Posted by Walt Barie on November 20, 1998 at 08:51:43:
In Reply to: VDO speedo gear posted by Peter Florance on November 19, 1998 at 22:35:53:
: What's the deal with the split odometer gears in the VDO speedo's? At one time you had to send them off to VDO or other service center. Is that still so? Any place I can just buy the gear?
: Thanks
: Peter
Last summer I had my VDO odometer fixed. I could not find a gear that anyone would sell to me so that I could fix it myself so I ended up just taking it down to the local speedometer shop and they fixed it (with what looks like a zinc gear, yea) in about 30 min for $50. I agree $50 is a lot for one little gear but I couldn't find one anywhere and I needed the odometer to work for state inspection.
As an aside, VDO must make the worst odometers (or use the worst plastic gears:). I've had to fix the odometer in every European car (except my '79 320i that had a metal gear) that I have owned (BMWs and Volvos). I don't recall any of my family or friends (other than other BMW or Porsche owners)ever having to get their odometers fixed in any American or Japanese cars.
Walt Barie
'80 528i
'82 320i DSP Solo II car
'79 320i (retired)