I have a 80 300TD with the large clock and 85mph speedo. Do i need the exact cluster or should it work (plug and play) with other years/models. I see one on EBAY thats identical except it has a 140mph speedo. There was another with a tach. Just curious before I spend the $$$.

.....they all will interchange, both housing and the three individual round sets.

There are several differences over the W123 run.

Very early markings are in english units, later used metric, psi vs bar so to speak.

Early had chrome buttons on centers, later used black.

Speedometers are calibrated to the diff ratio. They all fit, but if you are replacing a 3.92 speedo with one from a car that used a 3.27, you are not going to get the correct speed displayed.

Tach requires a sending unit.

Wiring pin outs will vary depending upon configuration.

All differences can be overcome, but you'll need to arm yourself with wiring diagrams and know what came from what.

Jim

__________________
14 E250 BlueTEC black. 45k miles
95 E320 Cabriolet Emerald green 66k miles
94 E320 Cabriolet Emerald green 152k miles
85 300TD 4 spd man, euro bumpers and lights, 15" Pentas dark blue 274k miles

not sure what a 140mph speedo came out of, but if it's from a 123, it will "fit" but it may not work.
there are some years that used an electronic speedometer (81TD did, not sure if others did) be sure it's a mechanical speedometer, and be sure it came from a 123, and it will fit and work.
like said above, if it had a taller gear ratio, yours will not read correct mph or odo.
and I am SURE if it reads 140, it will be a taller ratio.
you could get the diff as well, but your anemic 80 some hp motor will have great difficulty pushing the car with a taller ratio differential.
I'm pretty sure your car has the 3.46 gear ratio.
is the only reason you are changing it to get a higher speedometer? the N/A's and their short ratios sure are LOUD above 70MPH, not sure I'd wanna go 90 for any duration...

__________________
John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

the clock isn't working...the fuel gauge bounces....and the odometer stopped all together. I know there are threads about reuilding the odometer, but I rather just buy a whole gauge cluster for 50 or 60 bucks and transfer it over. Thanks for the input on what will and won't work right!!

ahh.
really, fixing the odo is MUCH simpler than making everything work...
the bouncing fuel gauge is probably dirty sender in the tank, and the clock... well, the clock needs a pair of capacitors.

really, odo repair takes like 10 minutes more than changing the cluster.

OK....I give in...post me a link for the fix...lol. and thanks again.

follow Dieselgiant's diy for removal of the cluster, then just push the slipping gear on, and "knurl" it with a pair of pliers and slip it back into place.
http://www.dieselgiant.com/repairyourodometer.htm

in his diy, right after the AHHH part, I change my tactic.
as you are taking the cluster apart, you will notice the shaft for the odo reset part. it easily comes off, and is the same size as the number part shaft.
so I just disconnect the reset shaft, push the slipping gear shaft out enough to grip with a needle nose pliers the slipping part of the shaft, and push the slipping gear right back on. then reverse assembly.

Before you buy something off of eBay, ask the fellow Forum Members if anyone has a 1980 300D parts car. OH! That's right, I have one of those. So, if you decide not to repair and just want to replace, I'll be happy to see if I still have the clock. The "Parts" Forum part of this website is where you would want to start a WTB thread.

Good Luck.

__________________
daw_two
Germantown, TN

Links:
Sold last car --- 05/2012 1984 300D Light Ivory, Red interior
Cluster Needles Paint
New Old Stock (NOS) parts

Past:
3/2008 1986 300SDL "Coda"
04/2010 1965 190D(c) "Ben"
& many more

If you do decide to buy off e-bay or get a junk yard spedo, or even here from a forum member. at the bottom of the face of the spedo, there is a number.make sure that number is the same as yours.

I have one here on the desk out of a 85 300D. # 123 542 27 57.
see what yours is, and make sure the one you replace (if you do) is the same # as the one you now have.

Like said above, if you change the spedo from another year with a different defferential ratio. you need both.

the one I listed above has the 2:88 Diff. and tops out at 125mph.

$50 off e-bay? you can pull the whole cluster out of a wreck at PNP for $35. then you have the spedo, clock/tach and fuel/temp/oil gauges. If you pull just the spedo out of the cluster, think they are like $8. then you have one to diesect and play with to see how they work before doing yours.

Charlie

__________________
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

thanks guys!! I fixed the odo following the link (effortless) and the clock works now also. It helps having it connected!!!!!!!!!