[eliterods]

Howdy Y'all.....I've got a 97 E320 and I need to remove the door handles for body work and paint. Any idea how these bad boys are removed? I've got all the door panels off, but can't seem to figure out how to remove the handles. Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

UPDATE: Got it!! Handles are off now.....

 

[zavji]

Hi, how did you do it? I am trying to do the same for my 97 E420, loosened the allen bolt about 180 degrees. Tried to insert key and remove cylinder, no joy. Any ideas?

 

[e-420]

Ah, need to find the "hidden screw". here is the trick. Pull back the weatherstripping near the door handle. Now, you need to find the recessed and captive allen head bolt hidden by the weatherstripping. Don't worry about it dropping into the door, it is held captive. Once you unscrew it completely, the rear of the doorhandle will pull out and you can then unhook and remove the whole doorhandle and IR sensor if so equipped. This is for the front doors. I suspect the rear doors are the same.

 

[zavji]

oops

OK, I pulled the weatherstripping back, and I backed out the allen bolt all the way, and it fell, I'll deal with that later.

The door handle still won't budge, something else must be holding it in, do you insert the key and turn to get the cylinder out, or am I mixing model instructions?

Or did I backout the eccentric adjustment screw by mistake? Red arrow...

 

[zavji]

OK, I found it, it's a small hole "in" the channel of the weatherstripping. Thanks for the help.

 

[brownmal]

Any pictures of where the "hidden screw" is? Alos my key does not work..i suspect that some linkage has come loose. Any ideas?

 

[james mbdoc]

Door Latch problem

Any pictures of where the "hidden screw" is? Alos my key does not work..i suspect that some linkage has come loose. Any ideas?

Ok first off that screw behind the weather strip is for the throw on the handle not for removing that screw is on the around the corner on the inside.

At times when you remove the door panel and take the handle cable loose the spring on the latch snaps the arm back and it can get lodged under the rear operating arm, this is due to wear on the latch assembly.

No need to replace the latch just take an eight inch 90 degree pick tool down (mines from mac) into the rear of latch at the back of the arm that the cable connects to sideways at first then turn it back to the rear under the operating lever and pull up this will release the latch now you can reassemble the door

 

[AaronSales]

E320 Rear Door handle falls off

I just bought a '99 E320. My first Benz. So far I love it but, as with just about any 15 yr old, it's got a few pimples. What's bothering me right now is the right rear door handle (passenger side) will come loose if it gets pulled on when the door is still locked. I'm used to the auto unlock feature opening all the doors, not just the two front ones so we occasionally will pull on the handle thinking the back doors been opened. The small trim piece will pop back/out and the door handle will move back some and disconnect from the lever it hooks onto to operate the latch. How do I fasten the small trim piece so it doesn't come off and will keep holding the handle in place? It does not seem to be a problem if the door is unlocked.

Any help?

 

[raymond-]

which door handle? in or out? the hooked eye behind the door liner
panel has some sort of locking nylon collar, I recall which prevents it from
popping off as you've described. if your small round plastic collar is not
there, perhaps you need to Macgyver one.

 

[AaronSales]

Thanks for the reply. Yes it's the outside handle and I don't see the nylon collar you're referring to. I guess I'll need to take off the inner door panel to do to it, is that right?

 

[raymond-]

hmm, now that I know it's the outside handle, i'm less sure and can only suggest
a more systemic review after removing the inside door liner. after you've done
this once, you'll smile at the ease of it for the future.

the eyelet/hook suggestion (at 40 secs) isn't likely to be the cause of
your problems, now that I have a better mental picture of what you're describing.
so something is impinging on the outside handle which is less common. you will
need to systematically inspect from the foot-bone-to-the-ankle-bone-to-the-
leg-bone... method.