I am a 1st time Mercedes Benz owner (1977 300D 220,000 mi.)this has been a great car with few minor problems.The speedometer never really worked good ,it surged up & down at anything above 45 mph. and yesterday ,where the cable meets the speedometer stripped out with a loud buzzing noise.Now I have no speedometer.Is this a common problem?I belive I can replace just the speedo,is there any way to do this & keep the original mileage reading?Any help would be great.

300D speedometer
 

I don't know how you can transfer mileage from one speedometer to another.I have replaced a few speedometers, and I believe they come with a label that you fill in the mileage of the speedometer you are replacing, the date and sign it and stick it on the drivers door post. You probably can get a new one from the Shop Forum or from one of the many Mercedes parts places in the Atlanta area. They cost around $100. Happy motoring.
Bill Lewallen Lexington,Ky.

As there many VDO authorized repair shops in the US, I'm sure that $60 - $100 would get yours back like new!

Not only good as new...
 

but with the mileage it has accrued to date still showing on the dials.

VDO Speedometer
 

My speedometer was not showing the cars speed, the cable from the tranny to speedometer was broken. I have just change out the cable to the speedometer and it now works, only problem it the noise that it makes is unbearable. Does anybody have a suggestion.
Regards,

New or used?
 

Did you use a new speedo cable or a used one? If you put a used one in did you lube the cable? Just a little bit of lube oil does a good job of quieting the cable noise. Then again the noise might be coming from the speedo head.

Not new but slightly used
 

Mike, thanks for the advise, I received an earlier reply from Larry Delor on this very same idea, tried chain lube and it really worked. Next time I will not be so cheap and buy NEW. Thanks again.