Parts Catalog Accessories Catalog How To Articles Tech Forums
Call Pelican Parts at 888-280-7799
Shopping Cart Cart | Project List | Order Status | Help



Go Back   PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum > Mercedes-Benz Tech Information and Support > Diesel Discussion

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 03-27-2022, 09:15 AM
chasw3's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Cleveland, OH
Posts: 27
Lost Key - W126 1987 300SDL

I lost the key to my 1987 300SDL and am unable to start my car. The doors are unlocked so I can get into it as well as the trunk. I called a locksmith, he cut 10 keys and was able to make one that worked on the passenger door but it didn’t turn the ignition tumbler or the driver side door. Just wanted to ask if you have any suggestions or if I need to go through the dealership. The car is currently in my garage at my house. I actually wanted to sell it so if anybody is looking to buy it, just send me a pm.

Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 03-27-2022, 09:52 AM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Rust Belt
Posts: 435
Disclaimer: I AM NOT A PELICAN MB FORUM "EXPERT"
Just tryin to help and share a little info from "personal experience".
My '83 240D ignition key stopped working, got stuck in the cylinder. Bought a new cylinder w/key, installed it and everything has been great. However, I now have 2 keys (because I didn't get the door locks re-keyed to match the new ignition key). The "2 key thing" doesn't bother me. Not in the least.
If you don't want 2 keys and your ignition cylinder is in good operational condition, simply go to the dealer (with title, owners card and drivers license, matching name on all 3) and have a new key made. Shouldn't be too much money.
I recently had a "master key" made for my '97 E300. It's a simple, flat metal key like your ignition key. Cost about $40 at the MB dealership.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 03-27-2022, 10:28 AM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Middle TN
Posts: 4,154
My 126 cars (85 & 85 & 84SD) have all had different key blanks than the 123 (85TD). The TD key is cut on both sides. The SD keys essentially had 4 cuts and can't be done on a normal key machine.

I did replace the ignition lock with an aftermarket which had keys cut like the 123. Internet lore says at least some blanks are NLA from the dealer as are VIN cut keys. Call a dealer and ask. Have your VIN handy and perhaps spring for a new even if relatively expensive lock and key set.
__________________
85SD 240K & stopped counting painted, putting bac together. 84SD 180,000. sold to a neighbor and member here but I forget his handle. The 84 is much improved from when I had it. 85TD beginning to repair to DD status. Lots of stuff to do.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 03-27-2022, 10:50 AM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Rust Belt
Posts: 435
Quote:
Originally Posted by Junkman View Post
Call a dealer and ask. Have your VIN handy and perhaps spring for a new even if relatively expensive lock and key set.
^^^ Good advice. I wish I had done that first, when my 240D ignition started acting up. My cylinder was probably "ok". Being new to this "hobby", at the time, I just assumed (always bad) anything from the dealer was gonna be big $$$ and took another path.
I would only add, if his ignition tumbler is working fine, why replace it? If the blanks are available at MB, I'd just order the new key. FWIW, my E300 master key is cut on both sides (into the middle of the metal blank, can't be done on a "normal" machine). It cost $46 a couple months ago. Only my $.02.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 03-27-2022, 11:13 AM
87tdwagen's Avatar
Registered Miscreant
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Sunny Ft. Lauderdale
Posts: 933
Dealer, best source. If you have to get a new cylinder and key and dont want to deal with the 2 key deal, you could look to wire in a keyless door system and not have to carry the extra key. Although it would be wise to have a back-up door key hidden somewhere on the car in the event of a door lock, vacuum or battery failure.

Good luck
__________________
Stable Mates:
1987 300TD 310K mi (Hans)
2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee OM642 165k mi (Benzrokee)
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 03-27-2022, 02:31 PM
Shadetree
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Back in SC upstate
Posts: 1,838
Drill out the ignition cylinder and replace it and the housing. It will take a carbide bit which you can buy online or at Harbor Freight. Expect to spend a couple hundred bucks. There are aftermarket cylinders with keys so you won't have to buy a used ignition cylinder and I think the cylinder housing is still sold here.

