I can't answer your specific question but I can say that would really have pissed me off as well. Did you make a complaint soon after getting it back from the offender? Probably too late to do so now.

It's been a handful of years ago, but when I had my W123 diesel, I replaced the instrument cluster with one I bought off eBay from a guy in Great Britain somewhere, Wales or Scotland I think it was. Seems I got it for less than $30 and it was in very good condition. Wasn't a difficult project, just take a bit of patience getting it pulled out. Good luck.

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