I have a 1980 300SD that is an occasional driver for me. Back during the summer, I had stopped to buy some parts for my 190E (my daily driver), and when I got back in the car the speedometer was not working. No warning, no previous problems, just no speed reading or odometer change when I started driving. Is it likely the cable, or something else?

Probably a cable.

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1959 Gravely LI, 1963 Gravely L8, 1973 Gravely C12
1982 380SL
1978 450 SEL 6.9 euro restoration at 63% and climbing
1987 300 D
2005 CDI European Delivery
2006 CDI Handed down to daughter
2007 GL CDI. Wifes

First suspect the cable. It is not that difficult to remove. Just remove it and rotate one end and see if the other end turns. It probably won't since you lost speedo and odo....
{assuming a W116 is like a W123}

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Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John

If both the odo and speedo quite simultaneously I'd suspect the cable itself. This happend to me recently and I found the cable had snapped down by the tranny when I was under the car yesterday. I've linked to that thread here...

Speedometer cable pic

I have a pic in that thread showing the snapped cable. I'd be interested if yours was a similar situation.

- Peter.

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2021 Chevrolet Spark
Formerly...
2000 GMC Sonoma
1981 240D 4spd stick. 347000 miles. Deceased Feb 14 2021
2002 Kia Rio. Worst crap on four wheels
1981 240D 4spd stick. 389000 miles.
1984 123 200
1979 116 280S
1972 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1971 108 280S

Could be the cable, or could be the spedometer itself.

Mine had been making noise and complaining for a couple years. finally
quit in Amarill, Tx on a trip. when we got home I pulled the instrument
cluster and removed the cable. there was 2 inches of the cable stuck
in the spedo. the head would not turn, it was locked tight. sent it in
and had it fixed.

This past spring it quit again, this time it was the cable, broke 1/2 way
down. Iam now running a Pick N Pull $7.00 special. so far, so good.

Charlie

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there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works

When did SD's switch to electric Speedometers? Pretty sure they were that way in 82 and on, but just not sure before then. That would explain the loss of both functions as well.

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1961 190Db retired
1968 220D/8 325,000
1983 300D 164,150