Here's a good one, when did the chrome button end? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

vstech · #1 04-30-2007, 10:25 AM

I have an extra instrument cluster that came with my 85 euro, all three gauges have the chrome button in the center, so it's definitely not an 85 cluster, but what year did the buttons turn black? I ask this, because there is a tach in the cluster. and the op cluster is in english units. I figure they must have had the chrome buttons in 81 because of this. but it may not be so. that would make the cluster from a 116 SD... is there a way to tell what the cluster came out of?
John

#2 04-30-2007, 10:30 AM

Well, my W123 '82 has chrome centers and my 83 'does not, so they ended sometime around late '82/early '83. If you read the first three digits of the part number on the bottom of the speedo it will tell you what chassis it's from ((i.e., 123, 116, etc). AFAIK, only the turbos had tachs.

vstech · #3 04-30-2007, 10:37 AM

really? your 82 has three chrome buttons? my 82 SD has black buttons... hmm.
John

#4 04-30-2007, 10:39 AM

Yup, my '82 is a 300D, not an SD if that makes a difference. It originally had chrome with an 85 mph speedo.

vstech · #5 04-30-2007, 10:41 AM

anybody got an extra 85 tach they wanna get rid of?
John

vstech · #6 04-30-2007, 10:42 AM

now that I think of it, I need an extra 85 speedo also, due to mine having the chrome button I bet it's WAAAY off it looks like it came out of an 81 non turbo, so the 3.46 rear of that on the 2.88 of the 85, and that is quite a discrepancy.
John

JimmyL · #7 04-30-2007, 12:37 PM

If I remember correctly, if you take off that chrome/stainless center cap there is the black button underneath.....

vstech · #8 04-30-2007, 12:44 PM

ahh, if only that would solve the problems with the car... the 85 tach is totally different from the other year tachs, and the gear ratio differences with the speedo make quite a difference too.
also, the years without the chrome buttons on the oil gauge, there is no button at all in the center.
John

Mustang_man298 · #9 04-30-2007, 11:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyL

If I remember correctly, if you take off that chrome/stainless center cap there is the black button underneath.....

Not that easy, I pulled a speedo out of a 300D when I was trying to fix my odo, not paying attention to year. I got home and found it had the black button, pulled the chromie off mine and swapped it off, found the speedo was way off and swapped the origional one back over and in (with repaired odo). Under each cap was only the head of the needle and shaft. (with some glue gobs) RTV silicone works well for repairing loose or replaced ones FYI. Now I wish I had known what it was as I'd grabbed the rear diff before it had been crushed....