This is on the driver's side. Since I've had the car, the door handles on both sides in the front have been a little flimsy, the driver's side is getting close to the point of falling off, it's sitting at an downward angle. So, how do I replace the thing?
-Joe

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'81 MB 300SD, '82 MB 300D Turbo (sold/RIP), '04 Lincoln Town Car Ultimate

Sooner or later every car falls apart, ours does it later!
-German Narrator in a MB Promotion Film about the then brand new W123.

You have to remove the door liner. There is a black plastic insert behind the door handle. Remove it. There is a screw underneath it. Remove that screw. Unscrew the door lock plunger. Remove the metal frame at the door latching mechanism. (Back edge of door.) Remove the arm rest. Then pry the door liner loose with a putty knife or wedge around the sides and bottom. Then lift the liner off the door. There are some clips along the top edge. Once the door liner is removed, you will find a couple of screws that attach the door latch. While you have the door opened up, it is a good time to replace the rubber vacuum lines to the door lock components.

Let me add to complete the post.

To remove the black plastic insert use a very small screwdriver. at the front of the plastic , between the chrome and the plastic is a cutout you can insert the screwdriver into and pry it out.

"Remove the arm rest". 2 large phillips head screws you access from below

To install the door panel I suggest the following.

1. Install a rubber tube about 6 inches long on the door lock threads screw. Feed this rubber tube thru the opening in the panel. this helps get the panel on without loosing the Locking shaft falling away from the opening
2. The panel drops down ( actually clips) on the window upper edge seal. then you push in the POP attachment points.
3. IF you are doing the passenger or rear doors you have to slide the chrome piece at the top of the armrest away from the door. There is a large screw holding the top of the armrest against the door panel.
4. To install the door liner again. Spray adhesive works very well

Dave

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1970 220D, owned 1980-1990
1980 240D, owned 1990-1992
1982 300TD, owned 1992-1993
1986 300SDL, owned 1993-2004
1999 E300, owned 1999-2003
1982 300TD, 213,880mi, owned since Nov 18, 1991- Aug 4, 2010 SOLD
1988 560SL, 100,000mi, owned since 1995
1965 Mustang Fastback Mileage Unknown(My sons)
1983 240D, 176,000mi (My daughers) owned since 2004
2007 Honda Accord EX-L I4 auto, the new daily driver
1985 300D 264,000mi Son's new daily driver.(sold)
2008 Hyundai Tiberon. Daughters new car

You may find that the handle sitting at a downward angle is really not ready to fall off. It just does not look very nice. Appears from a couple of mine that the restraining clips and guides are just worn some and that allows the chrome handle to droop down toward the front of the car. Yours, however, may be different.

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1961 190Db retired
1968 220D/8 325,000
1983 300D 164,150

there is a metal hinge pin holding the door handle to its hinge. over time they
can slip down which causes the handle to fall down. pushing the pin back up
might fix it.

don

Well, the door handle fell off in a car wash attendant's hand, and someone had to open the door from the outside to let him out. The car wash manager said he had somebody who worked there who could fix it on Monday, but when I got home, I took the replacement and installed it, the metal part of the handle that bolts onto the door broke into three pieces. The passenger's side is probably on it's way out as well, so I'll probably be getting a passenger's side handle as well. I've got to place the panel back on properly, the top part is sitting to high, probably because I didn't place it in the clips on the top edge, although every other part of the door fits fine. Thanks for your help, now I have confidence that I can replace the sliding jaw for the rear window lifter on my dad's SD.
-Joe

__________________
'81 MB 300SD, '82 MB 300D Turbo (sold/RIP), '04 Lincoln Town Car Ultimate

Sooner or later every car falls apart, ours does it later!
-German Narrator in a MB Promotion Film about the then brand new W123.