I recently had a problem with my driver's side door lock on my 88 300e.  I was too lazy at the time to investigate myself, so I dropped it off at the dealer for inspection.  They call me, and inform me that my lock cylinder, and the vacuum operated locking mechanism was bad.  I figured I could find that lock mechanism (sorry, I forgot what it was called

)  elsewhere for less than the 350. that they wanted.  I did, however, buy the lock cylinder.  375.00.  Winter approached, and I decided to put the whole project off until spring.  As I finally completed my repair, it turns out that NEITHER were bad, and I simply had to replace my door latch. (30. at a junkyard).  I'm so pissed for wasting sooo much money on that stupid cylinder.  Not to mention 125.00 for the "diagnosis"!