New to forum and Mercedes in general. forgive me if this is the wrong section. I picked up an '85 300d locally that was way too good of a car for the scrappers. I'm learning a bit with this car. Interior was rough, I have since cleaned and fixed up most of the carpeting along with the stained dash. The Mechanical oil gauge has failed and has been ignored for sometime which has stained the cluster along with parts of the dash and carpeting. I'm looking for a good cluster with a good gauge. Can anyone help me out?

Are you sure its not the hose supplying oil to it? ...but if you decide you still need one I have several gauges available I'll sell reasonably.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Yeah, you can remove the oil gauge from the cluster. No need to replace the entire cluster.

Like t W mentioned, check the connections.

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1979 300D 220 K miles
1995 C280 109 K miles
1992 Cadillac Eldorado Touring Coupe 57K miles SOLD
********************
1979 240D 140Kmiles (bought for parents) *SOLD.
SAN FRANCISCO/(*San Diego)
1989 300SE 148 K miles *SOLD

The oil problem might also be your shutoff solenoid. When they go bad they draw engine oil from the ip into the start switch. An easy way to diagnostic would be to put a small clear fuel filter in the vacuum line between the start switch and the shutoff solenoid and see if it catches oil.

As mentioned, the instruments come out separately.

While you're there, you may want to solder a jump wire between the two pins at the bottom of the circled item, the cluster light dimmer.

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83 SD

84 CD

Thanks guys, I have already taken the cluster apart, it is for sure the gauge itself. I have cleaned up the cluster pretty good. I suspect the dimmer may be the cause of my non-working dash lamps. The clear plastic for the cluster is hazed a bit from oil and has swirls in it from cleaning. I may try some sort of abrasive to buff it. Anyone have any experience doing that? If someone has a good oil gauge/temp/ fuel section they would let go for a fair price I'd be interested. I looked around the net a little and they are a bit rich for me.

The dimmer switch is an easy fix .Remove it and open it up ,only tabs to bend back to see inside. Clean up the track inside with cleaner , but dont rub it .If it is in bad condition you can soldier a wire to bridge the contact ,so it works on full illumination . Also check the fuse in the cluster , as it to can stop the dash lights from working .

I'll be sure to do that while I have it apart. My biggest hurdle is finding a good gauge after all the work of cleaning up the carpets and a new/used mint drivers seat in I don't want to risk getting black engine oil all over again. After replacing brakes and servicing the engine its keeping me from backing it out of the garage.

I might go to the pik n pull next Saturday. maybe.

there is an 83 300d there but the cluster might be gone. I don't recall from visit two weeks ago..post a picture of the gauge you meed.. PM me also.

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1979 300D 220 K miles
1995 C280 109 K miles
1992 Cadillac Eldorado Touring Coupe 57K miles SOLD
********************
1979 240D 140Kmiles (bought for parents) *SOLD.
SAN FRANCISCO/(*San Diego)
1989 300SE 148 K miles *SOLD

Once you get a replacement gauge hook it up to the oil supply line without installing it in the instrument cluster. Wrap a clean white rag around the gauge and start the engine. If you see any oil then you have a leaky supply line or a bad replacement gauge. You can also plug in the wiring socket and check the fuel gauge and temp gauge at the same time with the gauge not installed in the cluster.

If I was in this situation, I *might* consider using Meguiar’s #17 followed by Meguiar’s #10. I'd test it somewhere inconspicuous first if at all possible.

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With the cluster out, you might consider replacing all of the bulbs that illuminate it. It can be a bit frustrating to do a rebuild or similar significant body of work inside the cluster only to find a failed bulb shortly after getting everything back in place.

I've got tons of 123 clusters...

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 560SL convertible
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
2005 Dodge Sprinter 2500 158"WB
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!