You are going to need the DYI section of this forum.
__________________
84 300SD
85 380SE
83 528e
95 318ic
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 03-27-2022, 02:55 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: San Diego
Posts: 3,537
Quote:
Originally Posted by Clemson88 View Post
Drill out the ignition cylinder and replace it and the housing. It will take a carbide bit which you can buy online or at Harbor Freight. Expect to spend a couple hundred bucks. There are aftermarket cylinders with keys so you won't have to buy a used ignition cylinder and I think the cylinder housing is still sold here.

You are going to need the DYI section of this forum.
Don't drill out. Dealership is your best friend here. You need the car pink slip or registration paper. They can cut a key for you. It is not expensive, may be $30. I have them cut for me as spare.
__________________
Not MBZ nor A/C trained professional but a die-hard DIY and green engineer. Use the info at your own peril. Picked up 2 Infractions because of disagreements. NOW reversed.

W124 Keyless remote, PM for details. http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/mercedes-used-parts-sale-wanted/334620-fs-w124-chasis-keyless-remote-%2450-shipped.html

1 X 2006 CDI
1 x 87 300SDL
1 x 87 300D
1 x 87 300TDT wagon
1 x 83 300D
1 x 84 190D ( 5 sp ) - All R134 converted + keyless entry.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 03-27-2022, 05:31 PM
JHZR2's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 5,265
I forget what it cost when I got a key for my 91 from the local dealer. I want to say it was $40 or $45.

Probably your best bet. It’s a steel key, I’ve seen locksmiths machine laser cut key equivalents. But from brass.

I’ve also seen aftermarket ignition tumblers and keys but then you have two keys, not one. Not sure if/how the ignition tumblers get keyed to the laser cut keys.
__________________
Current Diesels:
1981 240D (73K)
1982 300CD (169k)
1985 190D (169k)
1991 350SD (113k)
1991 350SD (206k)
1991 300D (228k)
1993 300SD (291k)
1993 300D 2.5T (338k)
1996 Dodge Ram CTD (442k)
1996 Dodge Ram CTD (265k)

Past Diesels:
1983 300D (228K)
1985 300D (233K)
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 03-30-2022, 08:25 AM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Middle TN
Posts: 4,154
The guy is talking about an 87. Has anyone confirmed that the correct key blanks are still available? There are threads where they aren't for slightly older 126 cars.

I've been fortunate because I've been able to get by with replacing the key heads. There is a former forum member whose handle I forgot that is/was selling aluminum key heads on Amazon for ~$30.

We had an email exchange and he buys in lots of 1,000 and let's Amazon deal with the marketing and distribution.
__________________
85SD 240K & stopped counting painted, putting bac together. 84SD 180,000. sold to a neighbor and member here but I forget his handle. The 84 is much improved from when I had it. 85TD beginning to repair to DD status. Lots of stuff to do.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 03-30-2022, 10:09 AM
JHZR2's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 5,265
Quote:
Originally Posted by Junkman View Post
The guy is talking about an 87. Has anyone confirmed that the correct key blanks are still available? There are threads where they aren't for slightly older 126 cars.

I've been fortunate because I've been able to get by with replacing the key heads. There is a former forum member whose handle I forgot that is/was selling aluminum key heads on Amazon for ~$30.

We had an email exchange and he buys in lots of 1,000 and let's Amazon deal with the marketing and distribution.
I got one for my 91 in recent years…
__________________
Current Diesels:
1981 240D (73K)
1982 300CD (169k)
1985 190D (169k)
1991 350SD (113k)
1991 350SD (206k)
1991 300D (228k)
1993 300SD (291k)
1993 300D 2.5T (338k)
1996 Dodge Ram CTD (442k)
1996 Dodge Ram CTD (265k)

