Door locks. My 300D's driver's door lock has been gradually getting harder and harder to operate. I have three keys for the car and sometimes have to try all three before I can get the lock to operate. Sometimes I just give up and crawl over from the shotgun seat.

What is the best solution for this? Can an automotive locksmith "refurbish" the lock to make it work better (lubricants have all failed to help)? Or do I need to go to the dealer and get a new cylinder?

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1994 E500 199/Gray 82k
84 300D (Salty) Orient Red/Palomino 141k
88 300CE (Ersatzhammer) 904/Java 163k -- Turbo Technics twin turbo kit, AMG Gen I body kit, Sportline steering box and steering wheel, Sportline/Eibach /Bilstein Sport/500E suspension, Quaife LSD in 210 mm diff case, Silver Arrow brakes.
88 300CE Brabus 3.6 199 on Black 44k

Are you sure that the lock cylinder is the problem, or could the problem be binding in the associated linkages? Is the interior "knob" difficult to operate?

If you insert the key and it won't turn whatsoever, the lock cylinder is the likely culprit. If it starts to turn but is very stiff, the linkages are the likely culprit.

Same thing happened to me:

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=233130

Turns out all I needed to do was blow compressed air/duster gas into the lock and then spray in graphite lubricant I got from Lowes key making area. Tons of old gunk sprayed out and the key worked better than ever, door worked fine after that. Of course, this just happened to me with my trunk too: I tried everything and it took so long it finally warmed up outside and my truck lock started working again. Could it be the oncoming cold?

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1985 300D - 1984 Euro 280E AMG Clone (SOLD) - 1978 280CE (SOLD) - 1983 300D (SOLD) - 1981 300D (SOLD)