Well, after 230,000 miles on the '87 260E, the speedometer died. No dramatic noises before its death. Just a silent cessation of action. So, I fashioned a pair of hooks from a hanger and pulled the instrument cluster for the first time ever.

Drove around the block with the cluster out and no motion on the tip of the speedo drive cable. Replaced the cable and ... still no motion at the tip. The white plastic gear visible in the trans looked good; nice square hole and no visible breakage.

So here's the question: is the speedo cable drive gear in the tranny a fairly straightforward replacement? Has anyone on the list done one? It looks like I'll need to drop the rear crossmember and the front rubber driveshaft disk and unbolt the rearmost casting from the tranny body. Yes? More complicated than that?

Any alternate ideas?

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Norm in NJ
Next oil change at 230,000miles