How change dash lightbulbs?

[Dave]

My speedo and tach are dark.  Do I have to start at the glovebox, and take out the entire dash, or can I just get the speedo unit out to get access to the bulbs?  1967 230SL

[Garry]

Dave,

Before going there check the fuse, No7 I think as it is unusual that all the lights go out together, then the second area for checking is in the dash area and whether an earthing wire has come loose.

Garry

[Dave]

Thanks Garry.
Unfortunately, fuse is good.  I had only one instrument illuminated for a while, not they are both dark.  Sawzall?

[Ulf]

Could also be the rheostat (the thingy that controls the brightness of the bulbs), bypassing it is covered in the technical manual and it took only 10 minutes :-)

[Jonny B]

As for order - generally, you start with the speedo, then the center cluster (not sure if you can get the bulbs without pulling it out - so you will need to be careful with the temperature gauge as it is all one piece and the oil pressure line which is directly connected to the engine) and then the tach. The removal and replacement have been covered a number of times on the forum. Use the search function and you will get the information you need. And about jumping the rheostat, there should be a number of pictures too.