The trunk of the 83 240D I just bought wouldn't open with key or vacuum. This is the second 123 trunk that I had to break into. The first was my 83 300D. This time I took photos.

Pic below shows position of the "tool", which happens to be a piece of bamboo. You can use a furring strip or a broom handle. Furring strip is actually better because it's flat. That's what I used the first time on the 300D where the cover was already off. I just shaped the furring strip so it could get a "bite", didn't cut a slot and it worked fine.



Pic below shows the hook to pop the plastic cover for the lock mechanism.
It is made from a coat hanger bent to shape and the point sharpened and bent to get under the cover to pop it off. You'll need a flashlight to see. Work after the sun goes down.


Pic below shows detail of the tool with a slot cut into it to hook onto the vacuum lock actuator rod.



Pic below shows how the tool should sit. Note the vacuum lock actuator rod (with the spring) in the mechanism has to be attached for this to work.
Standing outside the door you have to pull the tool toward you thus pushing the lock rod toward the fuel filler while an assistant pushes on the lock button to open. I didn't have anyone to help and used a bungee cord to leverage the tool.

Try it! Better than drilling the lock out.

Attached Thumbnails

       

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85 300D turbo pristine w 157k when purchased 167,870 July 2025
83 300 D turbo 297K runs great. SOLD!
83 240D 4 spd manual- parted out then junked

Whoa, nice Macgyver move

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-Dan
1983 240D AT, 163K running on VO, "The Patience Tester"

Damn, that's totally McGuiver status...and I thought I was a hot shot for breaking into my 300d with just a shoelace.

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"spreading a trail of obnoxious where ever we go"
1981 300sd w/ 341,500 miles

http://www.wecrash.com/pics/ddda_banner.gif

Getting into locked cars is fun. I love the challenge to improvise with whatever resources I have nearby at the moment. There has not been a car I have not been able to get into. NOTE: These are my own cars.

So how did you use the shoe lace?

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85 300D turbo pristine w 157k when purchased 167,870 July 2025
83 300 D turbo 297K runs great. SOLD!
83 240D 4 spd manual- parted out then junked

Im glad I live in the city. Any car of mine I've been locked out of...
It usually takes about 5 minutes before someone walks by who is very
apt at breaking into a car. I've learned a multitude of techneques for
my previous gassers. Thanks for the info! Noone around here knows how to get into my w123- minus breaking a window...

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OBK #32
1985 300D Turbo (15 gal Greasecar kit installed)
(258,900+mi.) Thanks- Tachometer Fixed. Middle Vents Fixed. Transmission- 1000% better shifting.
Vac leaks- Fixed, Brakes replaced, Steering Box replaced, .... Information Rules.

That's one advantage living in the city eh?

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85 300D turbo pristine w 157k when purchased 167,870 July 2025
83 300 D turbo 297K runs great. SOLD!
83 240D 4 spd manual- parted out then junked

I was at the beach and when I was walking out on the jetty I dropped my (only) key. I heard it bounce through the rocks for a few seconds before splashing into the water. conveniently I had my wallet (and AAA) card in my car. I took one of my shoe laces and made a noose on one end. After about 5 minutes of "fishing" I was able to lasso the lock plunger and pull it up. Man, I felt like a bad ass.

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"spreading a trail of obnoxious where ever we go"
1981 300sd w/ 341,500 miles

http://www.wecrash.com/pics/ddda_banner.gif

Sounds like a job for the MacGyver Multitool...

http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/18/the-macgyver-multitool/

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1990 300D - 171K miles
http://nrl073.googlepages.com/DSCN66...646-medium.jpg http://nrl073.googlepages.com/DSCN66...654-medium.jpg

Search youtube. Lock picking is considered a hobby & not a crime. Apparently car jacking is in the same category.

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85SD 240K & stopped counting painted, putting bac together. 84SD 180,000. sold to a neighbor and member here but I forget his handle. The 84 is much improved from when I had it. 85TD beginning to repair to DD status. Lots of stuff to do.

Ah ha good to know. Surprised about the car jacking. Are we talking commandeering a car from the owner by force or putting a jack under the car lifting it by force?

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85 300D turbo pristine w 157k when purchased 167,870 July 2025
83 300 D turbo 297K runs great. SOLD!
83 240D 4 spd manual- parted out then junked

On all of mine, you have to turn the key 45 degrees beyond horizontal and if you turn it back to horizontal and remove it, the trunk stays unlocked but you can open it without the key with just the push button. The Vacuum lock has never worked in either of my MB's.

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Ron Schroeder
'85 300 Turbo Diesel 2 tank WVO
'83 300 Turbo Diesel 2 tank WVO
Some former WVO vehicles since ~1980:
'83 Mercedes 240D
'80 Audi 4000D
'83 ISUZU Pup
'70 SAAB 99 with Kubota diesel
'76 Honda Civic with Kubota diesel
'86 Golf
Several diesel generators
All with 2 tank WVO conversion
LI NY

great.......now if only the cover was not on the w126 lock mechanizm

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81 Mercedes 300SD 289k.......SOLD
82 Mercedes 300CD 252k......slow ride

82 mercedes 300 SD...mi Unknown
83 Mercedes 300D ????ksniff..gone too
84 Mercedes 300D 148k........SOLD
85 Mercedes 300TD 386k and holding some one elses project

The cover was on my 240D and I had to pop it with the coat hanger hook I made. See pic above.

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85 300D turbo pristine w 157k when purchased 167,870 July 2025
83 300 D turbo 297K runs great. SOLD!
83 240D 4 spd manual- parted out then junked

I haven't had much luck drilling out the lock itself -- but have been very successful at drilling about 3/4" to the right or the left of the lock and pushing the little push thing that the lock button pushes when in the unlocked position... Of course this is at junkyards when the trunk is locked...

One more way to get the trunk open, if the latch is jammed (like when a screw falls in there and jams the "trigger" - don't ask ) you can use several long extensions and a 10mm socket at the end, and unscrew the tumbler housing from inside. That's how we got into mine, thanks also to the instructions found on this thread it helped give us an idea of how to approach the task.

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http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7271/7...144c3fc1dc.jpg