Tried searching on this and none of the posts mention a wire from the door handle tumbler to something inside the door. It may be part of the alarm system, not sure since it's doesn't seem to be documented as part of the door handle removal. It's the white wire from the base of the tumbler that disappears into the door.

What is it for? How do I disconnect it? Do I have to disassemble the door panel?

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__________________
mjk

'84 300SD 119KMi (Liesl der Diesel)
'84 300D 326KMi when the oil left (former parts car)
'82 300SD 253KMi (new parts car)

The door lock vacuum pump would be my first guess.

It may, since the door locks are operated via an electrical pump vice a reservoir. But I think is has something to do with the alarm. Since the door locks will actuate without turning the tumbler (i.e., from inside the car) the electrical switch for the pump is probably located elsewhere in the door mechanism. Perhaps as part of the driver's door vacuum switch? And the door tumbler will deactivate the alarm if it's honking.

I actually just got the door handles out. Both front doors have a similar setup. There is a connector just below the opening for the handle. It's clipped into the door but can be easily removed (push on the metal part of the clip and pull connector upwards) and pulled just outside the door where it can be disconnected. The passenger side was already unclipped so that let me see how it worked. Picture is of driver's side door handle. Length of wire is about six inches, so enough to work with outside the door.

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__________________
mjk

'84 300SD 119KMi (Liesl der Diesel)
'84 300D 326KMi when the oil left (former parts car)
'82 300SD 253KMi (new parts car)