1971 280se 4.5 "no ignition key"

[tjohnson]

Recently I drove 100 miles hauling my trailer to purchase a 71 280se. The car hadn't been started in over a year. After 3 hours work getting it ready to crank over, the elderly lady who owned it couldn't find the key! Three weeks has passes and she is still looking......I told her if it will crank and drive I will pay her asking price but if I have to winch it onto the trailer, that is a different $ altogether. How can I hotwire this model to make sure it runs, etc? thanks

[Mike D]

Hot wire to input side of the ballast resistor. Use a manual start button on the starter solenoid terminals to engage the starter.

I believe that model also has an electric fuel pump at the tank. You need to provide 12 volts to it also.

Someone here can tell you which relay to "jump" to make it easier than to run a 12 volt line all the way to the pump.

If the title is in her name she can also request a key from MB or a competent locksmith for the original key set.

SOME of those models' have the glove box or trunk lock cylinders keyed the same as the ignition. Pull the cylinder assembly and take it to a locksmith. They'll know if it has the proper number of tumblers to make an ignition key. It seems to be rather random as to whether the glove box has the proper number of tumblers. My '73, '71, '74 all had the corresponding locks in the glove box. My '69 and '73 220D did not.

Make sure the locksmith makes a STEEL key. The alloy ones wear out quickly and fouls the tumblers.

If you have a key made and it doesn't seem to work, wiggle the steering wheel back and forth and try again. Those old lock steering assemblies can get "stuck" after a long period of inactivity.

[79Mercy]

just take the VIN and proof of ownership to the dealer and they'll have you a new STEEL key in a couple of days for about 25 bucks.

[tjohnson]

thanks for the help gentlemen