OK figured it out....sort of. I pulled a lock mechanism from a parts car today to see what I was up against.

The plastic piece that the handle connects to had somehow come lose from the metal body. It's a socket of sorts and getting that piece back in place doesn't seem to be possible. I'll be removing the existing unit and install the part that I got from the parts-mobile tomorrow. Then i'm going to see if remounting that plastic piece is even possible. (Picture to follow)

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1982 300GD Carmine Red (DB3535) Cabriolet Parting Out
1990 300SEL Smoke Silver (Parting out)
1991 350SDL Blackberry Metallic (481)

"The thing is Bob, its not that I'm lazy...its that I just don't care."