My tech quoted me $560 for a new tumbler with alarm (same as dealer) but also mentioned you can get a new tumbler without the alarm system for $155.

My car does have the alarm, but could I install the cheaper no-alarm tumbler instead of the proper one? Any techs know the answer to this one? Neither the dealer nor my tech have ever done this and they can't help me out?? Once I buy it, I can't return it as it is cut to my key.

Man this is annoying. Something as simple and essential as locking your car...

__________________
Chris
2007 E550 4Matic - 61,000 Km - Iridium Silver, black leather, Sport package, Premium 2 package
2007 GL450 4Matic - 62,000 Km - Obsidian Black Metallic, black leather, all options
1998 E430 - sold
1989 300E - 333,000 Km - sold
1977 280E - sold
1971 250 - retired

"And a frign hat. They gave me a hat at the annual benefits meeting. I said. how does this benefit me. I dont have anything from the company.. So they gave me a hat." - TheDon

Hi,
There must be somethign wrong,
"My tech quoted me $560 for a new tumbler with alarm (same as dealer) but also mentioned you can get a new tumbler without the alarm system for $155"
unless you are talking about two of these tumblers, the alarm is just a switch on top of the tumbler, if the price of the tumbler is $560 with the switch (too much!!), the switch itself should not be that expensive, and it is exchangeable from car to car. From MRBZ dealership in my area, the price is $350...
I believe that you can either fix it yourself or take it to a locksmith shop, they can fix it nicely with the oiginal keys for under $50. There is no mystry inside!!
About the tumbler without alarm, if it exists, the price is good, but you will not be able to alarm / disarm the car from that door

goodluck

Apparently there is also an electronic "chip" inside the tumbler, apart from just the wire connection. More complicated than they seem these expensive little units.

I'll see what i can do. Thanks for the advice!

__________________
Chris
2007 E550 4Matic - 61,000 Km - Iridium Silver, black leather, Sport package, Premium 2 package
2007 GL450 4Matic - 62,000 Km - Obsidian Black Metallic, black leather, all options
1998 E430 - sold
1989 300E - 333,000 Km - sold
1977 280E - sold
1971 250 - retired

"And a frign hat. They gave me a hat at the annual benefits meeting. I said. how does this benefit me. I dont have anything from the company.. So they gave me a hat." - TheDon

if your car is same 124 style with alarm, there is NO electronic chip in the tumbler, I took it apart myself, it is all mechanical parts. it has only the switch on top (white) with three wire, works similar to the one for the door vacum actuators. Also, I am talkinh about US $ not canadian, may be that is the diference.
good luck

Well, that does sound the same as mine...same wire hookup. How did you get it apart? Thanks...

__________________
Chris
2007 E550 4Matic - 61,000 Km - Iridium Silver, black leather, Sport package, Premium 2 package
2007 GL450 4Matic - 62,000 Km - Obsidian Black Metallic, black leather, all options
1998 E430 - sold
1989 300E - 333,000 Km - sold
1977 280E - sold
1971 250 - retired

"And a frign hat. They gave me a hat at the annual benefits meeting. I said. how does this benefit me. I dont have anything from the company.. So they gave me a hat." - TheDon

There are two pins on the body and another pin at the tail (axle)..the one at the tail you can push it out from the opposit side, the ones on the body I used one of these tiny screw drivers and inserted and twisted, the pins came out easy. Once pins out, you insert the key and rotate gently, the tumbler will be out..
CAUTION: there will be very little two balls, and other part, be careful, also disaasemble one at a time, so that you know how to put it back. The key holds the tumbler "chips", so you need to keep the key in. When putting it back, you reverse the way out, so keep track of the rotation direction. I believe, you put it and rotate and it goes back, hold it and put the pins (and the tail pin), then everything is OK, use good grease etc.
Also, there is that metallic cover, i think you need to get it out firt, mine was missing.
good luck

remove the alarm switch first. it has plastic holder (white) etc.

toknow - Thanks for the description of the procedure. I know which pins you are referring to. I'll try my luck with it this weekend - at this point, I may as well try and fix it and if I break it, no big loss as I planned to order a new one anyway. We'll see how it goes - I'll let you know.

Chris

__________________
Chris
2007 E550 4Matic - 61,000 Km - Iridium Silver, black leather, Sport package, Premium 2 package
2007 GL450 4Matic - 62,000 Km - Obsidian Black Metallic, black leather, all options
1998 E430 - sold
1989 300E - 333,000 Km - sold
1977 280E - sold
1971 250 - retired

"And a frign hat. They gave me a hat at the annual benefits meeting. I said. how does this benefit me. I dont have anything from the company.. So they gave me a hat." - TheDon

OK, I've got an '89 300E to and the driver's lock has stopped working. I have new keys, so that is not the problem and have tried spraying lubricant into it.

