Ignition Key Tumbler Replacement
 

Good Day!

Is it possible to take the ignition out of the car and take it to a locksmith to rebuild the tumblers?

My key has been "sticking" for about a month and a half. I put it in the ignition and it does not turn. A little jiggling and it turns.

About a month ago, I took out the ignition and lubed it. I used a Dupont lubricant that evaporated and left a layer of teflon. This did not fix the problem and seemed to make it worse.

The ignition was not put back in the car until it was completely dry. Also, there was a bunch of greasy gunk that came out of it.

I have purchased a brand new key from my local Mercedes dealer for around $45. It does not turn at all!

Can I take out the ignition and get it "rebuilt" at a locksmith or is it something I need to order or is it not repairable?

Thank You in Advance!

glenn
(87 300 TDT Wagon)

Find the DYI on this website on your tumblers and buy a new one from the dealership. I paid 80 bucks for the tumblers and four new keys. It's not worth the risk of locking those tumblers up and having to drill them out. It sounds so easy but drilling may ruin the switch.

My first encounter with a frozen tumbler cost me two days trying to get the tumblers loose so as to remove them then two days drilling to get them unlocked. I also had to buy a set of tumblers and an ignition switch which I destroyed with the drill bits.

You want to do this ASAP, because once problems begin, they get worse fast. If the key becomes totally stuck...don't give up. Jiggle the key up and down while rotating, and keep at until it moves. Then pull the cylinder and do whatever.

Mercedes can supply a matched cylinder, but it costs a bit. A locksmith can replace the pins, but your challenges will be to find a locksmith and then find a locksmith who has a supply of new pins. This is my photo essay on fixing the locks on my 201, the 124 is a variation on the theme:

Mercedes Locksmithing

The repair is good for 100K miles, and can be repeated if necessary. But you will eventually get to the point where it can't be repeated without permanently damaging the cylinder. Don't attempt this unless you have some tools adequate for working on small parts: files, tweezers, screwdrivers.

Don't waste your time, money, & stress on a locksmith. Save yourself a MAJOR headache and buy a new genuine MB tumbler. Give the dealer your VIN and proof of ownership and they will sell you a tumbler with a matched key for the ignition, doors, and trunk.

I find that a lot of those spray lubricants are mostly solvent. They flush out any remaining lubricant and the little lubricant in the spray flows out before the solvent manages to evaporate.
Tumblers and keys from the dealer are made up in the States so delivery is generally very fast.

Thank You All for the replies!

I called one of the local dealerships. The price for a new tumbler is $174.34. Also, the said that they require it to be installed at a dealership or a certified shop. I am waiting for a call back on the labor costs there...

I was hoping to do this myself as I have had the tumbler out previously to clean it. I was also hoping to NOT spend $174+ for it. :-/

Thoughts or ideas?

Thanks again!

glenn

That sounds like BS, like they got you over a barrel and ripping you off..

I have bought a few at the dealer. You do have to have your personal info, like the title, drivers license etc... I have read you need to take the car in so they
can verify with their own eyeballs the Vin# etc...

Seems like I paid around $60 for a tumbler and one key. An extra key Was $17.

The keys are made some where in Texas as I remember.

Do you have the part# for the Tumbler? If so put it into this search. it is the dealer in Monterey, Ca. Stahl Motors.
At least you will get an idea of the price. couple of the parts guys know the W123 cars really well. Ya I know yours is a w124.

www.benzpartswholesale.com

The dealer in Plesanton, Ca. charges like $22 for the replacement key heads, :eek: when they sell like for $7.
Some are totally rip offs.

If I had to take one of the MB`s in so they could see it, I would have to haul it on the trailer 50 miles to the Reno Dealer. :(




Charlie

My 1984 300D may be different. When the key was jamming during rotation, it turned out to not be due to the tumbler, but rather to a broken detent spring housing deeper in the key stalk. The broken parts were jamming the rotation. Had to pry off a staked steel plate to get in there. I have no spring detent, but the key never rotates on its own, and still better than those notorious GM ignition switches.

Ignition Key Receiver Device.
 

The MB key fits in a "Leafs" type device.

YOU have PM Traffic!

With your MBCA (Mercedes Benz Club of America) membership number in hand
CALL the Classic Center, in California, and ask for Tom Hansen.AND order your
New "Tumbler" device (It'll come with one new key)

(949) 598-4850

No Fuss, No Muss

Fed Ex will deliver to you!

[Charmalu's designated parts dealer [above] lists the "Lock Cylinder"
(#9 126-460-06-04 LOCK CYLINDER FOR $101.60 )
for a '90 W124 ]

I think I paid around $125.00 for a new cylinder and an extra key. (It already comes with one)

The price has been jumping recently, so I'm not surprised. That's why I experimented with rebuilding mine. The requirement for dealer install is new, might just be the policy of that dealer.

Based on several experiences over the last four years in replacing the tumblers in my four W123 cars (I do this now as a maintenace item as I have had tumbler failures in the past) the cost of a new genuine tumbler with a single key that fits all the locks on the car is approximately $170 (MBCA club price). The classic center does require proof of ownership. The entire ignition switch (diesel) without tumbler is actually cheaper at around $150. I have never heard of a dealer requiring the tumbler to be installed by a dealer technician or other certified mechanic.

X2 on the Steering Colum Lock broken inside. I had different parts break the Bill Did.
I also found that the Ignition Switch contacts were burned badly.
The Steering Colum Lock, Ignition Switch and a new Vacuum Switch all came as an assembly.

I threw the Lock Tumbler inside of one of those Harbor Freight Jewlery cleaning Ultra Sonic Tanks with some Purple Power mixed with Water and watched a little cloud of metal (?) particles come out of it.

Re-assmbled on the new Sterring Colum Lock and have had zero issues using the old Lock Tumbler.

Note I listened in on a conversation where a Locksmit said that people that hang a large wad of Keys from their Car Ignition Key meses up the Tumbler. But, he was not speaking specificly of Mercedes.

Consider cleaning off whatever you used in the past (I tried something from home depot once that seemed to completely evaporate so the lock was dry and wouldn't turn at all :eek:) and switching to graphite. Make sure you clean it good first, so it's dry. Might be worth a shot eh? I believe graphite was the intended lubricant for the cylinders, it seems to work well for me.

Using a graphite pencil rub graphite on to both sides of your key. Good preventative measure. I also have also been advised with MB tumblers never to have more than 1 key on your key ring.

x2 graphite pencil! Magical for locks. Rub it all over the key then insert a few times in the tumbler. Do this with the door locks also. If you do this once a month you may never have lock problems. Never spray anything in the tumbler, which attracts dirt = eventual jamming. Nothing other than graphite should go in there. I carry a graphite pencil in every car now. This post just reminded me to use it. I will be creating a recurring event in my calendar to graphite my locks once a month.