Machine Gun Door Locks - Benzworld.org

pks · 07-16-2005, 05:07 PM

Hello!!! Does anyone have step-by-step instructions, and perhaps digital pics too (now I know I am asking for a lot), on how to repair/replace the door lock actuator on front passenger door of 98 ML320?

Thanks in advance...

PKS
'98 ML320
102,450 miles
2" thick dossier of problems...er I mean...challenges

Peter Guenther · 07-17-2005, 10:37 AM

The ratcheting was a very common issue on the 99 and probably in 98 I am surprized it just showed up on your car. There was a service bulletin to change actuators with a weaker spring. It seems the motor could not pull it down and kept on trying. I would see if the dealer would "good will it". I should warn you the lock is probably not cheap, and requires the pop rivets to be drilled out so the door lock can be removed. The rivets hold the window regulator. AS I recall they were getting 2.5-3 hrs to do it and required a big pop rivet tool. MY 99 required all the locks to be removed twice before they found the hatch motor sending a unlock mode. I would never buy an ML again, the new ones look good, once burned is ample.

pks · 07-20-2005, 03:08 PM

Hi Peter--thank you. Yes, oddly enough, even according to the dealer, it was surprising that indeed this problem showed up now. After 7+ years and 102K+ miles of ownership, the dealer wasn't willing to goodwill anymore work for me: he had done enough in years 4,5, and even some in 6 (I had reached 50K in just over 3 years).

I took it yesterday to a non-dealer shop that specializes in Benz, and here's the breakdown to fix it: actuator $70, rivet $8, shop supplies $8, labor - 2hrs @ $85. Plus taxes. He was done in less than 2hrs, including a car wash, but I am okay with the rounding. The dealer wanted a lot more.

A word of advice from this dealer to DIY'ers on this issue: beware of the side-impact airbag, if you are attempting to fix this yourself.

bigcatny · 07-20-2005, 04:23 PM

I had the tough part of it done at my independent (the rivets). Labour was $35 total. I bought the parts, he drilled the rivet and put it back in plus installed the lock. (Actually I was going to do the install but he insisted so I helped him with the tricky parts.

Just about $100. Can't believe they call this a 2.5 hour job. No more than 20 minutes if you've done it before and I'm NO mechanic.

Starduzt · 07-21-2005, 04:17 PM

my friend has this same bug on his 270 CDI 2000 model

he just replaced the servo motor