I'm trying to fix the steering lock / ignition on my w123. I've done a bunch of searches and found Diesel Giant's tutorial, which has been EXTREMELY helpful so far, but I've run into a brick wall when it comes to actually grinding down the pin.

I removed the dash cluster and lower dash covering, got the bolts and washers to drop the steering column, and have undone the bolt and removed the U-clamp clamping the ignition assembly to the steering column. Unfortunately, I can't seem to locate the pin! What does it look like? There's a small (diameter of a mid-size nail) brass thinger that might be hooking the steering column to the ignition... is that what I want to grind down?

It looks like this, only it will be sticking through the collar that surrounds it. It is about 3/16 inch in diameter. In the diesel giant pictorial it looks like the pin is accessed from the top, however I found that mine was on the underside of the lock. Be careful that you only gind the pin, the surrounding collar is not replaced with the new lock assembly.

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1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver

1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver

1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine

One more picture showing the way the lock assembly is oriented in the car.

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1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver

1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver

1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine

the pic above is correct - I used a carbide grinding tip in my dremel and it took it down in no time at all - be sure when you take the mechanism apart and remove the pawls and springs you remove ALL the pawls and springs - I made the mistake of thinking I could leave one in and I had a hard time getting it apart again.

John

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John Hughes, was in Landstuhl, Germany but currently in San Antonio, TX


1978 280CE Astral Silver now 59,xxx miles and counting "Silber-Kugel"
1986 300E Black Pearl Metallic 143,xxx miles 5-spd daily driver w/ blk leather "Schwarz-Schönheit"
1989 190E 2.6 (euro) 5-spd Desert Taupe 112,xxx kms Had to leave behind in Germany!!! "Helga"
1983 300D Pastel Beige now 312,xxx + miles SOLD

OBK#24

thanks a ton, guys!

i got the pin ground down and the ignition is moving freely in and out of the steering column... is there some trick to getting the column to drop down? should I loosen the bolts holding the column closer to the pedals as well as the ones near the cluster? right now i just have the ones near the cluster off, and the column won't drop far enough to pull out the ignition cylinder. PITA... but better than paying a locksmith $700.

When I pulled mine out I did not drop the column, although I also did not need to grind my pin. The area around where the tumbler goes is probably hanging up on the dash, try having a helper pull out on the dash there while you try to coax the lock out. You are almost there! Good luck.

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1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver

1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver

1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine

VICTORY!

lock assembly is out of the car, im about to remove the tumbler...

if i remove the tumbler will i be able to start the car with a screwdriver until a new tumbler arrives? The dearlership is closed until wednesday, and I want to take advantage of the holiday weekend to make some electrical repairs, which can't really be done without starting the car.

A screwdriver has worked fine for me in a situation like that. When you get it all apart, you may find that the steering lock bolt was the hang up and that the tumbler turns fine. I had to do this back a while; here's my story FWIW.
126 frozen steering lock/tumbler removal (fairly easy, but long)

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The Golden Rule

1984 300SD (bought new, sold it in 1988, bought it back 13 yrs. later)

well, its turning just fine now with a screwdriver, looks like it was in fact the tumbler

thanks for all the help guys!