280 SE 3.5 cabriolet instrument panel

[athadani]

I need to have my speedometer taken out and would appreciate advice on how to go about it in the correct manner. Any advice and pictures would be helpful.

Best wishes,

Ashok

[ja17]

Remove the steering wheel first. It comes off easily. The procedure is basically the same as a W113 car. The tach and center cluster must be removed first. Search up the procedure. There a lot of steps to follow in correct sequence.

[Cees Klumper]

Hi Ashok - maybe we can have a look at this on Saturday; I have done this with my Pagoda so if it's similar we can figure it out from the info here!

[Cees Klumper]

Ashok and I just did this. Turned out the speedometer is a press fit in the dash, and with two fabricated hooks we were able to pull it out of the dash from the front. I first went underneath and behind the dash to see if there was a bracket holding it in, but it uses a rubber seal/gasket to hold it in place. So job done!

[ja17]

Interesting Cees,  I suspect that the "friction fit" is unique to the latest W111 and W112 coupes and cabs. Earlier versions did use the mounting brackets and knurled thumb screws to hold the gauges in place just like the W113 cars. Thanks for the info!

[wwheeler]

My '68 coupe has the same friction fit that Cees is talking about on both tach and speedo. So no brackets on the 280SE cars. I was contemplating subing out with the wood binnacle from the 220/250SE and now wonder if the friction fit would even work.

Anybody know if the wood binnacles exclusively used a friction or bracket fit? Would be curious when they switched from the bracket to the friction fit.

Thanks.

[JPMOSE]

Yep...my 3.5 cab is friction fit as well.