This repair was good for a year or so, then I sold the car,..to a gentleman in Carlisle..
In a great many respects, the Mercedes, particularly the Diesel, is a most economical motor vehicle...

Adrian
'96 Saab 900S
I do miss the Diesels..

Is there a DIY article anywhere that shows how to replace a cyclinder that you have been expecting to go bad sometime soon? I know the issue and I have paid to have one drilled before. I would like to do the fix it myself on my 190E 16v. I just need to install the new keyed cylinder correct? I think I remember that there are a few tricks to getting one out. DOnt remember them all.

R129 ignition switch.....
This may or may not help.
This is ONE GREAT SITE !!
I cleaned my switch assembly tumblers with perseverance, cleaner and graphite oil..
I do not subscribe to "parts throwing"..
Nor do I agree with what has happened to the modern car....
Too much emphasis on safety and security, nothing on operating costs..


Time for me to edit the avatar..
Now, it is a
'96 Saab 900S

HELP...same problem with 1997 e 420 (w210?)...steering wheel locked and key will not turn. My key is not stuck....i have tried wd 40 , turning wheel while turning key, sawzaw vibration (no saw:) all to no avail. I also tried the spare key...no luck. I am pretty illiterate when it come to DYI on cars...but i cant afford to get it fixed !! Im not sure how different the ignitions are on these makes and years...i didnt see anything for my type of car....ANY feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Since there is no water(assuming) in the switch tumblers, I would not use any WD-40.
Use a little vibration, electrical cleaner and graphite oil, over and over again. But, I'll never know if this passes the 5 year test.

Same problem w/ign lock, but Q whether 240D or not
 

Hello. I'm totally new to this forum and discussion forums in general. I don't know if I have to navigate back to this particular thread to find out an answer, or whether instead comments will come to my email. Anyway, I have the same problem as Ginger97 and have tried all the same proffered solutions, to no avail. I'm also only quasi-car-literate, so I don't know things such as whether a "tumbler" is the same thing as the ignition into which I insert the key to start the car - so please dummy up your answers. There's one other problem. My registration says my car is a 1984 240D, but I understand that there is no such animal because MB didn't make that model in 1984. I believe the car came over from Europe, as a "salvage" registration for some reason or other, which may account for the error - but I also don't know which way it cuts - do I have a 240D that isn't really a 1984? or do I have a 1984 that isn't really a 240D? Lastly, while a local goodguy repair shop has done repairs for me very inexpensively, is he likely to be lacking MB-specific arcane knowledge on this sort of issue, such that I should go to the Mercede$$$ dealer instead? Thanks for any input!



Hello! I'm totally new to this forum as

Joe: You can't turn the key in the ignition?

Dealers are expensive. If you have to cut this thing out its gonna be maybe 10 hours labor at a dealer.

You need to spend time and fiddle and fiddle to get the key to turn, then once it does be prepared to remove the tumbler with the self made wire tool. After that you can start they car with a screwdriver, order a new part from Tom Hanson at MBClassic center and install it yourself. The part is about $90 I think, and includes a new key and matches the rest of your car -- but must come from a dealer as far as I know.

You have a VIN which you should be able to decode via internet to find out the progeny of your car.

Yes, the key will go in and out of the ignition, but will not turn at all.

Is the entire ignition switch the tumbler? To what wire tool do you refer (I must have missed that in the pages of responses).

Yes, after having last stopped the car and parked it for an hour or so, I came out and put the key in and went to turn it and it didn't turn at all. I've sprayed graphite into the lock, including with (and without) blowing compressed air in after it, to help the graphite to circulate), smacked it reasonably with a rubber hammer to shake the tumblers (yes?) loose, and fiddled with it and the steering wheel for at least 20 minutes, all to no avail at all. What's involved in "cutting it out?" Is that a last resort if efforts to remove the ignition fail? Can't a repair guy withdraw the ignition somehow? This requires a special tool, or a gerry-rigged wire tool of some kind? Thanks again for any further info! Regards, Joe/Roger

Any idea where on internet I can find a VIN decoder? I also assume I can find MBClassic with a Google search, yes?

What "graphite oil?"
 

Tooter, what is graphite "oil," per se? I've used the dry graphite from a small spray like a small toothpaste tube. Is graphite oil something else? To what "cleaner" do you refer? I saw a "dry lubricant" spray in a can that looked like WD40 that was something other than the graphite - is this one of these alternatives?

Souber Tools Mercedes Lock Cutter
 

If, there's no other way...
$169.50 USD
http://www.michaelhyde.com/product_p/mb-cutter-tool-c.htm

There's a Video of this tool somewhere(?)

Less than 5 minutes with a hand drill...probelemo solved.

[It cuts off the front face of the "Tumbler" retainer.]
(Shiny Metal face, with the slot the key fits in)

If you can get the key in there is still a chance you can fiddle it. I sat in my car for 45 minutes one day and finally I got it. Try medium gentle pressures in all directions, ergo, pushing in, pulling out, pushing top down, pushing top up, etc. The tool is a 'self made' wire tool fro the MB service guides -- it is referenced in this post, there is even a picture from 10-07-2007, 03:08 PM
mark2590.

more tool reference
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/tech-help/42867-ready-cut-ignition-tumbler.html?highlight=ignition+made+tool

Tom Hanson
Supervisor, Parts Operations
Mercedes Benz USA, LLC
Mercedes Benz Classic Center USA
9 Whatney
Irvine CA 92618
949 598-4842 direct

Lockease, the graphite oil
generic electrical contacts cleaner spray.
We , as VW line mechanics, used the Lockease on the sparkplug thread during the early 70s....great stuff.

I'm lost and I think I'm screwed(steering wheel locked
 

I just replaced the whole ignition switch assembly(no easy task!)I got it all back together and was putting the steering wheel back on,turned it to get the wheels straight before installing the steering wheel and then the steering wheel lock engaged.I cannot turn the key or steering wheel and I cannot push the retainer pin in to release the ignition assembly.What a design!Why in the world would the retainer pin lock when the steering wheel lock engages?As far as I can tell.I've waisted 200$ and a days work.Best I can figure is to cut the retaining pin off to get it outand cut the steering wheel lock off so this dosen't happen again.Can any one help?

Year and model?

Is the key in the ignition?

LOTS and LOTS of info on M-B steering an ignition problems.