When we first got the 85 ( In 97) I had a door that would pop, stick, grone or would be hard the move. removed the door check thinking I could libe her to work. Wrong. so replace it with a new one. it really puts a strain on the door jamb connection and can break/craks the metal eventually.

They were about $20 plus $ back then. now $35 - $40.

Now we have the 80 240, and several of the door checks were complaining. when I pulled the rear door one off, it was a totally different design. made of cast metal, with what looks like overlapping leaf springs.
The newer style fits right in place of the older style.

The olde style is listed on Fast Lane, $92. don`t think I will be buying any of those anytime soon.


this is the older style.


Charlie

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there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works

When I got my first 240D a few years ago, I needed a driver's door-check. I got a new one at my local indie MB parts-place for $23, but it turned out to be just a bit shorter than the original. Maybe some places stock one size now to fit both front and rear doors. Anyway, my driver's door now opens slightly less wide than the passenger door. Not a big deal to me but maybe a more important detail to some.

More recently, I needed three door-checks for my latest '82 240D, and found them at my local Pick-N-Pull in a couple W123s. They appeared to be relatively recent replacements (Yellow-plated steel instead of body-color paint) So for $3 each, I felt comfortable enough using them.
Otherwise, often the driver's door-check is the first one to wear out, and those at a recycler's are often found in similar shape. But it's common to find a relatively unworn check on the passenger side to use on the driver's door. Just be sure to get some fresh grease in them before installation.

Happy Motoring, Mark

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DrDKW

HA, this just happened on the LR on my 300SDL on its last voyage before being parked again as the head gasket finally gave up... great, just after I finally rebuilt the entire front end and purchased five new tyres for the machine.

Door became stuck open. Luckily it happened when I just arrived home.

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I'm not a doctor, but I'll have a look.

'85 300SD 245k
'87 300SDL 251k
'90 300SEL 326k

Six others from BMW, GM, and Ford.

Liberty will not descend to a people; a people must raise themselves to liberty.[/IMG]

When I find a complaining door check, I grease it. It is easier if the door is already apart, but you can use a needle attachment on a grease gun, with door open to apply some grease. The check will not hold the door open quite as strongly as a new check with no grease, but it is happy. Or just spray something up in there, even WD-40 would give temporary relief. Ron

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1971 220D, daily driver, new paint, 142K
1973 220D, low compression
1975 300D, back on the road! 166K
1971 220D, salvage, rear hit, engine excellent
1972 250, bad cam, but runs!
1971 230, engine stuck
1971 220D, low compression, rusty
1976 240D, salvage, engine excellent
1966 230SL, water in oil after rebuild

My left rear check strap is not moving easily. I sprayed some WD 40 into the door which helped for a little while. What causes these to bind? Can they be cleaned and lubricated or do they just wear out? A new one is about $20.

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1987 300D 146K Original #14 Head
One eye on the road, the other on the temp. gauge

Gone But Not Forgotten
1983 380 SEL Long gone
1983 300SD Wish I hadn't traded it in on a 90' Corvette
1989 300SE My all time favorite
1995 E420 Went like a bullet

So what are the signs of door checks failing?

Is there an old/new style? I haven't had any issues closing the doors on my car. Most of the time people either excessively slam the door or don't have enough pull to properly latch it.

I say the trick is to pull it enough to comfortably "clunk" the door shut and that seems to do the trick.

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-Typos courtesy of my mobile phone.

if the door is difficult to open. or it pops when it's opening or it moves without any resistance, the door checks are bad.

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

The door check may not always be bad if you hear a loud pop. The pop can be due to a crack on the mounting plate (not part of the door check) inside the car frame which you can not see. The sound is generated by "finger snapping action" of the door strap spring as you open /close the door.

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85 300D turbo pristine w 157k when purchased 161K now
83 300 D turbo 297K runs great. SOLD!
83 240D 4 spd manual- parted out then junked

I have no popping sounds, just metal dragging across metal and more effort to open or close the door.
So, can the part be cleaned and lubricated or is it a throw away?

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1987 300D 146K Original #14 Head
One eye on the road, the other on the temp. gauge

Gone But Not Forgotten
1983 380 SEL Long gone
1983 300SD Wish I hadn't traded it in on a 90' Corvette
1989 300SE My all time favorite
1995 E420 Went like a bullet

These door-checks are usually a box-section steel channel with dimples in the tracks to catch a pair of large spring-loaded ball-bearings attached to the inner-end of the strap. Often the steel channel will split and spread. Or the cylinder that holds the heavy spring and ball-bearingss will break. Usually at this point they won't hold the doors open and need replacement. If yours are still undamaged, and just noisy and dragging, you may be able to re-grease them.

Happy Motoring, Mark

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DrDKW

mine got loud and was popping. I recalled reading that would get stuck. I ordered a MB replacement and painted the strap to match the paint. Looks like new.

Good advice to change it out when it first starts to fail.

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1985 300D cali 190K

http://mercedes.thatchermathias.com/mw300d.jpg