I had the exact problem when replacing this part in my '83 300SD two years ago. For reference, MB calls this part the "sliding jaw". Open the plastic part and replace the metal pin with a slightly longer bolt. Make sure the head is big enough so it doesn't pull through the hold in the plastic. Install as usual, then put a washer and two nuts on the end of the bolt (second one to prevent the first one from loosening. Make sure the bolt has sufficient clearance so it doesn't hit anything inside the door (the bolt isn't too long), and you're all set!

Hope this helps! This is one of the few cases where I had to come up with a "better" solution than what MB recommended. It never amazes me that these engineers always had ideas that 99% of the time were actually better! (unlike Ford and their "better ideas" that weren't...)

Neal

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'83 300SD 335,000km (207k) mi SOLD
'87 560SL 163,000km (101k mi) SOLD
'86 300SDL 356,000km (220k mi) SOLD
'92 500SEL 250,000km (155k mi) SOLD
'90 300SL 140,000km (87k mi) SOLD
'01 S430 260,000km (161k mi) SOLD
'03 SL500 167,000km (104k mi) SOLD
'07 S550 4MATIC 235,000km (146k mi) SOLD
'07 GL320 CDI 4MATIC 348,000km (215k mi)
'13 GL350 BlueTec 4MATIC 170,000km (105k mi)
'14 SL550 72,000km (43k mi)