ignition tumbler source - 85 300D
 

In looking for a tumbler/cylinder here in Canada, I have found one one that is made by JURGEN LIEBISCH in Hamburg Germany.

AA list the same unit from same supplier.

Has anyone bought the AA unit?

Does it have steel or brass keys?

Thanks!

Mercedes Classic Center has them
About $100 US for cylinder and new keys
VIN matched to your car so it matches your door locks
They will accept a scan or fax of your license and registration for authentication purposes.

Give them a call, they will hook you up...

Members have said the aftermarket ones do not last but a few years.
I have not read that name of the company you have so cannot comment on that.

This is the info I have on the Classic center
9 Whitney
Irvine, CA 92618
(949) 598 4850

Thanks for that information I'm anticipating my ignition lock is starting to become problematic, now I can be proactive and preventative! Thanks

Yes you definitely want to jump on that or it will be a bad deal if it locks up.

Here are some hints:
-tell the rep you want the vin-matched version, they do sell a generic for a few bucks less but it won't match your doors.

- the rep might tell you the cylinder comes with no key. This is wrong, it comes with one key. Extras are like $15 apiece. I ordered 2 thinking that was all I was getting. I received 3, which turned out good because now all 3 drivers in the house have a new key.

- pulling the cylinder is easy, you will need a "jumbo" paper clip. When you get your new cylinder check out the outside of the barrel, you will see a little spring loaded tab. You will notice that the tab lines up with a slot in the front of the cylinder. To get your old cylinder out, take your key and rotate to somewhere between positions 1 and 2, you will see the notch line up with an internal hole. Now take your unbent paper clip and insert it in the hole. You should feel the tab pushing out of the way, which allows the black ring to turn. Unscrew the black ring and withdraw the old cylinder.

Slip the black ring over your new cylinder and insert the new key. Turn the key so the slot and locking tab are lined up and slip in the paper clip to be ready to push the locking tab.
Put the new cylinder in the chamber and begin to screw the black ring on. Eventually it will get hung up, now use the paper clip to free the tab and allow the ring to turn some more.

Stop tightening when you get close to the end of travel of the screw threads. Then pull out the paper clip and turn the ring backwards a partial turn until it locks in (the tab jumps into the groove in the black ring).

Turn your key back to 0 and pull it out, verify the steering lock works. Now put the key back in and start it up!

I am sure my local dealer can too, at a price :(

But I was really asking about experience with the JL unit that several of the reputable on-line vendors are selling. It costs under $20.00.

Merc Source sells one too for about $50 but doesn't say if it is OE (although they usually research stuff well).

Fastlane have one too, but it looks like a Worldpac part number, so could be from anywhere. It is about $35.00

Then there is eBay - Some say OE, Maybe Oriental Exporters :)

Where are you finding them in Canada
 

I haven't seen these at any of the places I frequent? Cheers Dan

The key switch in my 84 300D would jam. I took it apart and found the problem wasn't the tumbler, but rather a spring-ball detent at the rear. The spring holder casting had broken and the parts were jamming. I expect this occurs on many cars, based on the poor design. Jump on this soon before you can't turn the key to get it apart. I now don't have a spring detent, so the key can rotate almost too easily. My son drives that car and hasn't said the key ever turned on its own to shut off the engine.

You can find a fuller post by me on another website (google). Interestingly, Car Talk had this same problem asked a few weeks after my fix and they assumed it was the tumbler. Wish I could have called in to correct them.

For the Worldpac cylinder there are several on-line vendors. Here is one:
Canada Parts Online - 1985 Mercedes Benz 300D Base 5 Cyl 3.0L Ignition Lock Cylinder1985 Mercedes Benz 300D 5 Cyl 3.0L

and German Parts in Toronto (usually source from Germany)

GermanParts.ca

But I ordered the JL cylinder from this one who, although in USA , offer fast duty free shipping into Canada:

Mercedes Benz parts Canada and Mercedes Benz OEM auto parts online Canada

In case those links don't show up, I have PM'd them to you.

PS: I don't know why ordered a new cylinder. The one I ground down is working just fine. In fact I can start the car with any key or even a scewdriver, but everything still looks standard!