I searched the varius forums and didn't find this problem, at least using the search parameters I entered.

The left-rear door on my '88 300E suddenly began refusing to glide shut. Now I practically have to lean on it. It was all of a sudden so I'm thinking it must be the thing that provides an intermediate psotion stop. I can't see anything looking inside where the stop strap thing goes but I tried the lasst, desperate act of a muddled mind, I sprayed WD40. No joy.

I have read that pulling and replacing the door panels is a be-atch so I'm deeply reluctant. BTW, I also have the left door post panel off because the MB Tex was pulling away from the shoulder harness slot. Anybody ever reglued that? The foam padding/glue over the flat surface is completely shot so I washed and scraped it off and thoroughly cleaned the post panel, itself.

My "plan" is to use spray adhesive over the flat portion and after it dries, use Rhino Glue to glue the portions that curl over the edges and attach to the inside of the panel.

(If my wife doesn't heal-up soon I'm gonna start breaking things for something to do. I just mowed and trimmed the lawn and swept the house. Cooked breakfast, did dishes. I refuse to watch "Raiders of the Lost Ark again. Kee-riste, I'm going crazy!)

__________________
'Government is like a baby:
An alimentary canal with a big appetite at one end and
no sense of responsibility at the other'
- Ronald Reagan

Sorry, I can't help out with the door, but I really wonder if your wife is sick at all-- what with all the housework she sees you getting done while she's "sick"!!

__________________

Current:
2014 VW Tiguan SEL 4Motion 43,000 miles.

2016 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport (wife's).

Past:
2006 Jetta TDI 135,970 miles. Sold Nov. '13.
1995 E-320 Special Edition. 220,200 miles. Sold Sept. '07.
1987 190-E 16 valve. 153,000 miles. Sold Feb. '06.
1980 300-D 225,000 miles. Donated to the National Kidney Foundation.
1980 240-D manual, 297,500 miles. Totaled by inattentive driver.

3M makes a real good spray adhesive that should work for the pillars materials. I have used it myself and it is solid.

It's the stuff they use to glue headliners and door pads.

Any decent auto parts store should carry it.

As for the doors, I can't imagine what the problem might be, I can only offer that the door panels in my 126's were a snap to remove and replace.

.02

__________________
Enough about me, how are you doing?

Sounds like the "door strap" has failed. It's a ball bearing glide that provides the intermediate stops. The bearings get dirty and then they start popping out and getting sticky. Removing the door panels is only tricky if you try to force them and break off a hook clip on the inside of the panel. Luckily they can be reguled.

As for the separation of the covering . . . that's really a tough fix. Lots of people have tried all sorts of adhesives, but will varying degrees of sucess. You should keep an eye out for a decent replacement panel from a recycler or other source.

to pass Larry Bible as the most prodigious poster on MSHOP, follwed by BHD.

Must be our tax dollars at work.



Currently the rankings are:


LarryBible
Treiben bis sie fallen! 8,509
Botnst
Registered User 8,088
boneheaddoctor
Tinkerer extrordinaire 7,845
psfred
Registered User 7,637
leathermang
Registered User 6,869
Gilly
Stop Global Whining 6,562
sixto
Registered User 5,931
stevebfl
Moderator 5,754
engatwork
Moderator 5,729
Hatterasguy
Always working on the SDL 5,394
suginami
Registered User 4,994
M.B.DOC
Moderator 4,724
Benzmac
Registered User 4,722
MedMech
Hooy na ny! 4,720
w126
Unlicensed chiropractor 4,562
Brian Carlton
Senior Member 4,550
rickg
User friendly 4,503
G-Benz
Weekend Soccer Dad 4,434
Ashman
AMG HAMMER 4,378
123c
Moped Army 4,217
mikemover
Over it. 4,044
P.E.Haiges
Registered User 3,874
MikeTangas
Senior Member 3,789
gsxr
Registered Useless 3,667
MTI
Registered User 3,344
blackmercedes
Just a guy 3,227
GermanStar
Drawing a blank 3,216
R Leo
Got Benzos? 3,190
whunter
Senior Member 2,981
The Warden
Certified diesel nut 2,970

__________________
Enough about me, how are you doing?

If I have to stay home another week I'm gonna own this place and I'm gonna charge rent to you slackers. Now go forth and post!

