Thanks Jeff for the free and accurate advice. If things go south w/ my gears, I'm buying from them.

Over the past few months, I noticed that the trip odometer did not reset easily. I had to keep pressing the shaft in a number of times before it reset to zero. During the last month, i had to really put some fast force into it. And then one day, it ceased working. Worse yet, it would click at every 10th of a mile and there was no way of resetting it! So here's how I fixed my trip odometer:

First, I removed the speedo/odometer device from the back of my instrument cluster. Its not rocket science as it is held together by a few screws. note that the speedo itself is secured by 4 tiny, flat head screws. Remove those as well.

After removing the unit, I looked carefully and noticed that the trip odometer was lever activated. Push the shaft and the lever moves downward on a single pivot. At the other end of the pivot, it pushes another lever that pushes down a "bar" (for lack of a better description) which then resets the TO to 000|0

I pressed on it a few times and the spraaang, tack, tack, tack, tack, tack, tack.... The end of the lever piece flew off and landed on my floor somehwere. After 20 mins of futile search, I found it but it wouldnt stay on. I figured either I'm gonna leave as is and get the gears to move smoothly again or try to imitate the lever. see pic 1 to see what it looked like after the piece broke and flew off.

Since I have my own welder and plenty of scrap around, I figured I'd made the part that flew off. I actually used a fine file and a dremel tool to fashion up a piece. See pic 2 to see just 1 layer of JB weld to glue the pieces together. Notice the shape. Don't cut corners...err, yes, do cut a piece to match the curvature of the plastic holding the pivot

After the JBW firmed up, i put (ok, slathered) another coat on the outside for extra strength. I did not touch it at all and allowed it to set. See pic 3.

One thing Jeff recommended was to clean off the white 1/10 mile odometer number piece. I took a pick and forwarded the numbers and cleaned off w/a blunt but pointed tip with a small piece of old t-shirt with a mild detergent on it. The numbers sure look white now!

After that, i put everything in. I took a little drive (2.2 miles) and then pressed it in at the stop sign. WOW. It changed the numbers so smoothly.

I hate installing it more than I hate removing the cluster. Mine just sticks in like nobody's business. Glad that is over. But I would like to know "does anyone have a fix for the clock?" Mine's busted and the time is only right twice a day

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I've heard that the clock is usually the capacitors being bad. I replaced mine and it was something else entirely (no +12v). The caps are cheap, may want to try that first.

I have bought gears from them.

Really great guys.

I was not sure what gear I needed, so they sent me the whole set.

Only charged me for the one I used.

I shipped the rest back.

Hard to find really great customer service like that.

ImBroke,

Good thought, I'll whip out the multimeter and check soon. Provided if I hvae the time, I'd like to install the keyless remote system i bought this weekend and will have everything apart anyways. i'll check then.

Bob

Just match up colors or what when replacing?

<-------- currently studying up electronics to figure out what the hell I am doing on these cars.

__________________
I'm not a doctor, but I'll have a look.

'85 300SD 245k
'87 300SDL 251k
'90 300SEL 326k

Six others from BMW, GM, and Ford.

Liberty will not descend to a people; a people must raise themselves to liberty.[/IMG]

Interesting, I thought the W124 went to an electric driven speedo like the W126.