It was kind of a funny situation today when I pulled in to the gas station today before going home from work, paid for the diesel and went to open the little door to get to the gas cap but it was locked! I closed and open the car and tried again, nothing! I was on reserve and had 25 mile drive home ahead of me, so I fiddled with it trying to pry it open with a key but no luck.. Good thing my 1995 E300D gets great fuel milage I barely made it home and pulled into the garage. How do I get this thing open, what needs to be fixed? Thanks

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1987 300D
2005 E320 CDI

Well, where the filler neck comes into the car, if it's setup like any of the cars I've seen, there's a vacuum pod with a lever on the top. the lever goes up or down depending on the lock position, I believe if you pull it up, it unlocks, I may be wrong on this but on my 95 wagon thats how it is

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hum.....
1987 300TD 311,000M Stolen. Presumed destroyed

Yup, go into the trunk and just move the lever manually. There may be a note in the owner's manual on how to do this.

-Jason

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1991 350SDL. 230,000 miles (new motor @ 150,000). Blown head gasket

Tesla Model 3. 205,000 miles. Been to 48 states!
Past: A fleet of VW TDIs.... including a V10,a Dieselgate Passat, and 2 ECOdiesels.
2014 Cadillac ELR
2013 Fiat 500E.

The trouble is getting to it from inside the trunk, without damaging the paneling/shroud trim MB puts in the newer trunks. I just looked at my '99's interior trunk paneling/shrouding but without knowing where and what to pull on, you could tear, or damage it. I could see the fuel neck with a halogen flashlight over the top of the trim, but you can't reach or get close without removing the interior trim on that side of the trunk.

1984 300D TURBO 156K NEW METRIC MOTOR 12K
REMOVED RIGHT PANEL PULL TAB ON BOTTOM REAR POP UP AND PULL ROD ON SIDE UNLOCKS COVER REPLACE THE VACUUM UNIT, ONE THE VACUUM LINES IS IN THE PASS REAR SEAT UNDER THE CARPET RIGHT SIDE

is this for a 124? mine was doing the same occasionally, you might need to lube the pin that locks the flap too, mine was starting to stick and not clearing the filler-flap lock tab.

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1993 320TE M104
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past:

1983 230E W123 M102
1994 E300D S124 OM606 (x2)
1967 250SE W108 M129
1972 280se 3.5 W108 M116
1980 280SE W116 M110
1980 350SE W116 M116
1992 300E W124 M103
1994 E280 W124 M104
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"music and women I cannot but give way to, whatever my business" -Pepys

Thats actually a smart idea, I should try that, mine keeps sticking

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hum.....
1987 300TD 311,000M Stolen. Presumed destroyed

forgot to add: as well as the pin being stiff, I think my filler flap locking tab had got slightly bent and mis-aligned, so the lock pin was sticking on the side of the tab, and stopping it from going up to unlock the flap (typically it started doing this just before the UK version of State inspection) so I had to bend it slightly back straight ...so Aquaticedge yours might be doing that too.

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1993 320TE M104
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past:

1983 230E W123 M102
1994 E300D S124 OM606 (x2)
1967 250SE W108 M129
1972 280se 3.5 W108 M116
1980 280SE W116 M110
1980 350SE W116 M116
1992 300E W124 M103
1994 E280 W124 M104
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"music and women I cannot but give way to, whatever my business" -Pepys

My 84 SD fuel door plunger was froze shut, When I was able to open it i bent a small peice of tin over the hole in the door and then a layer of black electrical tape. I lubed the plunger but will wait until spring to chance it. Might try a plastic coated coat hanger?