1985 500 sel question
 

my boyfriend borrowed my car, didn't have the trunk key with him, and tried to get into the trunk with one of the other keys, for some reason there are 3 keys to my car. Now i can't get into the trunk with the key. when you turn the key, you can hear it unlocking, and all the locks unlock as they would normally, but the trunk still doesn't open. If I had to guess off the top of my non locksmith head I'd say the linkage is semi hammered in there. my question is how the heck can i open my trunk with this delemma? thanks :confused:
I just read some of the other posts, some mentioned a "magic cord" under back seat, does my car have one of those?? oh how nice that would be huh?

This is off topic, but I was in a junkyard trying to get an antenna off an w123, and the owner tried to pry it up. He couldn't, so he got a forklift. He had to lift the car about 20ft in the air for the locked trunk to pop open. Even then, the hinges wouldn't come off :cool: Take it to nearest dealer. They should jus replace the cylinder. I wouldn't mess with it cuz then u'll end up spending more $$$

Sounds like you need a new boyfriend. Didn't you 'splain the key situation to him when he borrowed your car?

trunk
 

my 85 500sel doesn't have a magic chord.

so nobody can help me?? I don't make enough right now to pay someone's wages for open
 

I don't make enough right now to pay someone's wages for opening my trunk ata dealer. But I'll probably have to look up locksmith exboyfriend huh? Dang... was hoping yall would have the magic answers for me. ;)

one of the keys is the valet key. it will not open the trunk. you can compare the three keys. the two alike are the master keys, they open all the locks.

You don’t need the key to open the trunk when the doors are unlocked – I assume he did not know this and broke your trunk lock. Do the four doors and fuel filler door unlock when the driver or passenger door is unlocked? The trunk lock should unlock as well allowing access by only pushing in the trunk lock button.

Ding ding ding ding! The man above has the correct answer! Maybe he could be your new bfriend.

It sounds like your ex-bfriend was really a gorilla. :D

trunk release cord is under the back seat. You have to remove bottom cushion. May simply be a valet key issue, ot tmblers stuck
Try graphite, not wd 40

my trunk opening problem 1985 500 sel
 

okay guys, don't give up your day jobs, and go to the stage as comediens (haha get a new boyfriend), if you read my original post, I said:when you turn the key, you can hear it unlocking, and all the locks unlock as they would normally, but the trunk still doesn't open. If I had to guess off the top of my non locksmith head I'd say the linkage is semi hammered in there. my question is how the heck can i open my trunk with this delemma? thanks

in plainer words; I can tell by the sound that the key is in fact working the locks, (all of them) but it's NOT releasing the trunk lid. okay, another detail I forgot to add, before i loaned him the car, to get into the trunk you'd have to push down on the trunk before you pushed the button or it wouldnt release, but now that doesnt even work. does that help out at all?

I was just trying to add a little humor, OK? :pukeface: Still, I don't like guys who use too much force and break stuff like locks/keys. Maybe he's a perfect angel otherwise. :eek:

Back to your problem. You can try three things imho:

1. Pull that trunk cord under the rear seat.
2. I was going to say get into the trunk by removing the back seat but I don't think that works on a Benz. So I only have two ideas after all.
3. Lube the heck out of that lock and try everything again. I know locksmiths that hate graphite. They all seem to hate WD-40. Silicone lube or molybdenum sulfart seem to be two spray lubes that locksmiths don't mind using.

.

you're positive my car has a pull cord???
 

Are you positive that my car, a 1985 500 sel, does in fact have a pull-cord under the back seat?? I don't want to just pull out the back seat, or even disturb the area period, if there's a chance it's not there. It's all electric, and I still haven't found a good repair manual, to refer to. You know?... I don't want to mickey mouse the operation any more than necessary, you can appreciate that, yeah? and does this icon ~~> :pukeface: , mean you're calling me a pukeface? lol

i never
 

heard of a trunk cord. but it is easy to remove bottom seat cushion to see if there is one. there is a lever on the base that you pull to unlatch it.

are you using the key with the rectangular top part? the one with the oval is the valet key and doesnt open the trunk.

really this problem could be had by a guy or girl so ignore the other comments.

good luck.

tom w

Valet switch position
 

If the anti theft position was engaged it won't open regardless of what key you use, or how many doors are open, when returned to normal it should open. Thats how the early 126 models worked.
Snow

I have an 85 500sel myself and i don't recall any type of pull chord under the back seat. ( I have been under there before to fix the seat ) all of the locks on my car are vacuume powered and yours should be no exception. If the trunk doesn't unlock when the key is turned and doesn't unlock when the rest of the car does, then what i would look at is a small metal linkage inside the lock system in the trunk itself but seeing as you can't get in there now that would be a bit of a problem. if your sure the key sounds like it unlocks and it feels like it unlocks then a locksmith will not help it's more likely that the small metal lever system is loose or out of alignment. As to opening it... i am still thinking. it may be as hard as cutting open the metal behind the license plate to gain access to the problem, but on the other hand, i could be wrong and there would a cable you can pull under the seat. (REALLY doubt it) my seat is apart right now i'll look for you tonight when i get home. BTW in order to take off the seat, there two 13mm bolts one on either side of the bottom of the seat if you feel adventurous.