I'm glad it ended up with someone who truly appreciates it and will take care of it. :o

The eBay site still had the pics of the car up yet and I noticed something that may, or may not, have anything to do with the makeup of the car, but in one of the shots of the speedo-cluster, the shift-points are marked for a 4-spd automatic, not a 5-spd manual...

Just curious...did MB have Veedo do a special speedo for 5-spds or not...and the "Unlead Fuel Only" sticker looks more like a Dyno-label than an MB sticker.

But then, it could just be me being a picky-chit... :eek: :cool:

NOPE

your wrong i decoded the VIN the build sheet shows it was made with

the Getrag:D

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1984-MERCEDES-280SEL-W126-5-SPD-MANUAL-ALL-ORIG _W0QQitemZ170305105197QQihZ007QQcategoryZ6336QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem



look at the build sheet you will see it there:D

Five speeds came with a 160 mph speedo and have shift hash marks for a five speed....mine did anyway.

so does this car look at the pics :D

Which confirms that some boneheed replaced my '84 Euro 5-speed 300TD's original speedometer, with one apparently for a US-market automatic turbo-TD.
Now there's only 3 shift-points marked on the dial, and both the odometer and speedometer read about 10% fast!

Happy Motoring, Mark

What makes you think they didn't replace the tranny?

Very few benzes were ever built with a three speed auto. I think in some cases they only had three hash marks for a four speed. What speeds does it show the shift points at?

I don't doubt the originality of my 5-speed, just my speedometer. And I'm not claiming my current speedometer indicates a three-speed auto, just that it has three hash-marks.
As you said, that would indicate a 4-speed (auto or manual) My automatic 240D speedometer also has three hash-marks. In any case, I could live with incorrect hash-marks, but someone's lame attempt to federalize my wagon has created a major speedometer error - caused by the different rear end ratios used in turbo and non-turbo 300TDs.
I believe my original non-turbo speedometer (probably in Km) for the 3.46 rear in my wagon, was replaced with a US mph unit, calibtated for the turbo 3.07 rear-end.

Happy Motoring, Mark

HMMMMMMMMMMMM dont forget this car has been federalized they

removed the cluster and replaced it i have all the DOCS here:D and soon

it will have the a original Euro spec cluster returning to it:cool:

That should create a 13% error more or less.

I believe I have a 346 correct speedo if you need one, from a stick (the speedos seem to vary slightly to allow for slip in the automatic equipped cars). I'll test it for slip if you are interested.

Automatic slip shouldn't affect the speedometer reading. Between the tranny output shaft (where the speedo cable connects) and rear-end, there should be no slip.

Happy Motoring, Mark

Just put a GPS unit on the dash and go for a dash...MN allows 70MPH on their highways (at least on the Interstates) so you should be able to get a good read on the speedo...BTW, mine (280E Auto) varies by about 2-3% LOW...so I WATCH IT!!! :eek: :rolleyes: :D

Sorry, didn't mean to stir up the pot here...I just noticed the 3 hash-marks on the speedo shot on the eBay set of pics and not the 4-hash that you would expect for a 5-spd tranny...

I just got the 280SEL on the road yesterday OMG it drives like a dream. I

insured it for $30,000. Stated cash value:D not bad for $3850.00 paid and

is still the only one documented to exist maybee this one end up in

Stutgart some day:eek:.

Question for all members who do you all use for insurance????? I have


found a

great insurance carrier for every day use with stated cash value unlimited

mileage:cool: ,Paul they are also one of the top rated companies as well.

Wow, great ride! Please post insurance carrier's name, that's be sweet.
 

I have a 280SEL 5-speed Euro, brought over from Europe, owned by AMG Denver where they gave it the full AMG treatment (white-out bodykit, wheels, suspension, Recaro C's, etc).

It's down in Atlanta at Jonathan's, hoping ot get it back on the road in 3 months or so. Fully documented all the way back to new.

Bruce