W124 cluster - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

DieselPaul · #1 07-07-2011, 12:36 PM

I need to send my cluster out to get rebuilt, my odometer went all VDO on me and quit. Can I run a w124 gas cluster temporarily while the diesel cluster is at the rebuilders? This is an 87 300d.

iPhone post sorry.

Jeremy5848 · #2 07-07-2011, 01:07 PM

The lefthand set of gauges is identical gas-diesel except for the additional "Economy" (vacuum) gauge in the gasser panel which you can ignore or plumb to your transmission vacuum line.

The speedometer/odometer will read incorrectly because of the different rear end ratio.

The tach/clock, AFAIK, is identical.

Edit: Some of the idiot lights will be different, e.g., "Check Engine" instead of "Preglow."

Jeremy

DieselPaul · #3 07-07-2011, 01:30 PM

Hrm, my car is a 1987, a 1991 300D wouldn't work either would it? Didn't the 5cyls have different rear ends?

Jeremy5848 · #4 07-07-2011, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DieselPaul

Hrm, my car is a 1987, a 1991 300D wouldn't work either would it? Didn't the 5cyls have different rear ends?

Well, it would work, but there would be an error. However, you could use a GPS to calibrate out the error. I can't speak to the different drive ratios but you may very well be right.

swogee · #5 07-07-2011, 03:01 PM

Based on my research in to LSD rear ends the 1990-1993 300D used the same rear end ratio as the 1987 300D/TD did. Both used a 2.65 ratio final drive.

-Steve

sixto · #6 07-08-2011, 12:59 AM

Most year 6-cylinder speedos should work ratio-wise. The only difference being a 160 mph max vs 140 mph.

You can swap the tape strip for the idiot lights and put the bulbs in the appropriate sockets.

Swap the gauges into a 90-up cluster for better illumination.

Sixto
87 300D

Jeremy5848 · #7 07-08-2011, 02:17 AM

I just did some testing and suspect now that the gasoline tach won't work in the diesel. It's possible to incorrectly infer from the diagrams in ETM that the tachs are the same but they are not. Diesel/I-6 Gas/V-8 gas have different part number tachs. My error, sorry. You can just leave it unplugged (3-pin plastic connector with middle pin missing, plugs into matching connector on back of tach). The clock (single spade connector) can remain connected; it grounds through the case.

vstech · #8 07-08-2011, 08:50 AM

why don't you just order the replacement gears from odometer gears and fix your own cluster?

dieseldiehard · #9 07-08-2011, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sixto

Most year 6-cylinder speedos should work ratio-wise. The only difference being a 160 mph max vs 140 mph.

You can swap the tape strip for the idiot lights and put the bulbs in the appropriate sockets.

Swap the gauges into a 90-up cluster for better illumination.

Sixto
87 300D

As Sixto said, the later cluster housings have vastly more light due to improved optics. I bought a late gasser instrument set and kept the 160MPH speedo. I had it calibrated at the local VDO shop and its right on now. Its nice to have an accurate speedo.
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/members/dieseldiehard-albums-blue-bomb-picture1276-not-actual-mileage-its-speedo-replaced-one-failed-e320-calibrated-same-k-factor-i-painted-hands-other-gauges-prior-swapping-speedo-into-cluster-also-late-124-greatly-improved-lighting.jpg

TheDon · #10 07-08-2011, 12:56 PM

my cluster just went all VDO failure mode too.

DieselPaul · #11 07-08-2011, 01:41 PM

Haha, I sold matt the cluster in your car, which is funny because I was kicking myself for selling it yesterday.

I got the cluster out of my 1994 E320 parts car at my dads. Since its a 6-cyl car can I put just the speedometer from the E320 into the 300D cluster? My final intention is to put diesel guts into the 1994 Cluster with better lighting and do that.

However I going on Rally Appalachia in 10 days so I don't have time to send a cluster out to be rebuilt, or to order and rebuild it myself.

I just need a working odometer for the rally, will the 160MPH speedo and odo from the E320 work without a gigantic error on my 87 300D? The E320 does not have the limited slip.

The problem with keeping the 160MPH speedo is it shows 204k miles, asking speedo shops to roll clusters backwards is always tricky business. But my original cluster is obviously showing less than is on the car.

sixto · #12 07-08-2011, 03:22 PM

IIRC, M104 engine 124s have 2.65 rears like the 87 300D and 90-93 300D 2.5. M103 124s have a 3.07. I have an M104 160 mph speedo in my car and it's accurate to within 1 mph according to a portable GPS navigator.

Sixto
87 300D

DieselPaul · #13 07-09-2011, 01:00 AM

You're the man sixto

Bio300TDTdriver · #14 07-09-2011, 11:42 AM

According to Dave's chart there are several gassers that use the 2.65 rear ratio.

TheDon · #15 07-09-2011, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DieselPaul

Haha, I sold matt the cluster in your car, which is funny because I was kicking myself for selling it yesterday.

you mean the spare cluster he is supposed to be giving to me once he gets back from Ohio with my sunroof interior panel, underbody panel, cluster, antenna mast, and record book? I cant get ahold of him and getting a bit upset he is not responding to me.