Switching w123 instrument cluster with newer diesel cluster?
 

Hey everyone, I'm a new user... I love this forum. Only 18 and the 2nd owner of my '83 300D turbo w/ 220K miles. Care for this car as if it were my child... I plan on driving it to 1,000,000 miles! Anyways, my question is.... is it possible to switch out my instrument cluster with one from a newer diesel, say an 87 or 88 300D? I like the design of the newer cluster better, plus the outside temp would be a nice touch. Thank you guys for all your help.

I think that the new diesels use an oil pressure sending unit and electricla wires to get the reading on the gauge, while the 123 cars use an actual oil line to get oil pressure to the gauge. I do'nt think you could modify a newer style instrument panel to accept an old mechanical gauge, and I for one wouldn't want to go with an electrical gauge over a mechanical one.

Sorry... :( I agree that an outside temp reading would be nice, but I was thinking more on the lines of putting a small gauge for that in somewhere, along with an inside temp and a compass...I just have to figure out where to mount it so it would look nice. :)

BTW, welcome aboard!! :cool:

I figured there was something that would botch things, I can live with my old gauges though... just wish the lighting was better, but I've seen those upgrades on eBay for it before... anyone know how those work?

Speaking of finding places for new gauges... I am looking into a boost gauge and voltmeter. I think I am going to take out my ash try (since i dont smoke, or use the lighter) and try and fabricate some kind of housing that would look nice with the wood grain around it, but also with the 2 gauges (which will be 2"). Thanks for the welcome, glad to be here!

Check out www.isspro.com

I need to replace all the gauges in my truck; I'm planning to make a new gauge panel (probably out of wood) with all Isspro gauges...they're pretty good quality and don't look "Performance-tacky" like Autometer gauges do (in my opinion).

You could also get a two-gauge pod that will bolt to the dash cover...if you did it right, it could even be made to look like it belongs there. IMHO that may be easier than ripping out the ash tray and fabricating something to go in there, and besides, the ash tray makes a great garbage can, as well as the cigarette lighter being useful as a 12 volt outlet. :)

How much do you want for that Cummins? ;)

I found that it was much cheaper for me to purchace an H4 conversion kit from my local autoparts store than to go through ebay.

ahhh sounds like me 2 years ago :D


you can't really switch clusters with newer chassis' but if you have an 85mph speedo then you can get a 120mph one out of a diff year w123 (you should have a 120mph though)

Also, like Itrain300D said, get the H4 lamps off eBay. MUCH better than sealed beam. When I got mine they were brand new Bosch units so i was happy.


When you go for parts, believe it or not, the dealer is actually a good place to check. Most of the time they have better prices on stuff than Aftermarket (always check Fastlane though, just to be sure)

About the lighting upgrade, I was talking about the instrument cluster lighting.... I've already got the H4 upgrade... best $75 i've ever spent on my car - but sorry for the confusion about the lighting - should of said anyone know about the instrument panel lighting upgrade kit?

The lighting on German cars are naturally darker than their American counterparts. Its not good for your night vision to have such a bright cluster. On mine, although its fairly dark, everything is clear and easy to read.


There are somethings you can do though to make it brighter, yo can paint the back of the prizm that shines the light white, I think Larry said something about that a long while ago.

Do a search on it and see what you can find, seems to be a common problem.

train300D

Welcome, sounds like you got a nice car, what color?

As far as the dash lights, like was mentioned, they are not"overly bright" when everything is up to snuff. The instrument cluster is easy to pull, or push, even easyer. Should be lots of info in the archives, if you cant find it I,l send it. You may have some bulbs out. If your rheostat gives you any trouble solder a small jumper on the back of it, thats what most folks do and you will get "OK" dash lights, actually just right for me.

Those H4s are sure nice, that was one of my first upgrades :D

I think another difference is that the 123 has a direct drive/mechanical speedo and the 124 has an inductive/electronic speedo.

I heard that you can remove the ouside temp gauge display from a 124 or 126 gauge cluster. Just a matter of craftsmanship to fit it into a blank space in a 123 cluster.

Sixto
91 300SE
87 300SDL
83 300SD

Near as I can eyeball the 123 and 124 clusters are different shapes so the 124 won't fit without substantial dash modification (if that's even reasonable). My 123 instrument lighting is much darker than the 124 and I tried most the usual remedies, painting the back of the prisims white, bypassing the rheostat, replacing the bulbs, etc. and it did no good. I'm thinking about trying an experiment of using white fiberoptics from a kids toy to try to get a more direct light. I'll let everyone know how it works if/when I get around to trying it.

I think I am just going to stick to my 123 cluster.... if I want to know the outside temp, I'll roll down the window. As to what color my car is, its the blue/silver color (needs a paint job though) with the blue interior. Wish I had the tan interior... i really like the blend of tan/black and the wood grain. Also, I think the 300D's look nice black, and black with a blue interior isn't the best combination to me

Don't bother with the temperature gauge upgrade. The early style ones on W126 and W124 cars are always way off. If you're interested in the late model one which tend to be more accurate, you'll need to transplant the hall sensor in there too.

I'll trade you interiors!! :D My interior color's Palomino, and I would actually prefer blue or gray...I always preferred light colors to dark ones.

Could be worse, though; my truck's got a maroon interior!! :eek:

One thought on painting the area around the instrument lights, would it be better to paint it silver, or maybe find a way to secure a small amount of aluminum foil? Seems to me that silver would do a better job of reflecting than white would... Just a thought :)

They do have this "Chome Spray Paint" that makes a mirror finish, the only problem with it is if you touch it you mess it up and it turns dull.

Other than that, its prety darn good