Has any one ever had to get into the trunk of a w116 1980 300SD? I have been working on mine and storing my tools in the trunk unlocked because I didn't get a key to the doors or trunk when I bought the car. Anyway I went out to get some tools, pushed the button and nothing. It is just as if it were locked but it "can't" be, can it? I don't want to damage the car, I just got an engine donor and I'm ready to transplant but, no tools.

as long as the trunk lock is in the horizontal position, suck through one of the vacuum lines(cant remember which one) and have a friend push the button while you suck on the vacuum line.

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1985 300TD Turbo Euro-wagon
1979 280CE 225,200 miles
1985 300D Turbo 264,000 miles
1976 240D 190,000 miles
1979 300TD 220,000

GONE but not forgotten
1976 300D 195,300 miles
1983 300D Turbo 175,000 miles

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not this topic again. . .last week it was a W123. . .

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You gotta drill a hole next to the lock cylinder and use a stiff metal rod to push in on the lever the lock cylinder plunger would push in on. You can drill on either side, just make it so the rod will be angling inwards, towards the back of the lock cylinder (use an imaginary line about 2" behind the lock cylinder, you don't want to actually drill IN TO the lock cylinder). I'd use about a 1/4" drill hole and a 1/8" piece of metal rod (you can get at a hardware store). YEAH I know you said your tools are in the trunk, borrow some I guess, I don't have a solution to that part of it, you need the tools. Go buy more?
YEAH you'll need to buy that piece of chrome trim you need to drill in to.
NO I can't guarntee that it'll work becuase it might be the latch is bad, in which case the way in includes such fun steps as busting out one of the tail lights.
I don't know if the chrome rim OR the tail lights are available any longer, but used places should have them, so shop for the tail light before busting either one out so you know you have a replacement.
Gilly

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Well I got the trunk opened this evening.
79Mercy your suggestion was good and gave me an excuse to buy a mityvac, but that didn't work, but it was very much on the right track.
Lexxani your attitude was much less than helpful. The situation with the 123 last week was entirely different even if they were on the same subject. I don't think this is an entertainment forum. Is it?
Gilly, much as I hated to I did drill into the chrome piece after studying my 123 donor latch and praying they were similar, they were. The successful hole was straight in about 1/4" to the right of the button. I found replacement chrome on ebay before I drilled it so I'm ready to begin the engine transplant. By the way, the reason it wouldn't open was the the vacuum actuator. The screws holding it were missing and it had slid far enough to disengage the button even though the vacuum hadn't changed. I haven't really had a chance to drive or use the car much, since the engine was bad when I got it so I hadn't paid any attention. I undoubtedly bumped the cover and slid it without knowing the last time i put away tools.