For the benefit of future archive searchers, I am posting these pics.

I just removed these from my 240D passener door and also the trunk lock.
They were off their internal hinges and not allowing the key to enter the cylinder.
The original idea for these flaps is to keep the weather out of the lock cylinder.
They hang on a pin and close back with a spring load. See pics.

I observed that the key cylinders of my 300D did not have these
flaps. No doubt they fell out at some point in time. My other cars have them and are working fine.

I used two dental pics. One a scraper with sickle like blade to get behind the flap and tease it off and out and
the other was a basic U shaped pick to also help tease the flap and hinge pin/spring out.

You have to manipulate the assembly out carefully so that you dont leave behind the retaining pin or the spring. Otherwise it may jamb up inside the cylinder.

Once it all comes out, you've got the job done without having to pull out the whole cylinder.

Just maintain the cylinders lubed, as that protective flap is no longer around.

Denis

Attached Thumbnails

 

__________________
1979 300D 220 K miles
1995 C280 109 K miles
1992 Cadillac Eldorado Touring Coupe 57K miles SOLD
********************
1979 240D 140Kmiles (bought for parents) *SOLD.
SAN FRANCISCO/(*San Diego)
1989 300SE 148 K miles *SOLD

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Attached Thumbnails

 

__________________
1979 300D 220 K miles
1995 C280 109 K miles
1992 Cadillac Eldorado Touring Coupe 57K miles SOLD
********************
1979 240D 140Kmiles (bought for parents) *SOLD.
SAN FRANCISCO/(*San Diego)
1989 300SE 148 K miles *SOLD