Ashtray gauges for the W124
 

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

A blank zebrano wood panel is available from the '86-'90 190E/190D center console. Perfect match, just needs to be cut down to size and drilled for the gauges.

Progress report
 

Jeff, thanks for the suggestion, I'll check it out.

In the meantime, I have made a cardboard mock-up and photographed it in the car. The first two pictures show the cardboard before and after I cut the holes for the three gauges. The 3rd picture shows the view from the driver's seat; I think the middle gauge should come up a bit but otherwise it looks pretty good.

The 4th picture is by way of warning. In my '87 300D Turbo (W124, OM603), the airbag sensor lives in front of the ashtray. I don't know about other 124s but caution is advised while working in that area.

With the 5th picture I have a question regarding locating the EGT sensor.

(1) There's a removable plug with the exact threads for the probe but it would monitor just cylinder #1.
(2) Another possible location would be the block-off plate from Brian's EGR delete kit (for testing purposes only). I'd need to modify the disk by installing a bushing into which the probe would be mounted. That location is at the end of the pipe that was installed during the trap cat recall. It would measure the temperature of the exhaust stream just before it goes into the turbo.

Opinions?

Jeremy

Looking in EPC
 

Is that a W201.029 or 201.128? All I can find in EPC is in Section 68 "Covering," part number 123 683 09 10, "Cover, aperture for radio."

Jeremy,

Any chance you want to custom fab 2 ashtray pods? Ive been looking for one for mine for a while. I will pay you generously :)

Let me see how this one goes. Also, I don't know if the later 124 consoles are identical to my 1987.

Looks like it will be really cool when finished ... I did something similar with just my boost gauge and a 12v charger. The back of the gauge just barely fits in, with the hose fitting on the back kind of stuffed over the top of the plastic bracket. One thing you can do if the gauges are a little tight back there is to make the wood a little thicker ... I just beveled the bottom so it would "flow" well into the console wood rather than stick out. I did it with veneered plywood, too, and was pleased with the way it turned out.

Right now I'm about to yank mine back out to redo the finish, which cracked because I used the wrong finish (as well as the rest of the wood).

I would install the probe in the plug area where the EGR was but the tip really needs to extend at least 1/3 of the way into the exhaust stream for the most accurate reading.

It will create artificially low readings if it's stuck in the eddy currents in that little tube.

It might be possible to create a "deep well" plug that will let the probe mount deeper into the tube or possibly a longer version is available.

Failing that, it's really easy to drill and tap a hole in the right spot on the cast iron manifold.

I'm going to do that on my 300E soon, I'm going to install a Volt Meter and a 12V outlet. No need for an ash tray.

Thank you for posting the picture. Getting the gauge wood to blend with the console wood will be a challenge, I probably won't be able to do as nice a job as you but at least I now know it can be done.

I want to mount my gauges at a slight angle for better visibility but the "angle rings" sold under the AutoMeter brand name are made of plastic and the "wall thickness" makes it hard to crowd three gauges into that small space. However, I've just discovered that 2-inch EMT steel conduit fits over a 2-1/6 inch gauge perfectly and will be easy to saw to whatever angle I want. Add some black paint and they'll blend in with the bezel on the gauge. Now all I have to do is to find someone to sell me less than ten feet of conduit!

http://1990300dfrybridconversion.shutterfly.com/

Here are some of my pics, ther are pics of some guages in there, my 90 300d w124.

Probe location
 

Yeah, I am concerned about that. I like your idea of a "deep well" plug but the EGR take-off isn't even straight so it would take a lot of careful cutting and bending. Even with an extra-long probe it would be a challenge. What pressure would the seal have to withstand? NASA did something similar when they were building the Saturn 5 engine. Hmmmm . . . :D

I'll probably try it in the end of the EGR take-off just to see what the results are. As for making a hole in the exhaust manifold, I would be concerned about leaving chips for the turbo to find (grease on the tap, sure) unless I pull the thing apart, which I really don't want to do just now.

My '87 190D 2.5turbo had the blank panel, I believe it was over the next compartment above the radio, but might've been in the compartment below the radio. I pulled one for my 300D from a 190E 2.6 in the junkyard, don't remember what year though. The center console started IIRC in '86 or '87, in '90 or '91 they eliminated the blank zebrano panel and replaced it with casette holder "C-Boxes". Also the 190E 2.3-16 had a gauge package there so no panel.

Anyway, so the '87-'90 190E and 190D cars all had them except the 16valve.

There is also a 3-gauge package in the early '90s Audi 90 in a zebrano panel, it isn't a perfect fit and I'm not sure it's adaptable. I bought one once, still sitting around and I've never tried it in a 124.

OK, I never look at 190-class cars much, there are several in the local Pick and Pull. I'll have to be more observant next time.

Find a couple of nice ones, make a spare and sell it. Finding good zebrano is always the trick.