Hi,

When I pulled my car out of a barn, ('71 w111 coupe) it only had two keys; an ignition key and a glovebox key. It also only had one (drivers) door handle. I have since put a passenger side handle on, which came with no key. Is it possible to change the barrels in the handles so that I can lock the car? (would be nice..). I have also noticed that the ignition key physically fits into the door lock, but doesn't operate it. I am presuming the door keys are different to the ignition key..

Thanks,

Dave

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1971 W111 280se rhd coupe (The Duchess)
1959 Bristol 406 (Monty)
1970 Volvo Amazon 131 (Lola)
Lives in Cornwall, UK.

I would order a key from your local dealer or the classic center. Then determine what it fits. I like the fact that you can order keys from the dealer if your locks are original. Then the next thing I would do is buy a full lock set with the VIN information from the donor car. So again, if you want to get keys, and if you can provide proof of ownership for that VIN lockset, then you could get keys.

I have a few full parts cars that I'm parting out and could possibly provide a full lockset with a key from the dealer. Of course none are 1971 w111, but we do have w108 from the era (if they be compatible).


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Past mb: '73 450sl, '81 280slc stick, '71 250, '72 250c, '70 250c, '79 280sl, '73 450sl, parted: '75 240d stick, '69 280s, '73 450slc, '72 450sl,

I had no luck with the dealer, so I took the door handle into a local locksmith. He ran some numbers, played with some machines, and made me two keys. Job done for ten quid.

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1971 W111 280se rhd coupe (The Duchess)
1959 Bristol 406 (Monty)
1970 Volvo Amazon 131 (Lola)
Lives in Cornwall, UK.

Its not realistic to have the locks modified when none of them match like this unless they are super hard to find. However you can usually order a new matching set of locks with a new key.

All the locks should've matched each other from the factory. If it were my car I'd want to bring it back to that.

I had a W115 with mismatched locks. Removed the door handles, took them and the ignition key to a locksmith, and he reworked the lock barrels to match the ignition key.

The process entailed removing the barrel, inserting the key, then filing down the pins so that when the key was in, none of the pins stood proud, which enabled the lock to turn.

Jim

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14 E250 BlueTEC black. 45k miles
95 E320 Cabriolet Emerald green 66k miles
94 E320 Cabriolet Emerald green 152k miles
85 300TD 4 spd man, euro bumpers and lights, 15" Pentas dark blue 274k miles

Although I can now at least lock and start the car, i still don't know whether the car would have come from the factory with just the one key for the ignition and doors. I'm sure some of you have all original cars of that era/type..do they use the same key for the ignition and the doors? Thanks.

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1971 W111 280se rhd coupe (The Duchess)
1959 Bristol 406 (Monty)
1970 Volvo Amazon 131 (Lola)
Lives in Cornwall, UK.

If I remember right, MBs of that era came with two types of keys. One key operated all locks. One key operated only the door and ignition for valet security.
Brad