My ignition has been getting stubborn, I have to put the key in and turn it back and forth a bit before it will actually turn so I can start the car. Do I need to call a dealer and get a new tumbler? Is there something wrong with the ignition?
Can I just put some graphite in there and make it all go away for a while?

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1984 300DT turbo 138k mi

Still hauling me to school and back.

Handy Site:
http://www.dieselgiant.com/

The best thing to do is turn that ign switch on and do not turn it off again until you have the new tumbler assy ready to go in.Go to the dealer with your vin number and proof of ownership and picture id and they can get you a new tumbler with 1 key that will match your original locks and keys,very simple job to change when the key is in the on position but if the key will not turn to the on position it is a disaster and they seldom give much warning! Do a search for ign tumbler on here and read what happens when you cannot get the key to the correct position to remove the tumbler and i think you will agree that the best thing to do is use the stop lever on the injection pump to stop the engine then disconnect the battery but DO NOT turn the key off,the next time could be the last.
My $.02 Don

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Red Green "This is only temporary,Unless it works!"

97 E300D 157000 miles
87 300TD ?141k? miles

Disassemble the ignition and spray a good amount of oil/wd40 down the steering column locking pin.

__________________
http://superturbodiesel.com/images/sig.04.10.jpg
1995 E420 Schwarz
1995 E300 Weiss
#1987 300D Sturmmachine
#1991 300D Nearly Perfect
#1994 E320 Cabriolet
#1995 E320 Touring
#1985 300D Sedan
OBK #42

'Bet you it'll be over a Grand [that's $1,000 USD]

Take OLDIESEL's advice,'Cause like it or not it is fact.





WINMUTT,

(YOU're joking?)

__________________
'84 300SD sold
124.128

Nope works every time.

__________________
http://superturbodiesel.com/images/sig.04.10.jpg
1995 E420 Schwarz
1995 E300 Weiss
#1987 300D Sturmmachine
#1991 300D Nearly Perfect
#1994 E320 Cabriolet
#1995 E320 Touring
#1985 300D Sedan
OBK #42

How much is a new tumbler from the dealer?

EDIT:
Nevermind, I found a thread where a guy mentioned the dealer charged $143 for his 240d.
I'm a high school student and my dad formally owns the car, so we'll head to a dealer tomorrow. If they quote us something ridiculous, there are a few on ebay for $28, but we want to avoid having two keys.
In the meantime, I better go find a second key to use in the doors...

__________________
1984 300DT turbo 138k mi

Still hauling me to school and back.

Handy Site:
http://www.dieselgiant.com/

Be wary of the cheaper ignition tumbler and keys. They are not steel, and the next time your ignition jams due to the ignition switch not being the issue, you will bend/twist the key thus further complicating the situation. Not to mention metal shavings accumulating inside the tumbler due to sub par key material. It may just be an ignition switch but it seems that a good percentage of the time its part of the steering lock mechanism inside the ignition lock housing, which some on this forum have disabled but it requires breaking into the housing and doing some selective cutting and grinding.

I've just been down this road, and tried a number of methods. The only thing that finally worked was pulling an ignition lock housing off of a parts car. I think the part is $140 new.

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1985 300D Gretchen (Astral Silver) 220k
1983 240D 4-speed Evelyn (Orient Red) 203k


TANSTAAFL

YES FIX IT NOW OR BE SORRY! I'm waitng on the Locksmith right now to make me a key for an after market MB(from dealer, just not Keyed to VIN) it is a machine cut key and the key way is much more narrow than the orig. But that is a good thing as the key can be duplicated by a locksmith. I lost the only ignition key to my 300SD and now have the new tumbler, master key and Valet key waiting to get the tumbler to turn to position 1 so we can just yank it out and replace it. Still have to pay for him making a key though.
Lord do not do this to yourself or your dad.

Update.

Locksmith made me a key, but the old tumbler had issues so he popped out the old one and put in my new Keyed to VIN tumbler. He was here about 20 minutes, made the key and switched the tumblers. Expensive ($125.00 But worth every D A Double M N cent). Just so I didn't have to take the steering gear apart to get the lock fixed.

Anyone in the Antelope Valley of So CAL needs locksmith, I reccomend KWIK KEY, 661-940-7626 as for Carlos. He is flippen amazing!
He did tell me that he has , in the past, taken 5 hours to get a key made buy taking the assy out. Luckily Freesil was easy.

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1986 Euro 500SEC "RUF" 9:1CR, "Rose"
1985 Euro 500SEC Cabriolet AMG Widebody
1982 Euro 500SEL "Blue"
2001 Texas Heeler (Aussie/Queensland X) "Sulphie",
2012 Queensland Red Heeler "Squeak"
Best dogs I've ever had.

A VIN matched lock cyl should be less that $100 from the dealer.

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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

Yep, $95 for a new tumbler and matching key.
BTW, I can recommend Alex Rodriguez Mercedes on I-45 south of Houston, they were very pleasant even though it was plain to see that my dad and I were not going to be their next customers.
They'll call when it gets here, in the meantime, I have a key in the ignition.

__________________
1984 300DT turbo 138k mi

Still hauling me to school and back.

Handy Site:
http://www.dieselgiant.com/

My tumbler and master key with a valet key made as well keyed to VIN was $108.00

__________________
1986 Euro 500SEC "RUF" 9:1CR, "Rose"
1985 Euro 500SEC Cabriolet AMG Widebody
1982 Euro 500SEL "Blue"
2001 Texas Heeler (Aussie/Queensland X) "Sulphie",
2012 Queensland Red Heeler "Squeak"
Best dogs I've ever had.