Anybody know how to remove the tumbler assembly when the key won't turn? I've practiced on the passenger side and have the moves down, but as far as I can figure out you have to be able to make the 60 degree rotation in order to pull the connector through the keyed hole on the latch mechanism. I took the inner panel off to jam my hand in there (tight fit) and as far as I can tell the keyed part is immovable.

Thanks in advance.

__________________
Jim Wiggin
Columbus, OH
1989 300E

As far as I remember, you do not need to turn the tumbler part. If you use the door nop up and down (the black nop, the one you lock the door with when closed) you will be able to hit the 60 degrees or so. There is a white plastic part turns with it and this plastic part if in the right angle will allow the tumbler arm to be released out of this white plastic part..
good luck

Toknow:

Thanks for the reply, but that doesn't seem to do it. As far as I can tell, the plastic part that is keyed to trap the lock assembly is fixed and does not rotate with the latch assembly. I'm going to start a new thread and see if anyone catches it this time.

__________________
Jim Wiggin
Columbus, OH
1989 300E

hi,
did you take out the other side (passenger side) and look at the plastic part and how it can be released, this might help. As a last resort, there is a pin holding the arm of the tumbler to the tumbler, if you can reach and punch it out from the narrower diameter, you will release it from the tumbler and you will have the tumbler in your hands. But be careful NOT to have the keys in the tumbler at this time, which can release the key cylinder from the tumbler body.
I do not know if you can reach this pin or not, but this is the only way to disconnect them if that plastic part is impossible to be released and you do not want to damage or take apart the whole system.
Another thing, did you release the side bolt and have the handle almost loose. this should be done first.
goodluck

toknow:

Thanks for the reply. Yes, I practiced on the passenger side to make sure that I knew how the procedure worked.

I think I understand what you are suggesting. If the lock assembly can be disconnected, then the connector can be freed from the "keyed" piece and reconnected to the lock assembly for reinstallation if the tumblers can be fixed. I don't know if that pin is reachable or not. I understand from other posts that it may be spring loaded and work like the pins that hold watch bracelets to watches.

By the way, if I recall, someone in another post said that you should have the key in when you remove the tumbler from the lock assembly, because once removed it is the key that holds everything in.

I have put up a fresh post in the hopes that someone will key on the precise question and have an answer. Thanks again.

__________________
Jim Wiggin
Columbus, OH
1989 300E

I went through this process before, and from this forum, some said that these tumblers are not serviceable, but I decided to challenge that. Now you can do that:

1. Try by ALL means to release the tumbler from the plastic part by giggling it around / by the latch mechanism/ by partially rotating the key (opposite side from the passenger). My opinion that you SHOULD be able to release it, the angle is not very sharp and it is a plastic part that can be stretched little, just make sure that you are at the right angle (you have to figure it out from the other side, the direction might be reversed)

2. if #1 fialed, try the pin, if you can reach it. This particular pin is fairly easy, one you reach there and punch it, it will come from the other side, no springs or anything.

3. If # 1, and #2 failed, you need to disassemble the mechanism related to this part, ot cut the tumbler arm and replace it later from a junk yard, or other distructive methods.

About the key: the cylinder inside has many parts projecting into the tumbler body to hold it, these projections (shims) are retracxted when you insert the key to allow for rotation. if you are not using the startegy in #1, and decide/can take of the pin, keep the key OUT. It is the opposite of what you think.

Do not expect so many people have done this before. Also I recall when I took the tumbler out and showed it to locksmith (friend of mine) to take it apart and fix it, he returned to me next day and said that he is afraid that things will explode and he will not be able to put it back. I took it apart myself and nothing exploded. There are two little balls over little springs, make sure that they are in place when you assemble it, that is it.

good luck

Two more things to complete my advice to you:
- once you have the tumbler out and take the back pin out, insert the key and rotate to take the cylinder out, AT THIS POINT, the key holds the shims together with the cylinder, DO NOT take the key out of the cylinder without holding the shims. These shims have numbers, you can record there sequence and take them out, but there is no need for that, you fix only the broken or misplaced one.

- TRY, TRY, TRY: to release the tumbler while the door is closed and you work with that push black door nop up and down. When door is closed you have better movement of the locking mechanism.
good luck