there years ago but don't remember how I did it. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
My book says to take out the tachometer and then reach in through the vacated space. Any other suggestions?

[WRe]

Hi,
there is no easy way to remove the dashboard instruments, described here: https://www.sl113.org/wiki/Electrical/DashboardInstruments.
To make it little bit more convenient I remove the driver seat, lie backwards under the dash and try to cuss not too loud.
...WRe

[Rolf-Dieter ✝︎]

One of the German Members of the Pagodetreffn Group added a paper of the work he did on his 230 sl it is a PDF file and has photographs as well as text. Unfortunately the text is in German, however you can copy and paste the text into Google Translator then the text and photos should help you out quite well. They say a picture is worth a 1000 words, well with the text translated and photos all should be well

I will attach the file here and if there should be a problem with the attachment then I will e-mail it to you.

Good Luck

[Benz Dr.]

Hi,
there is no easy way to remove the dashboard instruments, described here: https://www.sl113.org/wiki/Electrical/DashboardInstruments.
To make it little bit more convenient I remove the driver seat, lie backwards under the dash and try to cuss not too loud.
...WRe

Not me #$@^#@. I take the #%$@%# steering wheel off.

( I think I'll go have a beer. )

[ja17]

Yes the steering wheel comes off easily. Remove it first. Remove the lower left padded panel then the metal bracket holding the electrical plugs. Remove the tack next. Now the center instrument cluster is access able. If you just need to test your oil pressure gauge. Just plumb a temporary oil pressure gauge at the top of the oil filter housing in the engine compartment before you do all this work.

[mistertj]

Thank you all for the great input. Got the cluster out and have lots of bruises to prove it. Unfortunately broke the tack cable at the engine but not a problem. The oil pressure mechanism when under pressure was hitting the inside of the cluster case and thus restricting needle movement. I did some adjusting so now it works...just have to put everything back together. Now I need to look up replacing the manual transmission shifter bushings.
Thanks again.

[Pawel66]

Replace all the bulbs everywhere behind the dash before putting it back together!!!

[ja17]

Don't forget the ground (earth) wire with ring terminal which attaches under the thumb screw of the tachometer! Concerning the broken tach cable, sometimes you can crimp the fitting of the end of the cable  if it just slipped off.

[Pawel66]

Well, anything you ever thought of doing under dash - now is the time.

[Tyler S]

Would be a good time to clean the inside of the gauges glass. Its tedious but worth it.

[mistertj]

To clean under the glass, do you need to take the glass off by removing the chrome trim? I removed each individual gauge and cleaned what was accessible but as you can tell from the photo, things still look a little cloudy.

[Jonny B]

Yes, you will need to remove the chrome bezel. It is a task for a time when you in a patient mood. There is a lip on the bezel that holds the glass to the gauge. You need to very carefully pry that away from the gauge to allow the bezel to be removed.

You can also use the main search engine to get the details, as this has been written about on the forum.

[Tyler S]

Yes, the trim rings need to be removed. Its the type of job you would want to do inside at your dining room table on a towel.
You need to carefully pry back a small amount on the backside lip at least half way around the circumference. This is the tedious part. A small thin flat screwdriver works well. New trim rings are available or you can reuse your own.