__________________
'Government is like a baby:
An alimentary canal with a big appetite at one end and
no sense of responsibility at the other'
- Ronald Reagan

Nobody will beat Bonehead, he has the highest average daily posting count of any human being on earth! Where is he today, haven't seen him post yet, I'm getting a little worried something must have happened to him!

You ain't got an engine you can bring into the den and tear down?

__________________
Jim

My kids are so worn out with me that they went to help their oldest sister change apartments! I should spank them. Give me something to do.

__________________
'Government is like a baby:
An alimentary canal with a big appetite at one end and
no sense of responsibility at the other'
- Ronald Reagan

I also believe the check strap is shot.

As for the "B" pillar covering I used yellow death. When I resurrected the 560 I had the same peeling around the belt slide area. Once I pulled the pillar trim I found it to have separated from the foam just as you described. I cleaned as much of the loose crap as I could, wiped everything with alcohol and let dry. Then I smeared on regular old yellow 3M from the tube; aka: yellow death. Once the pillar liner and the covering tacked up I slowly stretched and fitted the covering back onto the liner. Been holding great now for nearly 3 years. Word of caution with yellow death; you only get one shot to apply the covering. Don't forget that once the slide hole is secured you'll have to glue and wrap the covering around the edge of the liner - use yellow death there as well.

__________________
Mike Tangas
'73 280SEL 4.5 (9/72)- RIP
Only 8,173 units built from 5/71 thru 11/72

'02 CLK320 Cabriolet - wifey's mid-life crisis

2012 VW Jetta Sportwagon TDI...at least its a diesel

Non illegitemae carborundum.

I had a busted check strap in my beemer (also does the detent thing) and it interfered in a big way with proper function. Fortunately, the passenger and driver side part is interchangeble, so I was able to get a lightly worn passenger side strap at de bone yard.

You've almost certainly heard by now that the MB door panels come off in and upwardly fashion as opposed to most cars that just pop straight out.

BTW, I'm not going to faint at your feint of an MB question.

__________________
cmac

1986 300SDL, 351K
1984 300D, 133K

i'll second the stop strap also.. that's seems a semi regular problem in those cars..

__________________
72 W114/M130

RedMeat cartoon

What about greasing your door hinges?

__________________
Regards

Warren

Currently 1965 220Sb, 2002 FORD Crown Vic Police Interceptor

Had 1965 220SEb, 1967 230S, 280SE 4.5, 300SE (W126), 420SEL

ENTER > = (HP RPN)

Not part of the in-crowd since 1952.

I put some Marvel Mystery Oil on them and it made no difference so I suspect that grease, though better than MMO, wouldn't affect the problem.

It's the checkstrap thing. Given that keyword search and the description I read, that's my problem. Interestingly, the same door has a window that doesn't operate, no sound comes from the door at all. I checked the console switch and it works and I get electricity going to the door.

So I'm thinking I have a bad window motor. I was just going to let it be but as long as I'm going to tear into the door, I'm thinking that a new window motor is called for. No, I haven't done a search on that repair (I will have I send this note) but just looking at the schematic of teh window, that isn't a big deal just to swap-out. Anything special I should know?

__________________
'Government is like a baby:
An alimentary canal with a big appetite at one end and
no sense of responsibility at the other'
- Ronald Reagan

Wouldn't that be thirding something?

Just making a joke.

Not being the grammar police!

__________________
Pxland

2001 Honda Accord

1995 Jeep Cherokee

1973 MB 280SEL 4.5