Info/Parts on VDO 140 mph Speedometer

[MB6er]

I recently restored a 1966 250S Mercedes. On trying to fix the odometer I broke some of the plastic digit wheels. It's a VDO (108 542 16 01) 140 mph speedometer that is 4-3/16" in diameter with a max reading of 99,999 miles. I have two questions: 1) does anyone know where I can get replacement wheels, and 2) do they make a speedometer that goes to 999,999 miles that I could substitute directly for the original. Your input would be greatly appreciated since I have tried ebay, called speedo shops, etc with no success. Thanks much.

[Tomguy]

These come up on ebay frequently...
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Mercedes-W114-280-Instrument-cluster-Speedometer-L-K_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp3286Q2em20Q2el1116QQitemZ160212526022QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ 5fAccessories
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/MERCEDES-BENZ-W108-W109-SPEEDOMETER-300SEL-280SE_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp3286Q2em20Q2el1116QQitemZ200285123258QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPa rtsQ5fAccessories
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Mercedes-w108-VDO-Instrument-cluster-1085425301_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trkparmsZ72Q3a1205Q7c66Q3a2Q7c65Q3a12Q7c39Q3a1Q7c240Q3a1318Q7c301Q3a1Q 7c293Q3a1Q7c294Q3a50QQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14QQhashZitem260335732740QQitemZ260335732740QQptZMotorsQ 5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

I don't think that the prices are reasonable but you need to broaden your search, it was used on more than just the 108...
btw, I have never seen one with the 6th digit.

[tompaah7503]

Note that the W114/115 instruments have plain white needles, where the W108 has a red stripe on the needle. I had never thought about this myself before but just yesterday I was replacing the bourdon-tube type temperature gauge on my W108 with a resistance-based unit from a W115, and noticed the difference. I ended up replacing all the instruments for a uniform look.

[Pooka]

I have a 160 mph speedo for sale in the parts section. It came out of my now parted out 6.3.

Please send me a PM or e-mail for pictures.

Pooka

[Pooka]

Well, after a little bit of study I can see that they are different. Perhaps someone knows of one in a junkyard somewhere?

By the way, I have never seen one that went to 999,999 either. You could buy aftermarket odometers that would and they mounted under the dash. This was never offered by Mercedes, but in the 1960's J. C. Whitney sold them.

Pooka

[Tomguy]

The needle is different, but all he wanted was the gears; any 108/109/114/115 speedo will have the same gears.

[MB6er]

Pooka, Thanks for your reply. This is a tough problem - I'll continue looking in junkyards. MB6er

[MB6er]

Thanks, I didn't realize the 108/109/114/115 speedo had the same gears. When you say gears does this also mean the plastic number wheels are the same, the ones that read 0-9? These are the ones that need to be replaced.

[MB6er]

Thanks for the info on the needle strip, a detail I had never considered.

[ja17]

Hello,

I have quite a few of these W108 140mph used clusters, speedometers etc. Email me for parts or units.

No units with additional digits were made for the W108, W109, W114, or W115 cars.

ja17@att.net