Speedometer differences, 400E vs 500E

[Roma_500E]

Are gears the same on 036 vs 034 ? I believe not ? Does anybody fixed the E500E gears ? Just curious in case it breaks

 

[emerydc8]

Re: HOW-TO: Replacing Odometer Gears

Roma_500E: This is what the ebay seller stated:

"This odometer repair kit is for all Mercedes W126 from 1978-1991 280SEL,300SE/SEL, 350SD/SDL, 380SEC/SEL,420SEL,500SEL/SEC,560SEC/SEL, Mercedes W124 400E,E420,500E and E500s from 1988-1995 and all Mercedes W107 380SL/SLC and 500SLs from 1981-1985 and all Mercedes 500SL and 560SLs from 1986-1989, tooth count is 12T, 16/48T and 18/48T gears."​

 

[Roma_500E]

Re: HOW-TO: Replacing Odometer Gears

Roma_500E: This is what the ebay seller stated:

"This odometer repair kit is for all Mercedes W126 from 1978-1991 280SEL,300SE/SEL, 350SD/SDL, 380SEC/SEL,420SEL,500SEL/SEC,560SEC/SEL, Mercedes W124 400E,E420,500E and E500s from 1988-1995 and all Mercedes W107 380SL/SLC and 500SLs from 1981-1985 and all Mercedes 500SL and 560SLs from 1986-1989, tooth count is 12T, 16/48T and 18/48T gears."​

Hmm, I remember post on white 400E converted to 500E where somebody wrote that the speedometer from 400E420 does not work properly on 500e500 due to differential difference so it needs to be adjusted using 500E500 gears in the speedometer ? Is that true ?

 

[gerryvz]

Re: HOW-TO: Replacing Odometer Gears

Hmm, I remember post on white 400E converted to 500E where somebody wrote that the speedometer from 400E420 does not work properly on 500e500 due to differential difference so it needs to be adjusted using 500E500 gears in the speedometer ? Is that true ?

I think it's easier to adjust it with an external signal conversion box.

 

[gsxr]

Re: HOW-TO: Replacing Odometer Gears

I think it's easier to adjust it with an external signal conversion box.

Correct. USA 400E is calibrated for 2.24 gears and ~25" tires. 500E is calibrated for 2.82 gears and ~26" tires. A YellowBox converter can be used.

 

[Roma_500E]

Re: HOW-TO: Replacing Odometer Gears

Correct. USA 400E is calibrated for 2.24 gears and ~25" tires. 500E is calibrated for 2.82 gears and ~26" tires. A YellowBox converter can be used.

So there is no spare parts for our genuine 036 odometer in case it fails ? What is a yellow box ?

 

[gsxr]

Re: HOW-TO: Replacing Odometer Gears

Yellow Box is required when changing axle ratios, tire diameter, or speedometer heads with different calibration (K number). Dakota Digital makes a similar unit. I had to use one when I switched a 2.65 differential.

http://yellr.com/

 

[Roma_500E]

Re: HOW-TO: Replacing Odometer Gears

Yellow Box is required when changing axle ratios, tire diameter, or speedometer heads with different calibration (K number). Dakota Digital makes a similar unit. I had to use one when I switched a 2.65 differential.

http://yellr.com/

Thanx , never know about this gadget . For some reason, even on my 19 wheels my speedometr works 100% accurate based on navigation . I tried it on 30MPH 60MPH and 100MPH and speedometer matched exactly with navigation.

I still do not understand how come is that ?

 

[gsxr]

Re: HOW-TO: Replacing Odometer Gears

Thanx , never know about this gadget . For some reason, even on my 19 wheels my speedometr works 100% accurate based on navigation . I tried it on 30MPH 60MPH and 100MPH and speedometer matched exactly with navigation.

I still do not understand how come is that ?

You must have installed the correct diameter 19" tires. If you get a tire size within ~1% of factory stock (specifically, a rolling circumference within ~1%) the speedometer & odometer should be very accurate up to about 100mph. Usually above 100mph, the speedometer tends to become "optimistic", reading higher than actual speed as measured via GPS.

 

[gsxr]

Re: HOW-TO: Replacing Odometer Gears

So I'm guessing you counted the teeth on the E3 gear, it's different on all 3 cars. Because they guess on what gear you need. They send a 16 tooth default on the 126. The 034 & 036 use a 17 tooth...

Update... the E3 gear will have different tooth count on .034 (400E/E420) and .036 (500E/E500) odometers. If you use USA-spec .034 gears to repair an .036 odometer, it will be off by ~28%, reading much higher miles traveled than actual. Don't ask how I know.

I'm working on confirming the proper tooth count for each, I don't see this documented elsewhere in the thread. In the meantime, here is yet another vendor, offering Made in USA gears... they are more costly than the ones from Spain or Turkey, but have lifetime warranty:

http://www.odometergears.com/products/Mercedes-Benz/E+class+(124)++92-1995+Elec./51


UPDATE:

All 124.036 (E500E) worldwide with stock 160mph/260kph speedos should use the following gears:
E1 = 12
E2 = 48x12
E3 = 48x17 <-- this is the one which is different based on gearing and tire size​

​

I will add the info for the USA-spec 124.034 (400E/E420), with 2.24 gears, next time I have one apart to count the teeth on E3.

If you get the wrong E3 gear, it will not mesh properly with the next lower gear (E4?), which also has a different tooth count, but is not offered for sale by most vendors... I assume it's made from different material and does not have the high failure rate of the E1/E2/E3.

CLICK HERE for "How To" thread on replacing odometer gears.

 

[yevgenievich]

Bringing this back up. Had 400e and 500e spedo units apart and odo gears all appeared to be the same(same tooth count 48 and 12 on top two). The elec board had different values for the spedo driver chip (UAF 2115 with config differences for pin 11 division ratio). But according to data sheet there are only three configurations available for motor driver output. Swapped things around and will do a test on how spedo is tracking.