1987 300d with 27k odometer stopped working today - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

jasont9977 · #1 01-22-2012, 09:08 PM

while i was giving her her bi-weekly run around the block (1.2 miles) i reset the trip odometer and now my mileage does not work . this car just turned an antique in tn . do i have to fix this odometer or can i get another one ????? she only has 27k on her and i want to keep it as mint as possible . uughhh
will pay to have someone fix . thanks

vstech · #2 01-22-2012, 09:14 PM

it's not a huge deal to fix it yourself. it likely only needs a simple plastic gear to be replaced.

bipolardave · #3 01-22-2012, 09:15 PM

It can be fixed.

It's common that as the gears and plastic inside ages, these odometers tend to break. I believe that it tends to happen if the car's in motion as you reset the trip odometer...or at least mine did.

There's a "how to" floating around somewhere.

I sent mine for repair. $100 and a week and 1/2 there and back via regular mail.

Speedometer & Odometer Repairs — Overseas Speedometer

vstech · #4 01-22-2012, 09:15 PM

likely I could fix it for you if you don't feel able to do so, but the hardest part is pulling the cluster from the dash.

jasont9977 · #5 01-23-2012, 08:28 AM

thanks for your reply . i have zero knowledge of how to take the cluster out and am scared i will only muck things up . dealership ??? will this affect the value of my car ? i drove it almost a half mile before i noticed it was not working . thanks again

foolio · #6 01-23-2012, 10:43 AM

You'll pay out the wazoo if you take it to the dealer. So, it depends on whether or not it is worth it to you. I fixed mine this weekend for $65 with gears from odometergears.com. It works great now. However, I contend that the hardest part is putting the cluster back in...getting all those plugs connected correctly!

Not much DIY detail, but, I just posted a thread with my cluster refresh. There is plenty of the DIY in detail in the forum and available with simple google searches so I decided there was no need to re-do the process.

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/311734-300sdl-cluster-refresh.html

ds190 · #7 01-23-2012, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jasont9977

will this affect the value of my car ?

No disrespect meant, but what "value" do you think it has? I know it was available in the USA for only 1 year with that engine, and I note the mileage. But it's a 4 door diesel sedan- value affected by a broken trip meter?

Just the trip meter portion broken, or both it and the main odometer?

jasont9977 · #8 01-23-2012, 12:22 PM

No offense taken sir . it has stopped both the trip and main odometer .I think on the title somewhere it asks if the odometer reading is correct . If i mark no, when or if i sell it would it affect the price . but since it just went into antique status with the DMV does it matter about the odometer with the title ? I know its not a Ferrari or a Bentley but it is realistically a near new 1987 turbo diesel with low miles (gotta be worth something) if not just to drive forever and a day . thanks for the help . if anyone could tell me where to start to take the cluster out i would be grateful . does it come out the front or do i have to go up under the steering wheel where the brake pedal and panel are to loosen it up to remove ? i don't want to bugger it up trying to fix it and break something else. have a great day

bipolardave · #9 01-23-2012, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jasont9977

no offense taken . i think on the title somewhere it asks if the odometer reading is correct . If i mark no, when or if i sell it would it affect the price . but since it just went into antique status with the DMV does it matter about the miles ? I know its not a Ferrari or a Bentley but it is realistically a near new 1987 turbo diesel with low miles (gotta be worth something) thanks for the help

*Repairing* your odometer, especially if it's not driven while out for rebuild shouldn't cause any problems.

*Replacing it*, on the other hand, *could* raise questions. Typically, don't you just start over at 0 miles and just indicate the odometer swap on the title?

Repairing your odometer isn't anything to really sweat over and it's a common failure for these cars. Even if you decide to send it away it's not going to break your wallet.

Also, any prospective buyer who happens to be a Benz head shouldn't be bothered by such a failure if and when you decide to sell it. If it were a W115, I'd expect the odometer to have been repaired and be suspicious if a seller stated that it *hadn't* failed.

Edit: one final thought, if your mileage is indeed that low a compression check will verify it and you should be golden. From what I've learned in my brief time here, we diesel heads put more stock in high compression numbers than low mileage, anyway.

charmalu · #10 01-23-2012, 12:50 PM

I understand your concerns with the low milage and value of the car being demininshed with a broken spedo, and the indicated milage not 100% right on. a few miles off trom the actual milage is not a deal breaker or will drop the value of the vehicle.

I agree, stay out of the dealerships. they don`t want a car that old in their shop, it is 25 yrs old. the labor rate will kill you, and just because you are in a dealer, doesn`t mean the mechanics working their today, are knowledgable on the older models.

