Does anyone have a tachometer / instrument cluster for a 1982 300D? I'd buy the entire instrument cluster if it has the aluminum caps on the pointers and the 2-pin connector for the tach.

__________________
'99 S420, 155k
'91 VW Vanagon GL, 150k
'85 VW Vanagon GL, 120k
'82 VW Westy, aircooled, 165k

Are you sure that's original? I thought by 82 they had gone to the black caps. My 80 has the aluminum caps, but when you pop out the cluster it has wrecker yard paint pen markings from a 79 on the back....

__________________
Chris
64 190D R.I.P.
80 240D W/617 engine -for sale
82 240D -for sale

Well, that's what I have, a 1982 300D with a 2-pin tach connector and silver caps on the pointers. And it doesn't look like it was tampered with. And not a single pnp in my area has it. I may have to use the cluster from my '84.

__________________
'99 S420, 155k
'91 VW Vanagon GL, 150k
'85 VW Vanagon GL, 120k
'82 VW Westy, aircooled, 165k

You might get lucky on fleabay or Silver Star wreckers in Sacramento, what's wrong with the cluster you have now?

__________________
Chris
64 190D R.I.P.
80 240D W/617 engine -for sale
82 240D -for sale

Tach doesn't work and I probably f*cked it up myself with the 'cigarette butt fix'. It was working intermittently after the 'fix' for a week or so before it completely gave up. I bought a new amplifier for almost 200 bucks but it's still not working. I tested everything with a multimeter and I do get the signal (0.4V at idle, increasing with rpm) at the tach, 12V and ground are good, too, but no reading.

I'm watching Ebay, currently only two newer clusters for sale. Thanks for the tip, I'll give Silver Star a call after the holidays.

__________________
'99 S420, 155k
'91 VW Vanagon GL, 150k
'85 VW Vanagon GL, 120k
'82 VW Westy, aircooled, 165k

Hmm, I think those tachs have the same capacitors on them that the clocks do if I'm not mistaken, you might try replacing the cap(s) a real cheap fast fix if it works, Radio shack has them. I know they cause common failures on the clocks. If that doesn't work and SS doesn't have them, there's a place out here called Gustafson's, never been there myself, but word is he has all kinds of good things over there, MB's included, (530) 241 4246 I've been meaning to go explore the place one of these days, several people have told me its worth the look.

__________________
Chris
64 190D R.I.P.
80 240D W/617 engine -for sale
82 240D -for sale

i sold mine on ebay for less than $45 dollars, lots on ebay now.

__________________
Current Stable:
1994 S500 v140, 210k miles, white with grey.

Former Mercedes in the Stable:
1983 300CD Turbo diesel 515k mi sold (rumor has it, that it has 750k miles on it now)
1984 300CD Turbo Diesel 150 k mi sold
1982 300D Turbo Diesel 225 sold
1987 300D Turbo Diesel 255k mi sold
1988 300 CE AMG Hammer 15k mi sold
1986 "300E" Amg Hammer 88k mi sold (it was really a 200, not even an E (124.020)
1992 500E 156k mi sold
etc.

Ok, hope this helps (and also due to requests for this) here are a couple of pics showing the 3 capacitors on the 2-pin tach/clock assembly. The first shows the 2 upright caps (look just like the ones on the clocks) near the bottom of the tach, I think these are for the clock portion but not certain. The second pic shows a pigtail type cap near the top of the tach, which I believe is part of the tach itself.

Attached Thumbnails

   

__________________
Chris
64 190D R.I.P.
80 240D W/617 engine -for sale
82 240D -for sale

What makes you so sure, that this is the problem? Is that a common problem or is that likely the problem due to the description? Although I don't have a degree in electrical engineering, I do fix my model railroads myself, so I think I can solder in a new capacitor. However, I'd like to know for sure that this is the problem. How can I test it before I spend money on something I don't need. And what are the specs of this capacitor?

__________________
'99 S420, 155k
'91 VW Vanagon GL, 150k
'85 VW Vanagon GL, 120k
'82 VW Westy, aircooled, 165k