89 300SE Finished!! Finally!!
 

My wife's 300SE has been in our garage for the last month. Had started having problems with the key-tumbler, getting really hard to turn the key. After she parked in the garage, I went out to do some brake work on it. Wanting more room to work, I pulled my 560SEL out of the garage and hopped into the 300SE, meaning to move it to the center of the garage, only to find that not only could I not turn the key, I couldnt even get the key into the tumbler. After doing alot of research, including ALOT of help from members here, I ended up pulling the instrument cluster, dropping the steering wheel, removing the steering wheel, and used a Dremel tool and a drill to remove the tumbler from the key assembly. Ended up buying the new key, tumbler, steering wheel lock, and switch. Once I had the parts, the installation was easy. I just had to do everything that I had just done, only backwards. Also ended up buying and installing a new starter, changed the oil, did a full tune up, and installed new brakes all the way around the car. Hopped into the car, turned the key, and it started right away, settling into probably the best idle that I have had from the car in years. Thanks to all of you who patiently walked me through this process. You guys and gals are the best!! I couldnt have done it without you!! Now on to figuring out why the 560SEL is slurping gas.....

consumables
 

Thanks for letting us know about your suceessful repairs.

For reliability the 103 engine loves to have a fresh set of fuses ,fuel accumulator, fuel pump relay and a OVP. Invariably one of these ageing component cause a intermittent or a starting problem.
regards
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BTW...you're never finally finished but anytime you get something going that should be going, it sure feels like ,"it's finally finished!" Good luck! Keep us posted on your next upgrades and repairs. The tendency is to keep trying to make these things run like brand new because it's just about possible!!!