W140 Early Instrument Cluster - fully repaired & operational

[@jonalowe]

Those early clusters are notorious for parasitic draws than can destroy a battery in a few days (don't ask how I know). I recommend doing a parasitic test on the car both with and without the cluster hooked up before you fully reinstall it. There was some sort of recall or paid for warranty service at least in the US for the early displays, changing them out for digital odometer displays. I ended up changing out the early style display in my 1994 W140 for a digital one, and it was already the second one that the car had. The digital displays are pretty bullet proof.

[@MMWA-DAVE]

@@jonalowe interesting. Sounds like failure to go into sleep mode after shut down. If this happens I will check it out and find the cause. They do have connection to permanent power so its very possible the ancient electronics will experience some other faults.

[@clearybeacon]

If it becomes too much of an issue I’ll swap in a digital one. I wonder if it’s a clock circuit fault causing the parasitic drain? I will be installing a battery isolator as well

[@tony66au]

Worth noting that the planetary or Sun Gear life is shortened by resetting the trip meter while driving, they are best zero'd when stationary.

[@clearybeacon]

@@tony66au yep, definitely

[@W-124s]

Hello my friend, how are you? I have a problem for which I have not found a solution, which is that when the ignition key is in position 2, the warning lights on the instrument panel do not light up, except for ABS and brakes. What is the reason for this problem? Thank you.

[@christopher6161]

Do you think w140 is truly worth fixing. A very cheap but nice looking 300,000 miles 350SD is near me.

[@clearybeacon]

Unless you’re up for a big challenge like I am, it’s best to buy the nicest example you can find. I like buying the worst examples and fixing them, the most boring cars I’ve owned are the ones that don’t need any restoration 😂

[@eurohouse8788]

Of course it’s worth it!! W140s are amazing legendary machines!

[@Johnathan_Waters]

Yes, they are absolutely worth restoring. I have done that very thing to several of them! With that many miles, you can at least be sure that a vast number of things have already been replaced or otherwise dealt with... maybe more than once!

[@Johnathan_Waters]

I don't understand... if you're going to send the car to the scrapper, then why are you repairing it?

[@MMWA-DAVE]

@@Johnathan_Waters it will be enjoyed and probably lightly restored, but being a 300se it will never be worth anything. Once tims done with it, it will likley goto the crusher like the last one.

[@Johnathan_Waters]

@@MMWA-DAVE Well, personally i couldn't really care less about resale value... more importantly does the condition have any redeeming qualities?! Eventually, there won't be very many W140s left at all remember...

[@clearybeacon]

I’ll be using it as a car to cruise around and enjoy where I don’t need to be going off-road (my W163 is for that), so will likely be getting my money’s worth out of it. I don’t envisage it going to the crusher but I’d say that’s more of a figure of speech, as I will be keeping it for a long time.

[@Johnathan_Waters]

@@clearybeacon I see. I'm guessing you are "Tim"?? Nice to meet you! And i am very glad to hear that. They are amazing cars in my opinion. (the 163 as well!). I have 1998 CL600 and a 2000 ML55 AMG

[@eurohouse8788]

@@MMWA-DAVEdon’t scrap!!! W140s, even 300SE ones is going up in value man!… don’t listen to those whiners who talk shit about W140s! They’re great cars!! I have 4 of them! Two of them were fully restored by me. I’m gonna keep restoring more and more