Past Diesels:
1983 300D (228K)
1985 300D (233K)
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 03-31-2022, 04:27 AM
Shern's Avatar
Semi-registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 1,806
Quote:
Originally Posted by 123boy View Post
Disclaimer: I AM NOT A PELICAN MB FORUM "EXPERT"
Just tryin to help and share a little info from "personal experience".
My '83 240D ignition key stopped working, got stuck in the cylinder. Bought a new cylinder w/key, installed it and everything has been great. However, I now have 2 keys (because I didn't get the door locks re-keyed to match the new ignition key). The "2 key thing" doesn't bother me. Not in the least.
If you don't want 2 keys and your ignition cylinder is in good operational condition, simply go to the dealer (with title, owners card and drivers license, matching name on all 3) and have a new key made. Shouldn't be too much money.
I recently had a "master key" made for my '97 E300. It's a simple, flat metal key like your ignition key. Cost about $40 at the MB dealership.
Why don’t you rekey the door locks yourself?
It’s a very simple process well discussed in forum archives.
Did it recently myself.
__________________
1981 240D 4sp manual. Ivory White.
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 03-31-2022, 04:48 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Rust Belt
Posts: 435
Quote:
Originally Posted by Shern View Post
Why don’t you rekey the door locks yourself?
It’s a very simple process well discussed in forum archives.
Thanks for the encouraging words. I've seen some of the archives regarding this subject. I'd like to give it a try.....at some point. Problem is, I've got a pretty long list of items requiring attention.
Not the least of which: My driver's side front coil spring broke, unbeknownst to me, at the bottom coil that sits in the "cup", or spring base, that's mounted to the lower control arm. I don't know how long its was like that, but, it "departed the vehicle"!! Must've been my lucky day or week or year or something because the car was parked in the garage when this frightening event occurred.
Late one friday night, while in my kitchen (the garage is on the other side of the kitchen wall) I heard a tremendous BANG!, followed by a loud CRASH!! coming from the garage. When I went to investigate, the front left of the car was resting on top of the tire. Apparently, the spring shot out the front, hit the wall, shot back towards the rear of the car and came to rest by the left rear tire.
I've replayed many scenarios in my mind that could've resulted in catastrophe from this broken spring. Had it happened on the highway, at speed, well, I don't wanna think about it. Even just being under the car, working on "something" and that spring shot out.......
Long story longer....gonna order a couple springs, looking for the spring compressor tool (buy, rent or borrow) and a couple coil spring bases. Have a couple "leads", but nothing has materialized, yet.
Needless to say, the locks are gonna hafta wait....
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 03-31-2022, 10:24 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Middle TN
Posts: 4,154
I bought one of the knock off spring compressors from fleabay or similar. It worked fine on the 84 & 85SDs. Be sure to lube the threaded part. It makes it turn much easier and will keep the tool in working order.

I was able to press the bushings on the control arm in & out with threaded rod, washers and the seal installers from the cheap sets like you can rent. I think fine thread rod would work easier than course and greasing the threads is good in this situation.

You want bushings in upper & lower control arm to be new. I think the upper comes complete with bushings. You have to install the lower. Do tie rods, shocks and brakes if they need it or are close and the car will drive like new.
__________________
85SD 240K & stopped counting painted, putting bac together. 84SD 180,000. sold to a neighbor and member here but I forget his handle. The 84 is much improved from when I had it. 85TD beginning to repair to DD status. Lots of stuff to do.
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 04-01-2022, 07:53 AM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Rust Belt
Posts: 435
Sounds like an excellent plan!! Thanks for the suggestions. Probably gonna buy the spring compressor. I have access to an arbor press, so that's a plus. Gonna replace the shocks, too. Brakes are good (pads, rotors, hoses fairly recent. Bearings tightened by "feel" lol). Lookin forward to a tight front end!
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 04-05-2022, 10:08 AM
chasw3's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Cleveland, OH
Posts: 27
I just want to say thank you to everyone who replied to this post. All of your advice has been very helpful. Here is my path forward:

1. I called my local MB dealership and they quoted me $34.56 to cut a new key. I'm going to go there this week and get a new one made. They said I needed to bring my license as well as my title or registration to prove ownership.

2. If this doesn't work, I'll proceed with the re-keying process as suggested above.

Just wanted to note that your advice has saved me a lot of headache. Before I posted my question to the forum, I had a locksmith stop by. He quoted me ~$200. He managed to make a passenger side key, but after 2 days of attempts and cutting 10 blanks, he finally gave up since he could not make a key that would fit the driver's side or the ignition. Fortunately, he didn't charge me for this. I have to admit that the dealership suggestion really gave me hope! Again, thanks to all of you.

Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On




All times are GMT -4. The time now is 10:17 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2024 Pelican Parts, LLC - Posts may be archived for display on the Peach Parts or Pelican Parts Website -    DMCA Registered Agent Contact Page