I should know the answer to this one since I have been driving MBs for over 25 years but I have never bothered to find out.

Since about 1973 in Australia, we have had speedometers that read in kilometres rather than miles. All the MBs delivered here since that time have had the "Euro" speedometers with the yellow markings between 50 and 60km/h. What are these markings for? I notice that the UK and US speedometers with MPH and km/h don't have the same markings.

Whilst searching for an answer I found a pic posted recently regarding the markings for the maximum speeds in each gear. I hope Vronsky does not mind me using his pic. Ignore the markings he has circled that related to his question, it is the yellow shading between 50 and 60 that interests me.

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107.023: 350SLC, 3-speed auto, icon gold, parchment MBtex (sold 2012 after 29 years ownership).
107.026: 500SLC, 4-speed auto, thistle green, green velour.
124.090: 300TE, 4-speed auto, arctic white, cream-beige MBtex.
201.028: 190E 2.3 Sportline, 5-speed manual, arctic white, blue leather.
201.028: 190E 2.3, 4-speed auto, blue-black, grey MBtex.
201.034: 190E 2.3-16, 5-speed manual, blue-black, black leather.