I have a 1988 300E with 165,000 miles on it and the speedometer works and the odometer and trip meter do not work, If I buy a replacement on the used market and it's below the 165,000 miles how can I run up the miles to make it match what is being taken out?

You could take a drill and a smallish phillips head screwdriver.. stick drive in the socket. Heck you might even find a square drive bit that fits exactly.. drill away till to you reach the number you want.

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'84 300CD Turbo 132k (Anthracite Grey) - WVO - My daily driver - Recently named coo-coo-coupe by my daughter.
'84 300D Turbo 240k (Anthracite Grey) - Garage Queen
'83 300D Turbo 220k (Orient Red) - WVO - Wifes daily driver

I'm not a certified mechanic, but I did stay at a HolidayInn Express last night.

And it will take you forever, just immagine at 100 mph you will have to drill an hour for that. Find a speedometer shop, maybe they can fix yours or adjust the wheels in your replacement.

Mike,

My odometer went out on Christmas this year. After doing some research here, came to conclusion pro repair would be best for long life (my '90 300 E currently at 180 K mi.; I plan to run car forever). Stevebfl (Steve Brotherton - moderator on this site) has a brother (Scott) who does odometer, trip odometer repair for @ $120 -140. He also added miles to my odometer to get me to approximate correct mileage - making up for driving I did while instrument panel out of car. There is a very nice post entitled "Let's Pull the Instrument Panel" here that will give you instruction and pix on how to remove instrument panel. I have been pleased with R&R Scott did.