Hi all -

FIrst let me thank this forum and FastLane for the great help they've provided me this past week, as I am the new owner of an `83 300D turbo sedan with 150,000 miles.

I resurrected the ailing electrical system, now I have everything working except the dash backlighting (ran out of time last night to solve this one). I did a ton of reading on these forums, fixed a number of minor little details on the car using DIY links and suggestions from here.

My next challenge is this: opening the trunk with no key!! Can I do this by removing the rear seatback? Previous owner had broken off the ignition key (the only one he had) in the ignition, a friend of his fixed it with a junkyard tumbler set & key... now I have no key for the side doors or trunk. I'd like to open the trunk to make sure Jimmy Hoffa isn't in there.

The local MB dealer can sell me a complete lock set for $385, so he says. But he wanted $120 for the same ignition tumbler I got for $54 from Phil at Fastlane... I'd probably pay the $385 to have one matching key, however I figured I'd check here for advice BEFORE I do that.


Next up: vacuum system repair!! Otherwise, this car is already performing daily drive duty, and is starting up *easily* in temps below 20* F.

thanks again for any suggestions,

-scott

i think the fuel tank will be in the way and the only way to remove it is from the trunk.... the vacuum lock on it doesnt work i suppose..

If you get the vacuum system working, the trunk may open with the knob without a key. As I recall, there are two ways of locking the trunk. One way locks it so that it will not open when the vacuum door locks are opened. The other way, unlocks the trunk when the vacuum door locks are unlocked. If the latter is activated, all you need to do is push in the button and it opens. (At least this is how I think it works on the 77 300d I have).
Alternatively, if you can isolate the vacuum line to the trunk lock and pull a vacuum with a Mity Vac while praying that the lock is in the latter configuration, you will be ok.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Why don't you just purchase a new key and tumbler using the VIN. Then you will have everything keyed alike again and be able to get into the trunk.

There is a fuel tank behind the rear seat.

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Jim

I would go with the key, too. Dealer's only like $30 (only...) and there will be less to fix later. Plus, then you can lock and unlock your trunk to store valuables.

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1989 300E 144K

THis is what Phil said to do!!!

But after 5+ phone calls to the local MB dealership, they told me the *only* thing they could help me do was either (a) sell me just the ignition tumbler for $120, OR sell me a full set of new locks for the doors, trunk, and ignition for $385 but I'd need to have them perform the installation...! Dealer said absolutely no way could they just "make a key" based on the VIN for me even showing proof of ownership. This part is frustrating, do you guys think I should try contacting another dealer??

Thanks for the replies and help. This site is one of the better automotive sites I've been on, and I'm on pretty much *all* the north american automotive performance sites.


-scott

Dude, find another Dealership. BS they can't make you a key. Try another.

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1989 300E 144K

I got a place in Lincoln, NE 45 miles away and the supposedly better dealer is in Des Moines, IA about 90 miles from where I live. We bought a VW from the place in Des Moines, a little Jetta TDI, and they treated us like we were buying the most pricey Mercedes. Really good place.

I am going to call around here shortly. Thanks for the advice.

-scott

Scott,

I have been doing this for 30 years. Here's the deal. You can order a key only or a tumbler and key from any dealer staffed with qualified parts personnel by VIN. I would suggest tumbler and key since the key alone will be almost as much. MB has a few corporate rules. You will need to prepay for the special order. You will need to show ID and proof of ownership before they give you tumbler and key. They will not mail both the key and tumbler, because of possible mail theft. I would suggest trying your local dealer again and ask to speak to the parts manager. If the guy you talked to before is the parts manager, you're just going to have to drive to next closest dealer. I have noticed many times in my years that too many sales clerks tend to make up stories rather than admit they don't know the answer to a question.

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Auto Zentral Ltd.