Exterior door handles
 

Is it possible to change the door handles without changing the lock cylinder/tumbler? Or is it one piece? I want to change my tired looking handles but dont want to have a new tumbler/lock cylinder with a new key. I want to be able to just swap out the lock mechanism if possible.

Has anyone performed this task?

Forever Black will make them look brand new.

Or try peanutbutter before taking it all apart - no lie.

I concour with the above two posters!

Try olive oil too!

I have tried the above methods but have found that peanut oil works best. However, my main goal is to change over to the handles that have the chrome strip or to paint the handles all together.

On my 94 E320 with vacuum actuated locks, the lock cylinder and door handle are separate pieces. Open the door and look at the strike side. If you have vacuum locks there will be an oval plug and a smaller round plug beneath. Remove both. Behind the oval plug is the connection for the vacuum lines; disconnect these. Behind the round plug is a set screw (allen head); loosen this, and with the key in the lock turn the key until you feel the cylinder come free. Very easy. You probably must remove the inside door panel to remove the hardware securing the door handle, but that job is pretty easy also.
regards,
Mark

Not sure if there was an answer, but on the lock cylinders are separate from the handles, so different locks/keys can be swapped. One neat feature is to use a rear door handle on the passenger side, so that there's only a lock cylinder on the driver's side, which might foil a theif that wants to pop a lock cylinder on the passenger side.

are the older one color door handles engineered the same way as the later model black/chrome handles? If so I should be able to just swap out the lock cylinders on the newer style handles correct?