I have a '84 500sel and I recently bought a '85 330D. Whenever I lock the doors on the 500sel, you can hear an audible click as you watch all of the knobs on the doors go down. On the 300D I don't hear anything when I lock the doors and when you watch the knobs go down, there is a definitely increase in the time it takes for them to go fully down. (as opposed to how fast the knobs go down on the 500sel).

I have been told that the central locking system on the 300D is a "silent system". Is it possible that just all of the vacuum components and lines on my 300D are just old?
If it is supposed to make the audible click, will replacing the vacuum hoses and repairing the leaks make it lock as its supposed to? The locking system does work, it's just that I don't know if it's working up to it's capacity.

Thanks fella's! HAPPY EASTER!!!!!


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FrankieZ
84 500SEL EURO 87K
85 300D 267K (and still goin' strong)

Sorry fellas. FINGERCHECK. That first sentence was supposed to say "85 300D"

Didn't want ya' to think tht I had some special edition Benz!

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FrankieZ
84 500SEL EURO 87K
85 300D 267K (and still goin' strong)

The two systems are very different. The 300D system won't make any sounds. The system uses vacuum for both locking and unlocking. The SEL on the other hand uses a vacuum/pressure pump and pushes and pulls the locks.

The first system which works off of stored vacuum created by the engine vacuum pump (only on diesels and some old M110 and M115)should be able to do 4 complete cycles after the car is shut-off. It should do some cycles after sitting all night.

If it ain't broke don't fix it.

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Steve Brotherton
Owner 24 bay BSC
Bosch Master, ASE master L1
26 years MB technician

Thanks Steve!

I agree with you about "no fix if no broke". Just was thinkin' about preventive maintenance, if it was signaling to me that it wasn't up to par.



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FrankieZ
84 500SEL EURO 87K
85 300D 267K (and still goin' strong)

Thanks for thar clarification. I was always wondering if they bored out something in between the 300 and 350.

Sounds like the SEL is just a more advanced system and shuts the door locks faster.

By the way, I did find Diesel locally for $1.49, gas $1.66.

Ride on..

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'89 420 SEL
'90 300 SEL
'84 300 SD (sold it)

Further point of clarity. I was originally distinguishing between two cars a 300D and a 500SEL. The distiction is between chassis type not diesel or gas. In other words all 123 bodies use dual vacuum systems "lock" and "unlock". The 126 and newer chassis use a single line pump based system of vacuum and pressure.

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Steve Brotherton
Owner 24 bay BSC
Bosch Master, ASE master L1
26 years MB technician