Is it possible to change the door handles without changing the lock cylinder/tumbler? Or is it one piece? I want to change my tired looking handles but dont want to have a new tumbler/lock cylinder with a new key. I want to be able to just swap out the lock mechanism if possible.

Has anyone performed this task?

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Sam
1989 Mercedes 300E

Forever Black will make them look brand new.

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1989 300ce 129k
( facelifted front,updated tail lights, lowered suspension,bilstein sports, lorinser front spoiler, MOMO steering wheel, remus exhaust,stainless steel brake lines). (Gone)

1997 s320 154k (what a ride). Sold with 179k miles. Replaced with Hyundai Equus

1994 e320 Cabriolet 108k



1972 280se 4.5 153k Owned for 12 yrs, sorry I sold it


[/SIGPIC]

Or try peanutbutter before taking it all apart - no lie.

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1985 380SE Blue/Blue - 230,000 miles
2012 Subaru Forester 5-speed
2005 Toyota Sienna
2004 Chrysler Sebring convertible
1999 Toyota Tacoma

I concour with the above two posters!

Try olive oil too!

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2006 BMW M5 "Heidi" @ 109,000 miles
2005 MBZ C55 AMG "Lorelai" @ 165,000 miles
1991 MBZ 300E "Benzachino II" @ 165,000 miles
1990 MBZ 500SL "Shoshanna" @ 118,000 miles

(On the hunt for a good used M103 engine as of 6/10/23, PM me if you have one to sell!)

I have tried the above methods but have found that peanut oil works best. However, my main goal is to change over to the handles that have the chrome strip or to paint the handles all together.

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Sam
1989 Mercedes 300E

On my 94 E320 with vacuum actuated locks, the lock cylinder and door handle are separate pieces. Open the door and look at the strike side. If you have vacuum locks there will be an oval plug and a smaller round plug beneath. Remove both. Behind the oval plug is the connection for the vacuum lines; disconnect these. Behind the round plug is a set screw (allen head); loosen this, and with the key in the lock turn the key until you feel the cylinder come free. Very easy. You probably must remove the inside door panel to remove the hardware securing the door handle, but that job is pretty easy also.
regards,
Mark

Not sure if there was an answer, but on the lock cylinders are separate from the handles, so different locks/keys can be swapped. One neat feature is to use a rear door handle on the passenger side, so that there's only a lock cylinder on the driver's side, which might foil a theif that wants to pop a lock cylinder on the passenger side.

are the older one color door handles engineered the same way as the later model black/chrome handles? If so I should be able to just swap out the lock cylinders on the newer style handles correct?

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Sam
1989 Mercedes 300E