I somehow had it stuck in my head that the three-gauge panel of image #1 (boost, EGT, volts) from my '85 300D/W123 would not fit in my '87 300D/W124 because the W124 ashtray in image #2 was narrower than the W123. Turns out not to be so.

The W124 ashtray looks narrower because it is taller and because of the way the console is shaped but it is just as wide. I tried holding the W123 panel over the W124 ashtray and it fits, as image #3 shows. Given the additional height, I can even stagger the gauges a little, see image #4.

Since I couldn't find zebrawood in the correct size, the panel will be made of 1/16-inch plywood covered with zebrawood veneer, stained to match the existing wood and backed with a sheet of 1/16-inch aluminum for strength.

The next step is to pull the ashtray and see how much room is really available. I'll update this thread as I make progress. I'm sure there will be some interesting challenges, there always are.

Jeremy

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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