Mercedes outside temperature display faulty or black? How it can be repaired (W124, W201, W116 & Co.)
Many classic Mercedes cars – whether W124, W201 (190), W116, W126 or other model series – have, from the factory or as a retrofitted special-order option, an outside temperature display fitted. A practical extra that has become a sought-after rarity today. Unfortunately, this very display often causes problems after 30 to 40 years.
Typical faults of the outside temperature display
1. The display turns black
The most common case: the LC display ages and turns black starting from the bottom. At first it's just a dark stripe along the bottom edge, then the discolouration spreads further and further – until eventually nothing can be read at all. This is not an operating error or a cable problem, but simply the age of the display itself. It won't get better on its own.
Top: a typically blackened display. Bottom: an intact replacement display, as we fit it.
2. Display completely failed
There are also displays that no longer show anything at all or whose lighting no longer works. Here too, repair is almost always worthwhile – good used or new original displays are hardly available anymore.
Left, a faulty display; right, a functioning one.
Why repair instead of replace? There are many variants!
An outside temperature display is not just an outside temperature display. Even within a single model series there are several variants with different connectors and displays – for the W124, for example, displays with a 6-pin and with a 10-pin connector, plus variants with 5 pins or with 4 pins arranged in a rectangle. It's hardly possible to say for certain in advance which display is fitted.
That's why it's usually more sensible to have your own display repaired, instead of blindly buying a used one that ends up not fitting. Your repaired display is guaranteed to fit – it was already in there, after all.
How we repair your display
We specialize in Mercedes instrument clusters and their displays. For the outside temperature display, this means:
- Test equipment for the function test: We connect your display directly and determine exactly what is faulty.
- Replacement displays in stock: We keep matching displays in stock for the different variants and fit the right one for your display.
- Function test after the repair: You get back a tested display that is fully readable again.
A completely disassembled outside temperature display: housing, circuit board, display, lighting – every part is checked.
What does the repair cost?
Depending on the model and the work involved, the costs for a new display including function test are approximately 90 to 150 €. We'll give you the exact quote as soon as we've checked your display – free of charge and without obligation.
How the repair works
- Remove the display and send it in well packaged. We'll give you the shipping address after a brief inquiry – by phone at 0179 8991069 or via our contact form.
- Enclose a note with your address, your email address and a brief description of what should be done.
- We check it and get back to you with a quote – and after your approval, we carry out the repair and send the tested display back.
On the test device: a repaired display during the function test – the display shows a clean reading again.
Questions beforehand? The best way is to use our contact form or call us: 0179 8991069 (Mon–Fri 8 am–6 pm).
By the way
We don't only repair outside temperature displays: we also refurbish complete instrument clusters and speedometers (odometers, clocks, yellowed needles). We give an overview of the most common faults in the guide The 5 most common speedometer and instrument cluster problems. And if you'd rather look for a spare part: in our shop you'll find tested instrument clusters, speedometers and speedometer parts for W124, W201, W116, W126 and other model series – the Mercedes part number is always in the title.