82 ignition cylinder replacement - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

MikeDenehy · #1 06-02-2008, 10:46 AM

82 300SD; MB rookie and I need some advice.

Someone (who will remain anonymous) lost my key. I ordered a new key only to find out that the ignition cylinder was previously replaced, making the new key obselete.

Taking the advice of a trusted source, I purchased the ignition cylinder found on the following link:

https://www.autopartsworld.com/1982_mercedes-benz_300sd_ignition-lock-cylinder_parts.html

I've googled instructions and they include using the old key (which is lost) to remove the old ignition cylinder. What do I do? Can anyone give me good step by step instructions and advice?

Lessons learned: 1) Being family does not make you trustworthy. 2) Make extra keys!

Michael Denehy
"Success is not a mistake. Neither is failure."

junqueyardjim · #2 06-02-2008, 11:11 AM

Mike, I think good instructions for that problem will be really scarce. I know from messing with those ignition switches, you need the key to move it too position two to be able to "pop" the cylinder. My recommendation would be to get it to a quality locksmith and drill it out. Since you can't drive it, you'll have to get one to come too the car. That stuff is hard iron, but they will drill it out!

MikeDenehy · #3 06-02-2008, 11:27 AM

Thanks for the reply. My trusted source mentioned the same problem and recommended a locksmith to drill it out. After that, will it be a pretty easy process to get the new cylinder put in?

Michael
"Success is not a mistake. neither is failure."

junqueyardjim · #4 06-02-2008, 12:25 PM

It might be a really good time to have a standby lock assembly though. But I believe if he has quality tools and knows what he is doing, it should be OK. Once the old cylinder is out, the new one with the key should pop right in, after the front piece is removed by unscrewing it. You can't unscrew the front piece unless or until you poke a wire into the cylinder with a key in it and in position II. With the front piece off, the cylinder comes out quite easily. I suspect that by looking at the new cylinder, your lock smith will see what he has to do.

jw46 · #5 06-02-2008, 11:46 PM

Be prepared to spring for the entire lock assembly.. just in case..In my case was about 600...

Hoping the loser of the key is gonna spring for this...

Wishing ya well..

junqueyardjim · #6 06-03-2008, 10:24 AM

But if you are going to replace the cylinder anyway, then "any" junkyard lock switch should suffice and can be had for next to nothing. But again, the key has to be available to pull it. I think I have one in the garage if you need one. Probably would have to dig pretty deep in there, but I think I do.

MikeDenehy · #7 06-20-2008, 01:37 PM

Guys, I need some more help on this. My issue is getting the old cylinder out. Let me reiterate the situation:

1- Original cylinder was replaced.

2- Replacement key was lost.

3- Locksmith tried drilling out old cylinder....no dice....the cylinder face just spun in circles. According to him "The dash needs to come off to get this done."

So my question is this....What the heck do I do? I mean, if a locksmith says he can't do this, who can? Am I just screwed here? What are my options? Can a good locksmith find a way to make another key or can they jimmy it enough to get the old cylinder out without drilling?

Michael Denehy

junqueyardjim · #8 06-21-2008, 11:16 AM

And I think you truly have one of those questions here Mike. That is why answers are slow in coming, "there are just not many good ones out there". And of course that is why the junk yards are full of cars. Many which don't seem to be to bad. Yes, it is pretty obvious when you see a W124 like Bajaman and I looked at a week ago. Golly, you wonder, how many died in that one, blood just all over it. But some are sent to the crusher in pretty good shape. And then you wonder why. Well, these cars are getting older. People who like these cars and enjoy the classic style and fabulous manufacturing of these Benz continue to run them. But service is hard to get. Oh, you can find most anybody to change the oil, (if you can't) or to do the brakes, or even pull and replace a transmission. But when you are dead up against it with a bad ignition cylinder with an unknown key code and a lost key and no hope of finding the key, then parking it in the junkyard, or better yet, parting it out yourself, definetly becomes an option. I parted out an 83 W123 300D, now just over 3 years ago. I still have parts, I sold a ton of parts, more then paid for the car, and I even gave a way a lot of parts, and I enjoyed every minute of it. But it takes an understanding wife to have the garage stacked full of Benz parts. I can 't leave anything outside to long, so I had to strip it down fast, get it inside and I even still got almost $200.00 for the body cage and engine block. So, that brings us back to your problem. Yes, pulling the dash would be a good course of action. It is not easy. I rather think it is beyond my current capability because of my age and I am not very flexible anymore. It is very painful for a big old guy to get all cramped up working under that dash. But many younger guys have done it, and there are a couple excellent descriptions written up on the web, I think for both W123 and W126 if I recall. Anyway, they are all more or less alike. It is a pia job, very much. You really have to like detail to do a dash job, but it can be done. Out side of that consider your current position. How much do I have in the car? Can I part it or scrap it and go on to another car? You say, man, I can junk this car because I don't have a key. I can't do that! Well, what else can you do. You can pull the dash, that is the easy part. You have to repair the lock and get it back in again, that is the tough part. But if the Lock Smith can't get, and I am quite sure your steering is also locked, you are sitting there with better then, or almost 2 tons of immobile iron. I think you have two choices, only you can decide. Pull the dash, fix and re install or call the salvage people, get a price from them and let it go. I think that is the only way to look at it. Hope this helps.