Do you have any Pick N Pull type junk yards in your area? do some searching here in the forum, or read your FSM on how to R&R the instrument cluster on a W124. then go the the JY and learn on one of their car how to properly remove a cluster. buy it, and then practice on it how to take it apart and reassemble. I think a whole cluster is around $40, and maybe the gauge is $15.

There are plenty of knowledgable people here on the forum that will walk you through the process. might even be someone in your area that is on the forum that could help.

I have W123`s, so the W124 is foreign territory for me.

Charlie

ngarover · #11 01-23-2012, 12:57 PM

Like it's been said, the fix is fairly simple and common. If this is the car I think it is, then verification of the actual miles should not be an issue whatsoever. Just get it fixed.

BTW... here is the law on it....

Public Chapter 234

SENATE BILL NO. 1764

By Womack

Substituted for: House Bill No. 1720

By Eckles, Godsey, Westmoreland, Ridgeway, Fraley, Hood

AN ACT To amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Sections 39-14-132, 47-18-104 and 55-17-114, relative to odometer tampering.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:

SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 39-14-132, is amended by deleting the present subsection (b) and substituting the following new subsection:

(b)(1) A person may service, repair, or replace an odometer of a motor vehicle if the mileage registered by the odometer remains the same as before the service, repair or replacement. If the mileage cannot remain the same after every reasonable attempt to set the odometer to the mileage registered prior to the service, repair or replacement:

(A) the person shall adjust the odometer to read zero; and

(B) the owner of the vehicle or agent of the owner shall permanently affix by means of a rivet plate to the left door frame of the vehicle the mileage before the service, repair or replacement and the date of the service, repair or replacement.

(2) A person may not, with intent to defraud, remove or alter a notice attached to a motor vehicle as required by this section.

SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 47-18-104(b)(16), is amended by adding at the end of the subdivision the following:

, except as provided for in Section 39-14-132(b);

SECTION 3. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 55-17-114(b)(1)(J), is amended by adding at the end of the subdivision the following:

, except as provided for in Section 39-14-132(b);

SECTION 4. This act shall take effect July 1, 1997, the public welfare requiring it.

sixto · #12 01-23-2012, 01:49 PM

Interesting dilemma. Who services the car? Do you know of an independent shop that will remove the cluster for you even if they don't have the expertise to repair it themselves? An alternative to Overseas Speedometer is Palo Alto Speedometer. There are many others. Any speedo shop will return it with the same odometer reading. Check what the dealer will charge for the same service so you have a basis of comparison.

I don't know the value of your car but it's worth more than mine with over 260K miles under its belt but only 68K on the installed speedo

Lots of chances to botch the cluster removal and installation task if you're not part mechanic, part jeweler. I have no finesse to speak of and you can tell by the little creases and scratches in the dash where the hooks slide to extract the cluster. There are dozens of 25 year old connections to undo and redo. I don't know what labor rates are where you are but I can see this being a $3-400 job and IMO worth it. As a buyer, I'd prefer to see a bona fide receipt for the repair over the seller's word. At 27K miles anyway. It matters less at 270K miles.

Sixto
87 300D

jasont9977 · #13 01-23-2012, 06:00 PM

allot of good advice . thanks . i will shop around a couple of garages and try to find someone with knowledge about this situation . i agree that something like this should be left to those who know and have maybe done this type of work . and documentation is everything with this car .

charmalu · #14 01-23-2012, 09:09 PM

I would be more concerned about the Bi-Weekly 1.2 mile run around the block. the engine is really not getting all that warmed up with such a short run.

Being a low mileage show room conditioned car, be careful picking the European place you drop it off. some are Specialists, and others are Generalists.

Also check the cleanliness of the shop, the floors, and the mechanics. you don`t need the free lube and grease to your interior and carpets.

Charlie

ashedd · #15 01-23-2012, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jasont9977

while i was giving her her bi-weekly run around the block (1.2 miles) i reset the trip odometer and now my mileage does not work . this car just turned an antique in tn . do i have to fix this odometer or can i get another one ????? she only has 27k on her and i want to keep it as mint as possible . uughhh
will pay to have someone fix . thanks

Jason,

Glad to hear you kept the car!!!

You "broke" it by resetting it while moving... it's how the gear slips off. No one tells you NOT to do until you've done it

Since EVERYONE who knows about your car wants to see it in person... maybe you could drive it to a GTG(get together) that maybe upcoming around your parts. I don't know of any off hand but members here hold little GTG's at various times around the country. Several guys drive to a location(someones house) and have a cookout or something and look at each others cars... it usually involves maintenance as well. At a GTG you could have someone who is more knowledgeable remove the cluster for you so you guys can fix it. The reward for them would be seeing a next to new '87 300D.

I wouldn't trust just anyone to repair your gears.