Ok , need a little help. No problem with key/tumbler/lock. Problem is with electrical part of switch.
How do I pull it and replace it?? Thanks

Make sure your neutral safety switch it not the culprit. I assume you are turning the key to start the car and nothing happens. If so, try moving the gear selector through the gears a couple of times and then try starting it. If it starts then your neutral safety switch is dead.

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No, not that lucky. Its the problem when the key is turned to the acc position it sometimes works, or you;ll have to jiggle it, or turn it in 1/2 clicks etc.

Fortunately, you can still turn the key (it is an absolute nightmare to remove these if the key gets stuck). You need to turn the key to the second click/ON position in order to remove the electrical pin plug from the rear of the ignition housing. With the key in the ON position you can stick a paperclip or hairpin or whatever into the small notch on the front of the tumbler to depress the locking pin which will allow you to unscrew the black cap. Then it's a relatively easy matter to extract the tumbler, unplug the vacuum lines, and remove the housing.

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1999 E320 4matic really nice Wagon 135k
1981 300TD loud, rattling family car 180k (TGI sold!)
1985 500SEL gas guzzler 220k (sold)
1978 300D my first Turtlediesel (sold)437k

Ok vacuum lines discon, tumbler out, elect plug out. Now what??

actually if it is like what I am looking at you dont even have to remove the tumbler and lock and infamous black ring. If you look at the back side of switch *connector end* you'll see three small regular headed screws that hold the swich part onto the switch. Remove those three screws and the electrical assy should just pop off. Once off,, if your bold and brasin.. genly press in on the three small black tabs around the edge and remove the actual switch from the case. These switches are incredibly heavy built. You may be able to clean up the contacts and straighten them out a bit. If not.. ******** AZ has the new switch 1244620093 for about 30.00 including shipping.

http://www.***************/search/product.aspx?sid=yqbayxv3qr5sf245xhpkg3fp&makeid=800016@Mercedes&modelid=1194319@300TDT&year=1982&cid=25@Ignition%20Parts&gid=4520@Ignition%20Switch

Hope that helps you!

Rick

...it's just much easier to remove the ignition with cap and tumbler off. Then you can repair or replace the electric switch portion per dieselnutnj's post. Of course, you have to unscrew the clamp on the steering lock to extract the housing too.

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1999 E320 4matic really nice Wagon 135k
1981 300TD loud, rattling family car 180k (TGI sold!)
1985 500SEL gas guzzler 220k (sold)
1978 300D my first Turtlediesel (sold)437k

Ok, so tumbler out...piece behind it that operates lock pin out...electrical connector out....bolt and ring under dash that clamps things together undone. Now hoe do I pull it out?? Ingitin switch ares in front is still stick ing out of hole in dash . Unit can rotate forward and aft a little...but wont come out???

I had to drop the steering column on mine. Wasn't easy gaining space to pull ignition housing. See instructions Diesel Giant

make sure the locking pin on the shaft to the steering column is depressed (there's a hole where the pin sticks up and prevents the housing from being removed). You may have to temporarily reinsert the tumbler and turn the key to ON if the pin is stuck. There are some good pics on the diesel giant site as previously suggested, although the procedure there is more relevant with a stuck tumbler. I've installed and removed the ignition on multiple cars nearly twenty times and I usually do not have to drop the steering column. Granted, the clearance is very tight.

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1999 E320 4matic really nice Wagon 135k
1981 300TD loud, rattling family car 180k (TGI sold!)
1985 500SEL gas guzzler 220k (sold)
1978 300D my first Turtlediesel (sold)437k

had to drop the column a bit...but it was worth it. It all makes sense now. Couldnt see the locking pin with column up. Thanks again gents.