Door Locks Work; Key Won't Insert
 

I have a peculiar problem. From the inside of the car, when I push down the driver's door lock, everything works beautifully. Whoosh, all locks down. However, when I try to lock my doors from the outside with my key, it only goes in approximately halfway, and then hits a dead end. Same deal with the passenger door. Any thoughts??

JBG

Replacement lock tumblers or ignition tumbler?

Do you have the valet key? Ij it does not insert fully, then the cylinfers are not the originals.

Not sure what you mean by "valet key". I don't work at a restaurant or park cars at a garage. This is my own car.

They key has hard black rubber around the base just like basically every other mercedes key I've ever seen. I also have spares that do not have the rubber, they are just metal. I keep one in my wallet as a spare and have tried to unlock the doors with this key as well---same problem. I believe we received 5 copies of the key when we bought the car in November 2006.

The keys worked in the locks (at least the driver's side) until last fall, then, mysteriously, the locks seem to have developed some sort of block, preventing the key from going in more than halfway. I suppose something broke off or failed inside the handle/lock area. But it's strange that both doors have this exact same symptom, no?

Check out this link, I think it will fix your problem.

http://www.peachparts.com/Wikka/W123DoorLock

Chad300tdt

Looks good. Will try some time before moving from bucolic old Greenfield to the big city.

'Till then, no locking required.....luckily!!!

Look in your owners manual.....the valet key only unlocks the driver door and ignition - hence, a valet person can't get into your trunk and find your stash of pot. Usually oval rubber head on the valet key.....the master key is rectangular, IIRC.