door handle help!!

[newpastlife]

need to remove front exterior door handle to take it and get keys made...1982 300d w123...manual says to remove exterior handle remove three screws and slide handle back and pull out and remove... it's loose but does not come out....have trim panel off....do i need the key to remove handle? try pb blaster to free it up? thanks everyone!!!

[Cal Learner]

Don't know the setup on a 123, but I can tell you that removing the front door handles on my 124 took more effort than removing the back handles, even though the written instructions were the same for front and rear. On the 124, there's a 3mm hex head screw under the weatherstripping lining the door, and that screw holds the handle in place. Apparently, the 123 uses 3 screws of some sort to do the same thing. The instructions say to turn the hex screw 4 turns and that will be sufficient to loosen the tension on the handle and allow it slide back and out of the door. Not even close! After 6-7 turns, it was finally loose enough that i could jiggle and wriggle and cajole it out. I suppose the key lock mechanism has something to do with why the fronts were so much more temperamental than the backs. Maybe you just haven't cajoled 'em enough?

[newpastlife]

got it out.....had to pull out handle far enough to turn the whole handle 180 degrees counter clockwise....had mercedes make me key from vin number but it only works ignition unless my door locks are messed up...maybe if i clean it out more....otherwise taking it to locksmith to have them make correct door key....does it make sense mercedes would have sent me a key for just ignition? thanks again!!!...learning as i go...this site is soooooo helpful!!