I am wondering... how many owners here of the older Mercedes still have a properly functioning instrument cluster clock?

I hope I do not jinx myself, but when I got my 85' 380SE, I was amazed that the instrument cluster clock was still in perfect working order. As far as I can tell, it has never been repaired/replaced. I find it amazing, because out of all of the older cars I have owned with an instrument cluster clock, none have ever operated. Seems to be an extremely common problem on ALL older cars. Aside from the A/C systems on cars, this seems to be the next thing that typically goes out.

Knowing my luck, I just jinxed myself and the clock will now be on the fritz.

I have a 1979 300TD and a 1989 300SE--both clocks work perfectly.

Joe B.

You're obviously not used to German cars!

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Kent Christensen
Albuquerque
'07 GL320CDI, '10 CL550. '01 Porsche Boxster
Two BMW motorcycles

Oh, perhaps I am mistaken? Fool that I am , I gathered that it was common from a Mercedes site link that was posted here on the boards. Someone on the site was talking about "common problems" and this was one of them mentioned. Perhaps I should just delete this then..... sorry.

Now I feel like a fool.

Mine died (86 560sl) but I replaced the capacitors on it and it worked fine. I refinish instrument clusters and I had some spare clock mechanisms. I replaced caps on 4 others, and three were revived!

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86 560SL
With homebrew first gear start!
85 380SL
Daily Driver Project

http://juliepalooza.8m.com/sl/mercedes.htm

The clock/tach on my 82 300D works fine. The clock on my 83 240D failed and has been replaced.

all of my clocks work perfectly

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1998 E320 150,000
1980 300SD 240,000
1965 190D 79,000

86' 300E ...still tickin.

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-Marty

1986 300E 220,000 miles+ transmission impossible
(Now waiting under a bridge in order to become one)

Reading your M103 duty cycle:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/831799-post13.html
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/831807-post14.html

1987 300SE Euro. Judging by the accuracy of the clock in mine, one would think this is a Swiss car.

I noticed that STRIFE repairs clusters so I am expanding - not highjacking.. - the thread to ask about clusters in general. Hope nobody minds.

All the gauges on my cluster work properly , however at nighttime the light is quite dim. I did replace the bulbs and that helped a little. Would replacing (the old but working ) dimmer improve things ? Basically , is a dimmer a "work or no work" thingy - or does it become less effective after many years ?
TIA

Mine works fine. Only problem with my cluster is that the winshield wash tank light is always on. Then again, I never fill it. There could be a correlation.

Mine works fine. It stops working when I have to adjust it for the time changes, then it quits. There's a mechanical problem with the adjustment whatever that thing is called. I must have CRS syndrome.

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Regards

Warren

Currently 1965 220Sb, 2002 FORD Crown Vic Police Interceptor

Had 1965 220SEb, 1967 230S, 280SE 4.5, 300SE (W126), 420SEL

ENTER > = (HP RPN)

Not part of the in-crowd since 1952.

1979 and 1985 300cd both work and keep time perfect.

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1981 300D 147k
1998 VW Jetta Tdi 320k
2001 Dodge Ram 2500 141k
1979 300D 234k (sold)
1984 300D "Astor" 262k(sold)
Mercedes How-To and Repair Pictorials
I love the smell of diesel smoke in my hair

89 300CE Clock works fine.
But the tach stops working whenever I reset it.
Repaired it atleast 4 to 5 times.
Need to do it again now.

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300CE 1989 Euro Model.
ML350 2011.

My 89 420SEL clock only works intermittently, and I really don't care --- don't really look at "dash time" anyway. My 76 450SEL clock also works a bit, but not consistently .... so the net result is that they do not really work well and I am not going to fool with them. My 99ML electronic clock is still doing fine however.

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Ben Harrison Carter
1999 Mercedes ML320 87K
1992 Mercedes 300CE 89K
1995 Corvette 29K -- Sold Dec 09
1989 Mercedes 420SEL 99K -- (Sold 4/08)
1968 Mercedes 230S (106K) (Sold 9/06))
1976 Mercedes 450SEL 130K (Just sold - 06)
1961 Mercedes 220Sb (sold years ago)

89-300ce, works fine.

Jorg