The trunk on my 1982 380SL will not open ether with key nor by the vaccuum. I desperately need to get it open, please someone tell me what I need to do. It was working yesterday but not now.

Rayson
1982 380SL

Try rotating the lock with the key inserted, then pushing in. You may have the trunk lock "locked out" of the central locking system.
Usually, if the trunk lock is totally worn out, to get the trunk open you need to drill a hole through the chrome trim and through the sheet metal so you can push on the latch with a piece of stiff wire, like a welding rod.
Gilly

__________________
Click here to see the items I have up for auction at EBay

Click here to see a photo album of my '62 Sprite Project Moneypit (Now Sold)

I can't tell you what to do but I'll tell you what happened to my 90 300E. The trunk key was stuck in some strange postition and I could not use the key or the vacumn system to open the trunk. The door locking system continued to work fine but I could not get the damn trunk open after trying virtually everything. Finally, I took it to the Mercedes dealership and they drilled out the tumbler, replaced it with a new one, matched it to the key set, gave me an extra key and it cost me a few hundred dollars.

Well, I had the same happen to me, called a Locksmith but they couldn't unlock it either. Benx dealer told me about $200+ to fix..so me being on the more frugal side and not wanting to damage the trim and drill..stuck a flathead screwdriver in the Hole and bang away with a hammer then turned..opened right up, didn't lookm noticeable and I went on my merry way..never have replaced the lock.

hammer trick sounds better then the dril, can always drill later. I have a hole drilled behind licence plate on my 86sl. tried coat hanger and ice pick. welding rod sounds better, do i push or pull/ i think push, but one guy talked about a hook on the end of his homemade tool? if so sounds like a pull? but then it might not have been a 560sl/

gilly isn't excess cash on oxymoron? like the bub who wanted my extra money. their is no such thing

If you are willing to sacrifice the lock cylinder, the following worked for me many times.

Screw a slidehammer into the key slot. One slam will put the cylinder in your hand.