portable dremel and 12mm wrench to remove the u-bolt from around steering column lock dremel out the the steering lock pin once done you can remove the back from the steering column lock mechanism behind the tumblers and turn with a large flat head screwdriver now to turn it off you will have to go under the hood, just changed the locking mechanism on my 300D(speaking from experience) lol

hxxp://dieselgiant.com/mercedes_diesel_maintenance_tips1%20page%202.htm

MGs used to have a spare key screwed inside the engine bay on the wheel well under the carbs from the factory. Usually they are long gone but I actually found the key still in place on an 1969 MGC GT that I bought in 1990. Still worked on locks and ignition. I was second owner and car had never been restored. Still, not easy to get to for a 16 year old girl without messing up her manicure

Bert

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'70 111 280SE/c 3.5 (4 spd manual) - sold
'63 MGB
'73 MGBGT V8

This is true. And that doesn't just mean actually steal but also break into short of smashing a window that is. 80's and 80's Toyota's for example are childs play to get into without damage. I've opened several without keys. But a Mercedes, forget it.

I have heard though that you can break that steering lock by simply wreching the wheel real hard. No idea if that's true or not.

- Peter.

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2021 Chevrolet Spark
Formerly...
2000 GMC Sonoma
1981 240D 4spd stick. 347000 miles. Deceased Feb 14 2021
2002 Kia Rio. Worst crap on four wheels
1981 240D 4spd stick. 389000 miles.
1984 123 200
1979 116 280S
1972 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1971 108 280S

You never mention the model of the 79 mercedes. I think she look nice in a 450 SL with the top down. She get in easy with top down reach inside and opens door or just jumps in. She takes a bobbin pin from her hair and a nail file from her purse and picks the ignition lock. She learn how by watching reruns of MacGyver on TV.

Maybe to add a little more material you can say she foudn that car parked on a hill, keys in the ignition. She got in, but the battery was dead cold (the reason the keys werent removed). She pushed in the clutch and the car started rolling, she threw it in gear and she was off.

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1981 300SD 512k OM603

My first car was a 1980 Toyota Celica - I used to hide an emergency key in the window washer fluid bottle, because it had a little strainer in the fill hole. I could open the hood by lying under the front bumper and reaching up and pulling the exposed cable to the hood latch.

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kalpol
79 280SE
82 Fiat Spider 2000
81 Fiat Brava
04 BMW R1150RT
96 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Once I drilled out the lock tumblers on a Fiat (I had just bought it, no key around) and just used a screwdriver. I chose a small drill bit that just fit into the lock and neatly sheared off all the brass tumblers. Worked perfectly in under a minute with a cordless drill.

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kalpol
79 280SE
82 Fiat Spider 2000
81 Fiat Brava
04 BMW R1150RT
96 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Dear Author:
take your character to Canada eh (or Alaska) in the coldest winting months. No one shuts off diesels and very seldom locks them. To steal one would be a piece of cake.

I would suggest you make the owner of the MB a very bad person who would deserve to feeze to death standed in the extreme cold of the north eh.

nospark

No more posts from the OP but I'll chime in anyway. In the movie, after gaining access to a Ford T-bird, Cage is then confronted with The Club. To get around the issue he simply unbolts the wheel from the column. Maybe the girl could disable the steering lock with the wheel off. Cage had it done in a flash...

Bump key.

Late '50s thru '60s Mercedes steering-locks have a 'springy' action - not rigid like the ones on modern cars. You can 'break' the steering-wheel loose if you apply enough pressure, (I did this once many years ago on my '61 Ponton 180) but the steering-wheel will re-lock after it's turned back to the lock position, so the car remains un-driveable.
Downside of the early Mercedes steering-locks is that American car-theives were unfamiliar with the devices. A high-school classmate of mine had a '59 Ponton 190, with a miss-matched hood and fender. He explained that someone had attempted to steal his car by hotwiring it, but didn't expect such an old vehicle to have a steering-lock. When the thief attempted to drive off, all he could manage was to steer the car into a utility pole!

Happy Motoring, Mark

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DrDKW

I think the "flirt with the parts guy" is the most intriguing plot solution, since it shows a degree of premeditation and worldly resourcefulness that would be very impressive for a 16yr old girl. As others have pointed out, technical solutions would be unrealistically complex, and the classic "key under the floormat" is simply too convenient (and therefore boring).

The truth is that most of us "Guys" constantly underestimate the power that women have in this world, especially when it comes to maneuvering their way through male-designed business processes and government bureaucracies.

For example, over twenty years ago my new wife and her female business partner finally succeeded in landing a $90K SBA loan to open a new business in a traditionally male-dominated field. It had been a long, hard struggle with a bunch of sexist bankers and bureaucrats, but they finally got what they wanted. While celebrating with them over champagne, I foolishly commented: "Well at least I know you won't be leaving the country without me, since your passport is still in the safe at home". To which my (ex-State Department Foreign Service) wife smilingly replied: "Darling, do you honestly think that two attractive young women with $90K in cash need passports to go anywhere in the world they want?"

Suitably Humbled,
Peconga in Boise, Idaho

i have enough problems getting my '68 220d to start with the key, and knowing the process involved. I hope the machine getting stolen doesn't have injector pump problems. by the way, my key is stuck in the ignition in the on position. I hope no one trys to steal my car tonight! I am searching the post s for the answer to this now.

of all old cars to try to steal, the '70's MB are among the worse choices. Like othyer posters have said, that ignition system is a pain to attempt to hot wire or dis assemble, you must remember that these cars were high end cars in their day. A chevy would be a much easier, however less prestigeous, choice to steal. . .

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". . .back before accountants designed cars"

-Current Stable-
'78 MB 450SL-C 107.024.12.020783 #3840 <Kayleen>
'85 FORD F250 6.9L Diesel <Allison>
'98 Lexus ES300 <Rachel>
Long Gone...
'74 Chevy G10...........................'99 GMC Yukon 4X4
'83 Chevy Suburban 6.2 diesel .....'99 SAAB 9-5
'90 Mitsubishi Eclipse GS............. '01 Chevy Tahoe
'98 Nissan Altima .......................'02 MB ML320
'88 Chevy Suburban V2500 4X4 6.2 diesel

It's always easier in the movies . . . .

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" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles