1990 300E Ignition switch collar

frobi said:

I am having a hard time to unscrew the collar. I used a brazing wire, filed both ends at 60 degrees inside, turned to position II, pushed the wire in the holes till it bottomed in and used a needle nose plier to unscrew the collar. I put the plier ends in the collar holes to turn it ccw, but it will not budge. The wire goes all the way in the tumbler holes to a stop. Am I doing it wrong?

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Does the black collar (ring with 1 and 11 marks) come out with the tumbler?
Or you can unscrew it before pushing the wire in the holes? Any one changed the tumbler in a 1990 300E. I am having a hard time to take it out.
My key gets stuck and need to replace the tumbler.

The collar does *not* unscrew. Trying to twist it will be futile. When the release tool prongs are inserted far enough you will be able to pull the collar and tumbler/key out at the same time.

augapfel said:

The collar does *not* unscrew. Trying to twist it will be futile. When the release tool prongs are inserted far enough you will be able to pull the collar and tumbler/key out at the same time.

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Thanks Augapfel. I will try that and post back the result this weekend.
Regards.

augapfel said:

The collar does *not* unscrew. Trying to twist it will be futile. When the release tool prongs are inserted far enough you will be able to pull the collar and tumbler/key out at the same time.

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When I insert the tool to the dead end in both holes at II position, I can feel the clips pushed but the darn tumbler will not pop out. I tried to pull the key with a plier and wrigle it several times but no luck. I want to get it out because I had a hard time to turn the key to position II. I have disconnected the battery. I do not want to remove the key as it may not turn again to position II. I am using a one and a half milimeter thick wire in U shape and filed both ends inside at 60 degrees. Any ideas?
Thanks.

Hi,
I used an old bicycle spoke to make the U shaped tool you describe, so I would think the thickness of the wire would be about right. I sharpened the ends down to about 30 degrees I guess (sloping to the inside of the U). It was quite a bit longer than needed.

The cylinder, key and collar come out as one unit. Took a few seconds of fiddling but no force was needed. ( mine was so near to disintegrating that I couldn't turn the key back to get it out of the cylinder !)

Cheers

Nick

Thanks Nick
Finally I was able to remove it after removing the black plastic cover aruond the switch. For now, I opened up the tumbler, removed all small clips and tiny springs, cleaned it with paint thinner, applied little grease (no clips or springs now to get stuck) and put it back together. Its a dud tumbler but works great and no fear of getting stuck. I can always replace it now that I can remove it easily. I had installed keyless entry years ago and works fine with me.
Regards.

For anybody that reads this later, frobi refers to "position II", but in the MB service manual world, that is actually position 1.

As the key is first inserted, that is position 0. As it is turned to that first indent where the release wire toll can be inserted, MB calls that position 1.

Thanks for correcting me ds 190. Just have to use a flash light to align both holes.
Regards.

dbmoylan said:

Guys, was your tumbler collar like mine for a W140? I am having problems trying to remove the collar to remove a failed tumbler cylinder. Attached is a photo.

Any help is appreciated. Thank you.

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they were referring to a 1990 300E which is a W124

dbmoylan, the thing in your pic doesn't look much like the W124 part. The 124 part is less than half the length and just a cylindrical collar. What's in the left 2/3 of you car's part? I'm sure the W140 guys will be able to help you.