Changing instrumentation from mph to kph

[haydar]

Hi all

I want to change my instrumentation from mph to kph, as I've shipped the car from UK to Pakistan. Now I know you can change the digital display from mph to kph, but I was hoping to change the complete instrument binnacle to a kph one. They are available from Germany at not too much cost. The question is can they just be replaced, or do they have to be programmed to work with the precise car? It looks like everything else has to be programmed for it to work so I wanted to check this before I purchased one. Of course the ones from Germany will be off a left hand drive car and mine is a right hand drive, so again, will this make any difference?

An unusual question I know, but I guess this will test the metal of this forum!

Cheers for all advice.

 

[Shude]

I want to change my instrumentation from mph to kph, as I've shipped the car from UK to Pakistan. Now I know you can change the digital display from mph to kph, but I was hoping to change the complete instrument binnacle to a kph one. They are available from Germany at not too much cost. The question is can they just be replaced, or do they have to be programmed to work with the precise car? It looks like everything else has to be programmed for it to work so I wanted to check this before I purchased one. Of course the ones from Germany will be off a left hand drive car and mine is a right hand drive, so again, will this make any difference?

An unusual question I know, but I guess this will test the metal of this forum!

You've not stated what car you have but the ICs are usually about £350-400. You will need to get a stealership to backup the data on your existing IC to be transfered to your new one. This means that mileage, ASSYST data etc will be transfered.

Bear in mind that all ICs for the same model of car are about the same price, so this could be an opportunity to pick up an AMG version if you want or maybe one with different coloured dials etc

Good luck!

 

[flave]

yep.. u didn't mentioned the model car..but something tells me it's a w203

yes u can swap them, but somethings on the new cluster won't work until you go to a stealership (like the partial km's).
since u're swapping... swap to one of this:

 

[HughJarse]

Flave is your comand a different colour?? Or is that just night colour?

 

[Shude]

Flave is your comand a different colour?? Or is that just night colour?

That is night colour

EDIT: helps to differentiate from those fools you see driving around with a matchbox-sized white square hovering near the windscreen! Night-mode is essential

 

[miro]

Hi all

I want to change my instrumentation from mph to kph, as I've shipped the car from UK to Pakistan. Now I know you can change the digital display from mph to kph, but I was hoping to change the complete instrument binnacle to a kph one. They are available from Germany at not too much cost. The question is can they just be replaced, or do they have to be programmed to work with the precise car? It looks like everything else has to be programmed for it to work so I wanted to check this before I purchased one. Of course the ones from Germany will be off a left hand drive car and mine is a right hand drive, so again, will this make any difference?

An unusual question I know, but I guess this will test the metal of this forum!

Cheers for all advice.

Never* install a used cluster in any Mercedes made after 1999. It is a huge mistake.

What you can do is buy a used cluster that is suitable for your required country. Since all you need is the KPH markings then you can dismantle the original cluster and dismantle the used cluster from ebay and then swap the display parts with the speed markings.

Then assemble again and install the original cluster with the modified speed display.

The MPH / KPH is just a graphic item and the most important part is to keep the original electronics.

* Never = never

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Flave is your comand a different colour?? Or is that just night colour?

That is night colour

Flave's car looks like a pre-facelift W203, but has blue lighting on COMAND and other controls?

Looks very similar to my pre-facelift W203, but mine glow orange. How's that done then?

...change all the bulbs!!??

 

[haydar]

Cheers everyone!

Actually my car is a w211 eclass 220cdi. Miro, why shouldn't one swap the instrument cluster?? What is the problem doing it? Also, is it really possible to change just the graphics? I thought the instrument illumination was from a back light? Here is a link to the instrumentation I found on Ebay.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=007&item=170039707258&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&rd=1

 

[miro]

Cheers everyone!

Miro, why shouldn't one swap the instrument cluster?? What is the problem doing it?

The problem is that undoing it WILL cost you a new cluster and a new ignition switch. There are many technical reasons such as wrong mileage.

It is in fact possible to increase mileage.

Plug in 250,000km cluster into 80,000km car and you will be stuck on 250,000+ Km and without possible reverse. Then buy a new cluster and it will be same problem. So then you need another new cluster and an ignition switch.

Some people with illegal machines can change it as it is but to me that is just another reason NOT to do it. Avoid the used clusters. Just use them for graphics parts.

 

[miro]

Cheers everyone!

Actually my car is a w211 eclass 220cdi. Miro, why shouldn't one swap the instrument cluster?? What is the problem doing it? Also, is it really possible to change just the graphics? I thought the instrument illumination was from a back light? Here is a link to the instrumentation I found on Ebay.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=007&item=170039707258&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&rd=1

The dials are not backlight.

Notice that the seller offers a mileage altering service.

 

[Wully]

So how is the blue light possible?