Hey Everyone-

I was wondering if there is a specific way to replace the needle onto the face of the speedometer on my 1982 300D. I was repairing the odometer, and I accidentally moved the needle on the shaft. Anyone have a trick to this one?

Thank you- Matt

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1982 300DT *4-speed*// proper 617 donor for conversion // W126 big brakes // front wagon swaybar // european lights & bumpers // rear headrests // lumbar support // warning triangle // overdrive water pump pulley & 9 blade fan // Too many more to list Dark blue/ Palomino.

1983 300D euro no longer a 4 speed. . swap/parts carr

Good effin luck

I did the same thing on my old VW speedometer... never got it back on right. Either the needle would bounce all over the place or be off by 20 mph.

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08 R320 CDI current

Past
95 E420
87 300D Turbo 5spd
90 300TE
83 300SD
85 300TD
92 400E
85 190D

If YOU accidentally moved the needle then it can be popped off and repositioned, fairly comfortably knowing that. My needle needed to come off, so I used the 'two spoons' method to pry it up and it was stuck on too hard... RIPPED the needle shaft in half and pulled the clock spring out through the hole with it. Uhhh... new speedo from donor car solved that one. But now all my records are ODO inaccurate.

However, I have just learned to live with my needle wherever it is at, use a GPS and get an actual speed and then constantly do the math while driving... In my case, "new" one registers about 10 kph faster than what I'm actually driving. Changing tires makes a difference up to 10% based on new circumference of different brand.

And speed inaccuracy does not mean your ODO is inaccurate by the same percentage, or amount. There are two different feeds off the same spinning cable. ODO is geared, speedo is magneto "friction".

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Cheers!
Scott McPhee

1987 300D

Ok, so I noticed on a few of the VDO speedometers I have, when removed from the cluster, theres a small white hash mark on the edge of the gauge that isnt visible when you have the gauge installed in the housing. What I did was remove the needle, let the spring relax, then ever so gently, place the needle onto the shaft on the gauge. Point the needle at the small hash mark, be careful, as its tedious work and it may take a few trys to get it dead on the mark. Spin the needle, and let go. It should return either dead on, or just shy of the mark. Then lift the needle over the stop pin. There you go.

I did this exact method, and I was able to get my speedometer within 2 mph accuracy.

Also I have a better trick than the locktite on the odometer gears, which I will write up later

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1982 300DT *4-speed*// proper 617 donor for conversion // W126 big brakes // front wagon swaybar // european lights & bumpers // rear headrests // lumbar support // warning triangle // overdrive water pump pulley & 9 blade fan // Too many more to list Dark blue/ Palomino.

1983 300D euro no longer a 4 speed. . swap/parts carr

Which one? There are 18 white hash marks on all of mine.