Windows go down when locking doors
 

My friend has a '91 300TE. It recently developed an electrical glitch. When he locks the driver's door with the key, all the windows go down. He is aware of the convenience feature where you can open the windows by first turning the key to the 'lock' position and then to the 'unlock' position. This seems to be the opposite of that, however.

He had replaced the convenience relay in the last couple years and is wondering if that's the culprit.

Any thought?
Thanks!

There is no convenience feature on my 1991 300TE, nor any other 124 body car I have ever seen.

My guess is either the year is wrong or the thing is hang-on (aftermarket).

Thanks for the input, Steve.
I double checked and it is a '91. It is a 4-Matic, if that matters. I am pretty sure there have been no aftermarket additions. He's had the car for 5 years and this is a brand-new problem.

For what it's worth, my '93 400E does indeed have the feature that let's me roll the windows down or up with the door key ...

Interesting. This may be something like the fact that I owned a 540i for 3 years and sold it. I bought a E430 and liked the lights staying on when I shut the car down. I bought another 540 and found that the lights will stay on if I set them. SOOOO, for 3 years I had the other car I didn't know they existed.

I can't imagine a 124 car doing this though as there is no auto-up position. There is a auto down position so I could see them doing an auto down. And after my BMW experience I suppose I could have missed such a key operated window operation as I would have no time for it as a function anyway (I presume the function is to allow all the hot air out of a parked car - I ain't got time for that).

I'll try our shop 1991 wagon on Monday, now that you got me all excited.

My 1993 300E has this feature.

I really never use it, but I think if you turn the key to the left and hold it (in the drivers door), all four windows and sunroof will open.

Likewise, if you turn the key to the right and hold it, all the windows and sunroof will close.

Thanks! It is kind of exciting, isn't it, to find a "new" feature like this. I found out quite by accident on my car, since I don't believe it's in the owner's manual. The thing that makes it tricky is that to close the windows when you lock the car, you actually have to turn the key to the UNLOCK position and hold it there for a second or two, and only then will it allow you to close the windows by turning the key to LOCK (and holding it there).

In any event, my friend's car's problem is that the windows OPEN when the key is in the lock position -- it's bass ackwards.

If you turn key to the LOCK position, and HOLD it there, all the windows and the sunroof will close until you release the key. To open all the windows (but not the sunroof) you turn the key to the UNLOCK position and HOLD.

I have the reverse of Steve's quirk. I've found that the operation to open the windows doesn't always work correctly, and that sometimes I have to move the key to the LOCK position then quickly to the UNLOCK position and HOLD.

I also have this feature on my '91 300e....it's covered in the owners manual page 30 but only discusses lock / windows up. Dan

So .... any thoughts about why the windows would go DOWN when locking the vehicle?

Thanks in advance,
Steve

Steve, I guess the first question to ask is whether you've had anything related apart or worked on in the past, such as window switches, door locks, door jamb switches, convenience module (N57), etc?

Also, does the passenger side door lock operate in the same manner, ie, the windows go down when you lock and hold the key in the passenger side?

Looking at the schematics, phew, it's complicated! I'd start by looking at all the door jamb switches, comparing them against the schematics, check the grounds, checking the plug(s) into the convenience module, etc.

Our 1990 300TE definitely has that feature. It was certainly available as an option (if not a standard feature) on Aussie W124s back then. My 1990 190E does not have the feature though.

My car has the convenience feature. Steve, it is amusing to me that you are unaware of this feature given your total knowledge of these vehicles. Way to go 400E for stumping a Master!

The convenience (comfort) feature can be easily identified on a 124 chassis by the chrome strip that is attached to the door handle face and tumbler. If the handles have chrome strips than the vehicle should be fitted with the convenience (comfort) feature.

It appears that the feature is working however it seems to be working in reverse, hmm! Are the windows going up when you “unlock” the car?

I just re-cofirmed the operation at the following locations for this feature on my 1991 300e:drivers door lock,passengers door lock. trunk lock. When the doors are all locked and windows are up,turning key to UNLOCK position and holding , unlocks doors and lowers windows. When all windows are down and sunroof is open, turning key to the LOCK position and holding locks doors,trunk,gas lid and closes all windows and the sunroof.I've used this feature alot as its much easier than closing 4 windows and the sunroof from the seperate cabin installed switches.

interesting tid bit
 

I have these convience features on both my S & E, but was stymied why they didn't work when the windows/sun roof are completely closed. It only seems to unlock/unwind when the windows have not been fully closed. Anybody else with this symptom?

Ron