W208 Cluster in a W202

[joeyjoeyjoey]

Hello,

Long time reader first time poster

Nothing groundbraking of what Im doing but just needed some tips.

So my car made it by the teeth of its skin by being manufactured on 1/1997 so from what Ive been told by Steve as well as what I could source as far as information on the net regarding installing a W208 cluster in my car it will work.

I do realize I wont be able to access the functions of the instrument cluster without the multifunction wheel however hoping some members here having done this will have some tips for me regarding a few issuses I am having right now.

1) Its a full tank of gas why is it reading empty. I do remember when scorchie and i first pop'd in a W210/W208 cluster in his car it read empty as well but I dont know what was done to resolve this.

2) Engine Oil level low stop engine comes on a few seconds after powering up the car. There is ample oil so why is this showing.

3) Turning of the car leaves 1 malfunction when I press the R button it shows problem 2

Thoughts?

I've tried different search strings however couldnt find a answer to what Im asking for. If it has been answered could you please provide me with the search string you used to locate the answer.

Thanks

-joey

 

[GrahamC230K]

Shude did this mod I think in his last car - he might be able to help soon.

 

[joeyjoeyjoey]

mike c200 posted that it might have to be changed in the cluster. Im hoping it doest require hook up to a computer or anything like that.

crossing fingers its just switching some wires on the harness.

edit:

Per steve(nl) looks like it has to be hooked up via star diag inorder to make the changes.

 

[Paul Grainger]

Bad new unfortunately.

The cluster is a 'coded' item. MB use the Star system to set a large number (approx 60!!) codes that match the cluster to the car in which it is installed.

I had a very similar problem when I purchased my AMG cluster from Philsy2k on this site. Although the cluster had come from a W208, it was a different model and I had similar problems, ie:
The fuel guage always read empty
The auto gearbox 'gear' display didn't work
The speedometer was miles out
Needless to say, the cluster wasn't set up for comand, TV, telephone etc.

This cost me a trip to the stealer and £85 cost - plus a lot of hassle. My stealer couldn't get the fuel guage to work using the 'normal' star menus - he had to copy each of the (60+) codes from the old cluster to the new. When he had done this - it worked fine.

Bite the bullet. There's nothing you can do but take it to your stealer. It pays to talk to the tech first, tell him exactlt what you have done, and whaqt you want to achieve.

Paul G

 

[Steve_Perry]

joey,

With regard the oil low warning, what model is your W202? if it's a 4 cyl model then I am pretty sure it won't have the relevant electronic sensors to tell the cluster the oil level. The V6's do have the sensors and with the stock W202 facelift cluster, pressing '0' twice at the right time will give an oil level reading on the cluster.

I'm not sure if there is a work around available if you do have an inline engine and not a vee ,if anyone will know I bet it's Shude.

S.

 

[BenzComander]

Hi,
How hard is swapping an early W210 cluster for the later multifunction one? Can anybody point me to a how to, or have further info as to how difficult etc?
Can it then be made to work with a retrofit Comand, or is it a wiring nightmare?
Cheers,

 

[joeyjoeyjoey]

Steve P.

Thanks for the nfo. I do have an inline 6 so that may be the problem with my low oil notification.

I visited the local dealership today and explained my situation, per Paul G. The service advisor looked at me weird and called his tech. He had asked if this had been done I stated yes. And long story short they said they would try tomorrow as they have never hooked up a car with star to do something like this.

So I will see tomorrow if they can assist me with this.

edit: Ive decided to just pull the cluster out and wait to upgrade my 163 comand to one a 208/210 along with the multi function wheel before moving forward.