[scassels]

I just picked up my car from the garage and I'm sitting at the traffic-light thinking how ugly the door knobs are on the '89 compared to the 87.
So I start to unscrew the unsightly plastic thingy. As I lift it out I hear something drop inside the door, lo and behold I buggered my door lock. Does anyone know if this is a quick fix or is it back to the garage for me.

 

[Aspect]

What is a "door knob"?

 

[scassels]

The thing you lift to unlock the door from the inside.

 

[420 SE]

I guess you are talking about the door lock plunger knob that pokes up through the door trim?

If so, you will need to take off the door card and rethread the metal pole which goes between the actuator and the knob back through the hole.

 

[scassels]

Is the door card the silver plate on the side of the door ?

 

[liammarsh]

You have to take off the whole inside door panel to see what is going on. Maybe more details. The threaded post/screw that the lock knob screws on to fell under the door panel or you can still see it? Door still opens? Door suck locked? Keys turn lock? etc.

 

[scassels]

The plastic plunger post (drivers side) unscrewed and came free, I have that in hand. I guess whatever it screwed into fell away. I can't see what it attached to.
I was unable to open the door from the inside, but it still locks from the passenger side. I can open it from the outside and the key turns (drivers side) but doesn't lock.
I think I'll have to remove the door panel and reattach whatever was screwed into the plastic plunger.
The '89 model is different from the '87. The '87 is one long piece of of metal with a plastic cap that goes down into the door and can't be unscrewed by bozos like me. It's a minor detail but I prefer the 87 look.

 

[mramay]

I think I'd try a magnet first. I have a telescoping mast, just like a radio antenna, with a rather strong 7mm diameter magnet on the end that I use to fish out sockets I've dropped in the engine compartment.

I measured the plastic bit that screws onto the threaded rod in the door and it's 8mm, which makes the hole likely around 9mm, which means the magnet fit through the hole.

My '87's have a threaded rod that when the door is unlocked, it just fits up through the hole, making it easy to put the plastic pull back on it. Does your threaded door lock rod not come up through the hole when unlocked??

 

[MBeige]

The pin that allows the door lock to screw into fell into the door frame. They have a simple locking mechanism that is loosely fastened to the door lock.

You will have to remove the inside door panel in order to retrieve it, or get a new one from the dealer if it's broken. It's cheap, but probably a special order item. Or a visit to the junkyard should yield many spares too.

 

[scassels]

The door trim is coming off today. Thanks for the advice.

 

[AzimuthAviation]

I think I'd try a magnet first. I have a telescoping mast, just like a radio antenna, with a rather strong 7mm diameter magnet on the end that I use to fish out sockets I've dropped in the engine compartment.

I measured the plastic bit that screws onto the threaded rod in the door and it's 8mm, which makes the hole likely around 9mm, which means the magnet fit through the hole.

My '87's have a threaded rod that when the door is unlocked, it just fits up through the hole, making it easy to put the plastic pull back on it. Does your threaded door lock rod not come up through the hole when unlocked??

+1

Good thinking mramay! I've had to fish those up once or twice using safety wire or a dental pick. Your idea is self centering. I just hope to not use it anytime soon

Thinking out loud...do not lock the doors with the lock pull removed!

 

[ianrandom]

Be careful taking it off they're easy to damage as i've done it myself and broken off some of the retaining hooks. (The panel lifts upwards once all the screws necessary are free.)
I agree with yo about the look of the lock buttons. I didnt like mine either so i got some chrome ones from ebay. Surprising how much difference they make.

 

[scassels]

So I had the door off, which was a surprisingly enjoyable experience. I followed Dr Grillz's great instructions from an earlier post, and the benz CD page 72-100. I was careful to not force or break anything. Those benz engineers know a thing or two about a thing or two, That door is fabulously put together and all pre C.A.D, which I find unimaginable.
The door now opens and closes and even locks from the outside. Pushing the plunger is a little stiff but works, but strangely I can't lock that door when the door is open. The main dilemma is now that the central locking is not working. Before I take off the other door to make a comparison of the locking device, I might ask if someone could tell from these photos where the problem lies.
I am not sure what I heard fall when I unscrewed the plunger, as I found nothing in the bottom of the door.

Also I would love to see photos of aftermarket plungers if you have them.

 

[ianrandom]

Have a look at article number 380163962706, on German ebay. (ebay.de) these are the same as mine, i got little chrome rings too but these seem to be just the plungers. The rings are on ebay.de too somewhere.

 

[scassels]

Cheers Ian, I was just over in Devon and Cornwall on holiday over the new year. I picked up a set of euro lights from a garage near the Eden project, the guy has 2 SEC's he is parting out.

Got the central locking system working again. Fuse 15 was blown. No idea why it got to this from just unscrewing the plastic plunger. But hopefully it is fixed.

 

[ianrandom]

Ah Devon, its beautiful. I'm living in Reading at the moment which is near London and very ugly. I get down there every 4 weeks or so though. Well done for sorting your locks, cant imagine how the fuse isue could be connected though sorry.