front door hard to close w124
 

Hi
I'm having a bit of trouble closing the doors on my 94 e320. They often need a hard pull in order to close. otherwise it won't close properly. the rear doors work fine only the front two esp. drivers side. And i have no clue why this happens...
thanks

Check the "door check straps" -- the metal straps between the door and body -- those often go bad and in extreme cases may prevent the door from closing completely. If that's the problem, replace ASAP.

I haven't done mine yet, but apparently once you get the door panel off, it's pretty simple to replace the straps.

If you want more info, do a search on "w124 door check straps."

hard to close
 

Roll down one of the windows an inch or two then try toclose the door. If it becomes easy, the car is so airtight that you are trying to overcome this pressure. Both of my MB's are this tight. I now crack a window when someone is a passenger.

door strikes
 

on the body pillar may be worn or out of adjustment. They aren't very cheap ($70 per door for my SL). Try loosening and adjusting (four hex socket bolts) first. Its a trial and error thing.

Open the door(s) and find the check strap. It is the device that hold the door open. If your's are original, then they will be painted to match your exterior color. If they have been replaced, then they will be sort of a brass color. If original, then you should replace them as a preventative matter. You really don't want to close a door against a seized check strap.

Put your finger on it and move the door towards closed. You should be able to feel it resist and maybe vibrate.

Replacements are cheap and the procedure is dirt simple after you get the door panel off.

Frankly, very strange for both check straps to go back at the same time. Even more strange that the strike plates are bad at the same time.

Steve

Often the door latch/lock assembly is crudded up from years of old lube dried out.

I had a similar problem and it was solved by cleaning all the latch area in the door and relubing it. Door closed normally again.

Ideally, remove the latch assembly from the door. Soak it and clean it completely. Use lithium grease or a really good synthetic paste.

Haasman

Good suggestion about cleaning out the latch mechanism - often cures a hard closing problem.

If you do decide to move the striker plate, before any adjustments put some electrical tape on the door sill around the plate so you can put it back in it's former position if it doesn't work.

Thanks for the suggestions guys,
i checked the door stap for the drivers door and it is new (brass metal color).
so maybe i'll try cleaning the latch/lock.
will post progress.
Thanks all