W123 Trunk Lock Question - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

ImBroke · #1 02-24-2008, 03:28 PM

Short story, bought car at auction, with drilled out trunk lock. Had Locksmith make ignition key so I could drive the car onto the trailer.
Bought a Junkyard trunk lock, and want to "retumble" it to match the ignition key. Anyone done something like this before? Is this a DIY type thing, or should I take it to a locksmith and have him do it?
Thanks.

donbryce · #2 02-24-2008, 06:37 PM

I'm not sure if the setup on a W123 is the same as W126 or as on my W107 560SL, but I recently pulled the cylinder/tumbler out of the lock button on my SL to put on a stainless cap/cover.
From some advice here, and playing around with it, I found that you need the key inserted to turn the cylinder inside enough to pull the tumbler out of the button. From there, you can change the 'pins' (or whatever they are called, the sliding pieces that the cuts in the key push on) from one tumbler to another so the donor lock can be used with the ignition or other key.
So, if your junkyard lock came with a key, you could remove the tumbler, but then you'd need a donor tumbler with pins/sliding things that are matched to your ignition key. That could be from one of the doors, since I'll assume the key your locksmith made will also fit the doors...but you'd still be short 1 tumbler. It looks like the locksmith for this job....

Edit: Here's the link to the thread I did on removing the cylinder tumbler. Might help a bit.... Trunk lock button tumbler repair 560SL

ImBroke · #3 02-24-2008, 08:13 PM

Thanks, I was wondering how that worked. I was hoping there was some sort of release in there, so I could loosen them up, insert my key and tighten the pins back down. Maybe I should have just gotten the dealer to sell me a lock with key. Grrrrrr
Of course the new one has no key.

Mark DiSilvestro · #4 02-25-2008, 09:41 AM

When I worked at a local BMW shop I often had to dissassemble and re-arrange the tumblers in new replacement locks to work with the original key, because to order a new lock with a matching key woud take way too long.
Later, I had an old Honda Accord where the PO had installed a new ignition lock, but it was a pain to fumble for two similar-looking keys all the time, so I pulled the ignition cylinder and was able to re-arrange 5 of the 7 tumblers to work with the original key.
The two that didn't work, I just left out.
You'll still need to get your replacement lock apart. Or use it as-is. Either way, maybe you can order a new key for it.

Happy Motoring, Mark

ImBroke · #5 02-25-2008, 12:45 PM

Mark, there's an 83 300D at Pick N Pull, and a different 380SE. At least that's what it says on the trunk lid. It's a euro, but someone busted the headlights all up.

I checked the odo, and it says 518k miles!!! Seats are a reddish cloth and grey, very strange combo. I'm going to try to get the lock cylinder apart, wish me luck. That comes after finishing the drivetrain swap, so I have a little bit of time.

Mark DiSilvestro · #6 02-25-2008, 11:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ImBroke

Mark, there's an 83 300D at Pick N Pull, and a different 380SE. At least that's what it says on the trunk lid. It's a euro, but someone busted the headlights all up.

I checked the odo, and it says 518k miles!!! Seats are a reddish cloth and grey, very strange combo. I'm going to try to get the lock cylinder apart, wish me luck. That comes after finishing the drivetrain swap, so I have a little bit of time.

What color is that 300D interior, and is that the Pick-n-Pull in Virginia Beach? Thanks.

Happy Motoring, Mark

ImBroke · #7 02-26-2008, 08:32 AM

Palomino interior, light ivory exterior. Seats are way beyond shot. Yes, it's in VB. I'm headed out there Saturday to get some more stuff. Car has 363K on it, and has written on the window "Does Not Start". Someone already took two injectors.

Mark DiSilvestro · #8 03-03-2008, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ImBroke

Palomino interior, light ivory exterior. Seats are way beyond shot. Yes, it's in VB. I'm headed out there Saturday to get some more stuff. Car has 363K on it, and has written on the window "Does Not Start". Someone already took two injectors.

So did you make it back to the Pick-n-Pull?
I got a bunch of stuff off that 300D, including a pair of factory plastic front fender-liners to hopefully slow some of the rusting on Miss Diesel, my '82 240D, and a solid right-front fender, for when the rust gets so bad on my original that I can't stand to look at it anymore! And a replacement vacuum-lock motor for Beirut Taxi, my 81 240D, so my trunk-lock works again.

Happy Motoring, Mark

ImBroke · #9 03-03-2008, 08:12 PM

I went back and got the AC compressor. I'm going to put it in tomorrow and see if it works. It looks like it's free, so it should work fine. It still had the electric connection and belt on it, so there's hope. I got a couple of parts for the Del Sol too while I was there.

ImBroke · #10 03-21-2008, 10:02 PM

I figured this out. For anyone looking to do this, it was super easy. Here's what I learned. There are 10 pins, each cut to different lengths.
Step 1. Remove E clip, plastic thingy, and push cylinder out.

Step 2. Remove 10 pins. 5 go in from the top, 5 the bottom. You can see little springs in the tumbler where the "hook" part of the pins go.

Step 3. Install pins one at a time, and insert key. If part of the pin sticks down, you need to try a different pin. What you're going for is when you put the key in, the pins stay flush. I took pics of a properly fitting pin, and a not properly fitting one.

At first, I put the tumbler back in and tried turning. Then I found out about the flushness. Made it much easier. I only was able to get 7 out of the 10 installed and fitting properly, but that's a lot better than the alternative of no trunk lock. There is a little spring and ball bearing that go in there towards the end, but I didn't put mine back in. Hope it wont hurt with it not in there.
Enjoy the pics, and I hope I helped someone.

funola · #11 02-10-2009, 01:06 AM

Just found this thread. I was hoping the repinning is for the ignition tumbler. Do you know how that comes apart so I can repin it?

Quote:

Originally Posted by ImBroke

I figured this out. For anyone looking to do this, it was super easy. Here's what I learned. There are 10 pins, each cut to different lengths.
Step 1. Remove E clip, plastic thingy, and push cylinder out.

Step 2. Remove 10 pins. 5 go in from the top, 5 the bottom. You can see little springs in the tumbler where the "hook" part of the pins go.

Step 3. Install pins one at a time, and insert key. If part of the pin sticks down, you need to try a different pin. What you're going for is when you put the key in, the pins stay flush. I took pics of a properly fitting pin, and a not properly fitting one.

At first, I put the tumbler back in and tried turning. Then I found out about the flushness. Made it much easier. I only was able to get 7 out of the 10 installed and fitting properly, but that's a lot better than the alternative of no trunk lock. There is a little spring and ball bearing that go in there towards the end, but I didn't put mine back in. Hope it wont hurt with it not in there.
Enjoy the pics, and I hope I helped someone.