W123 '83 240D Speedometer Cable help
 

My car is a late model (5/83) 240D 4-Speed. I needed a new speedometer cable because my current one broke inside and would just spin freely.

So I ordered 123-542-77-07-MBZ which is a the longest cable they make (1420mm) and from 219675. Now I gave it to my mechanic to install and he calls me and tells me it is too short. The end that goes into the back of the speedometer isn't making contact with the speedometer itself. From what he tells me, it screws in, but the little tip doesn't make contact.

I don't understand what the problem is then. This is the longest cable they make so I know I didn't make the mistake of ordering the shorter one or the one for the automatic cars.

Anyone have any ideas?

Done a check for you , and 1420 mm is the right length for the w123 240d 123 542 77 07 Remove the cable and re route it but measure it first . You only need to go on ebay usa , and put in Speedo cable for w123 240d there is only two types 1310mm and yours 1420mm.

Here is my issue. As you can see, the inside shaft doesn't come up far enough. That's an OEM cable from a dealer.

http://i632.photobucket.com/albums/u...pshwqskajd.jpg

Regardless of the length of the outside sleeve/jacket of the cable I would expect the inner steel part which does the spinning to protrude as it does on the cable which you're holding between your fingers. Protruding cable is how it looks on my 83 240D's speedo cable, though I don't recall it being as far out as the one pictured.

The drive should stick out both sides about 3/4 inch or less. Take the new one back and put it by the others to see if there is a problem . Looks like a Valeo . Me i would returm it tell the seller to put it where the sun dont shine ..

The cable that is not protruding is the new cable I tried to install. It came from a Mercedes dealer with an OEM parts tag but it's clearly made by VDO because of the stamping on the metal.

I ordered a new Febi to compare. We'll see when it gets here.

Yes, obviously the new cable is too short. Did you measure and compare to the specs on the label?

Yes. The actually cable is long enough. It screws into the cluster fine with room to spare.

It's just the inside part that spins isn't long enough. I even tried pulling it out with pliers to see if it stuck or something but nothing.

VDO is a mercedes part thats made for them .And used by them in a lot of locations on your car ., And it is wrong if no drive is protruding at both ends ..Someone as put the wrong drive in the outter sheath Can you check the drive part ? i think its the 1310 mm centre drive you have inside a 1430 mm outer sleeve give it a check....

Got the Febi cable today and it's perfect. Much longer than the VDO part I got from the MB Dealer.

So I called the MB Dealer I got from it. He said to take it to my local dealer for a refund on parts and labor. He just forgot to mention that labor refund is only good for work done at the MB dealer.

Anyone who would take a '83 240D with 285,000 miles to a dealer for repairs is clinically insane.