driver's door inside handle - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

kerry · #1 05-21-2009, 03:48 PM

The inside driver's door handle on my 85TD broke. Looks like it broke at the top and is still attached at the bottom. I can still open the door. I haven't dug into it yet. Does anyone know if you can just replace that handle part or does it require replacing the whole opening mechanism pictured on Fastlane?

cavaliers16 · #2 05-21-2009, 04:13 PM

If this is what you mean by "whole mechanism," then yes, you have to replace it. It is a really easy fix.

toomany MBZ · #3 05-21-2009, 04:27 PM

Here's a pic of one out of a JY car, you can use one from the same side rear door.
Part of it is produced from pot metal, I've seen a number of them fail and have a new one, just in case.

kerry · #4 05-21-2009, 05:31 PM

Thanks. I think the Fastlane part included a lot more than that. I'll just get to a junkyard. It was the cheap pot metal that broke on mine.

carnut · #5 05-21-2009, 08:31 PM

Get one from the same side but rear door at wreckers. The roll pin where the inside handle pivots wears thru the pot metal pivot over time, causes the handle to droop and eventually break. Comes off with 2 screws and a clip on the rod. Any 123 chassis will work.

MBeige · #6 05-21-2009, 09:43 PM

While you're at it, might as well install the longer armrests, with the extension, for the driver door. Always forget to do that whenever I'm at the yards...

kerry · #7 05-21-2009, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MBeige

While you're at it, might as well install the longer armrests, with the extension, for the driver door. Always forget to do that whenever I'm at the yards...

Wasn't aware there was such a thing. Can you elaborate?

CANDIDE · #8 05-22-2009, 12:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kerry

The inside driver's door handle on my 85TD broke. Looks like it broke at the top and is still attached at the bottom. I can still open the door. I haven't dug into it yet. Does anyone know if you can just replace that handle part or does it require replacing the whole opening mechanism pictured on Fastlane?

Before you buy a repalcement, examine the handle to see if the pivot pin has slipped down. If it has, use a small hammer and drive it back into the hole. I bought replacements and during install I saw the slipped pin.

ImBroke · #9 05-22-2009, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kerry

Wasn't aware there was such a thing. Can you elaborate?

Take an armrest from the same side rear, and install in in the front. If you look at the front armrests, your passenger gets a nice long armrest, and you the driver get the shorter one. Your rear passengers get the nice long armrests also.

kerry · #10 05-22-2009, 01:42 PM

No 123's at the junkyard. 126 door levers looked different. There was a 115. Lever looked the same so I bought it. We'll see if it is the same. Fastlane doesn't show door handles for 115's so I can't compare the part numbers.

my83300cd · #11 05-22-2009, 02:12 PM

The drivers pot metal in my 83 failed, so I took the drivers side out of the '85 d parts car. Pot metal part was the same- but after installing, the handle did not match the other side of the car- it was not as flush to the door. Drove out the pin, used the original CD handle and all was well.

MBeige · #12 05-22-2009, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kerry

Wasn't aware there was such a thing. Can you elaborate?

In addition to what has been said, don't forget the chrome trim around the pull handle. The original one on your driver door does not have any provision to accept the longer armrest.

280EZRider · #13 05-23-2009, 12:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MBeige

While you're at it, might as well install the longer armrests, with the extension, for the driver door. Always forget to do that whenever I'm at the yards...

Have you done that? I remember seeing a 123 with that "upgrade," but I decided not to do it. There seems to be a lack of space between the steering wheek & door panel with the "upgrade." This is probably why MBZ didn't put the extended arm rest on the driver side to begin with.

charmalu · #14 05-23-2009, 04:20 AM

I did the longer handle up grade to the 85 last year. removed one off the L/R door along with the chrome piece the handle fits into at the top.
Just have to cut into the door panel to make it fit.

I like it, always thought it looked unfinished. the w126 have the longer handles.
As far as the handle being closer to the steering wheel, it isn`t a real problem until after driving for a long while and I bring my foot close the the seat and my knee rises up. It really isn`t a problem for me.

Charlie

kerry · #15 05-23-2009, 11:05 AM

The 115 and 123 inside door handles are NOT the same. The pull rod attaches differently. The 115 pull rod is held in place with a roll pin and the 123 rod has a 90 degree bend in the end of the rod that slips into a hole.
Upon dissassembly it appears my handle broke because the roll pin holding the chrome handle into the pot metal migrated upwards, out of the lower portion of the pot metal allowing the upper pot metal roll pin attachment part to be stressed at an odd angle when operating the handle.

I was able to get the 115 handle to work temporarily by cutting off the top half of the roll pin rod attachment part on the handle with a small cutting wheel on a dremel and dropping the end of the bent rod into the lower half of the roll pin attachment. However, there are more differences than just the attachment because this leaves the door handle in a partly open position. It wont rest within the recess. However the unlatch mechanism is working so this looks like it will be an adequate patch until I get a 123 handle.