PV: Changing instrument from miles to KM

[adarvasi]

Good evening all,

I would like to know if to have a kilometer reading in the instrument cluster I need to only change the the acrylic face plate (I have one) or are other changes required, i.e. gearbox?
Thank you
Andres

[arcturus]

No.Probably need to have the odometer re calibrated. As you know one mile is longer than one km. Or perhaps different drive from gear box

[Army]

Is this a fashion thing? Or does Mexico use the metric system for speed limits? I've recently been approached by a fellow Mercedes fanatic in the US of A who wants to be driving a "proper" Euro - is this the same thing?

I've got a spare unit that probably doesn't work if you're interested

[Ron Kwas]

Andres;

To confirm and also answer your question...if you hold the metric face aligned against the imperial face, and 100km/hr lines up with 62mi/hr (etc.), it means that the amount the speedometer barrel turns to indicate either is the same, and I expect it will be, so if you have your heart set on indicating in metric, you could indeed "simply" remove the instrument, and replace that face with the metric one, and reinstall...a lot of work IMO!...I'd probably simply add new metric numbers on the existing face with some dry transfer lettering (such as this: https://www.etsy.com/market/dry_transfer_lettering )

Cheers

[adarvasi]

Thank you Arcturus, well aware of the difference 1,609 meters to 1 mile, however the Km face is calibrated different and it correspond to the milage conversion, so the indication will be correct, however I believe that the odometer will continue to show distance covered in miles due to gearing.

[adarvasi]

Originally Posted by Army

Is this a fashion thing? Or does Mexico use the metric system for speed limits? I've recently been approached by a fellow Mercedes fanatic in the US of A who wants to be driving a "proper" Euro - is this the same thing?

I've got a spare unit that probably doesn't work if you're interested

Hi Army
Definitely not a fashion thing, all countries this side of the Atlantic, with the exception of the USA are metric, including Canada, Mexico and all of Central and South America.
Thank you very much for your offer, I have two spare units one un kilometers and the other in miles, plus the car original. The kilometer unit is a Volvo 122 model, so I will swap the face and then make it available for sale once rebuilt, which I have become quite handy doing it.

[adarvasi]

Originally Posted by Ron Kwas

Andres;

To confirm and also answer your question...if you hold the metric face aligned against the imperial face, and 100km/hr lines up with 62mi/hr (etc.), it means that the amount the speedometer barrel turns to indicate either is the same, and I expect it will be, so if you have your heart set on indicating in metric, you could indeed "simply" remove the instrument, and replace that face with the metric one, and reinstall...a lot of work IMO!...I'd probably simply add new metric numbers on the existing face with some dry transfer lettering (such as this: https://www.etsy.com/market/dry_transfer_lettering )

Cheers

Hi Ron,
Thanks for the input.
The faces align perfect. As I am refurbishing the two units that I have left to do (I have done one already) I will swap the faces, taking the opportunity to use the best components for the one that I will install in the car.
I imagine that the odometer, however, will remain indicating miles as covered distance due to the gearing, unless I swap (and probably will do it) the odometer and totalizer from the unit in kilometers.

[double99]

I am interested too.