I am a new owner of a 1989 190D 2.5l auto.

What gauges should I install. What gauges best match the factory gauges?

I will install a Pryometer but don't know where to mount it or what other gauges that should be installed.

Are trans temp, fuel pressure, oil temp, oil press. or coolant temp, recommended for monitoring MB deisel

On my Cummins I have pryometer, fuel pressure and boost.(manual trans)

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1989 Arctic White 190D 2.5l auto w/400E Brakes and a 5spd waiting for me to install

1977 280SL Euro M110/w 4spd

2001 Dodge Ram 2500 Quad cab 4x4
dyno 383hp / 916ft#'s

For day-to-day use the stock guages will handle all of your driving needs. Everything else is basically eye candy though they can help diagnose problems.

Transmission temp - useless IMO. You aren't towing anything.
Fuel pressure - you would need four of them . And the problems are in the injectors more than the IP.
Oil temp - generally not an issue.
Coolent temp - er, isn't this stock?

What would be nice to add is vacuum and intake manifold pressure. Actually I would have two vacuums - one at the pump on one after regulation. Vacuum is an ongoing problem with older vehicles.

EGT would be interesting but if you are in an unmodified system its usefullness is probably minimal.

What I am considering are adding indicator lights: Overboost protection, A/C compressor clutch, electric cooling fan, and kick down switch. The usefullness is probably minimal (except for the overboost) but it may make some pretty blinkenlights.

Since yours is a n/a, there's no point IMO in boost/vacuum or EGT/pyrometer. Oil temp I consider handy, and in many opinions a voltmeter is necessary. Beyond that I'd consider a Racor-type fuel filter gauge.

Then add a turbo so you have a use for EGT and boost.

__________________

Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

I'm still looking for an elegant way of installing a warning light and/or buzzer for low oil pressure.

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"Buster" in the '95

Our all-Diesel family
1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car
2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car
Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022)
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762
"Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz."
-- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970

A Pyrometer isn't really needed on a non-turbo diesel since they can only burn a specific amount of fuel (atmosphere intake pressure). The only real advantage would be to "drive by exhaust temperature" to maximize fuel efficiency.

trans temp- As Gene said, useless unless you're towing a trailer.
fuel pressure- You would need pre-filter and post-filter. Not really much use.
oil temp- Nice to know but generally useless since your car has a big oil cooler and oil thermostat.
oil press- Not really needed either. Oil pressure is much higher than the dash gauge reads so if its not pegged while driving you know there is a problem.
coolant temp- Whats wrong with the one you already have?

The one I would really consider is an air filter restriction gauge (filterminder) so you can know for sure when it needs to be changed.

.


Just drive it and watch your temp and oil pressure.......


.

__________________
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

I am installing the EGT for maximum fuel efficiency. If you try to limit EGT to 600 fuel efficiency will be maximized.

Vacuum gauge on the vacuum system sounds like an interesting idea considering the on going issues

__________________
1989 Arctic White 190D 2.5l auto w/400E Brakes and a 5spd waiting for me to install

1977 280SL Euro M110/w 4spd

2001 Dodge Ram 2500 Quad cab 4x4
dyno 383hp / 916ft#'s

I find this thread very interesting.

The general thought with Landcruisers is that the factory gauges are very sketchy. Not assuming that MB factory gauges are crap also.

I installed in my diesel landcruiser a coolant temp, oil pressure, and pyro.
The main reason is I wanted mechanical gauges that gave much more specific/accurate readings. Both the temp and oil pressure factory gauges don't in my opinion give a specific enough reading. For example the factory oil pressure reading would show as low, but with my aftermarket gauge I know that it is at an acceptable level for idle. Same with the temp, I have seen a 40 degree spike on the mechicnal gauge with only a slight bump from the factory gauge.
As far as a pyro, the diesel in my LC is only a 90 hp N/A engine and the egt's can spike pretty high if it startes lugging or during long hill climbs.

I plan on all three of these plus a boost gtauge for the 300SD.

Tim

Sorry if the post seems rambling, was up early with the little one and I have had at least one two many cups of coffee

How about a voltmeter/ammeter? My 240D's alternator was not charging properly and it's failing condition was not indicated by the idiot light in the dash.

John

__________________
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)
2002 F250 powerstroke with Plantdrive WVO conversion
1983 300SD 190K miles ,sold
2006 E320 CDI

I would get a voltmeter and a pyro
Use VDO Vision Black series gauges to match the original ones in the MB.

http://www.egauges.com/vdo_grou.asp?Series=Vision

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"I have no convictions ... I blow with the wind, and the prevailing wind happens to be from Vichy"

Current
Monika '74 450 SL
BrownHilda '79 280SL
FoxyCleopatra '99 Chevy Suburban
Scarlett 2014 Jeep Cherokee
Krystal 2004 Volvo S60
Gone
'74 Jeep CJ5
'97 Jeep ZJ Laredo
Rudolf ‘86 300SDL
Bruno '81 300SD
Fritzi '84 BMW
'92 Subaru
'96 Impala SS
'71 Buick GS conv
'67 GTO conv
'63 Corvair conv
'57 Nomad

Where to mount is easy, the blank wood panel under the radio.

__________________

Gone to the dark side

- Jeff