1997 E300D W210 Key Will Not Turn
 

Have this car that I love, but hard to love when it doesn't start.

Key goes in OK, but will not turn the tumbler. It had been getting tougher and tougher to turn this thing over the last year or so, and should have taken care of it sooner. In my W124, it was a cinch to replace the key and tumbler but not sure on this model. For those that know the type of key and tumbler I have here (see pic), my questions are:

-If I can ever get this guy to position #1, can I just replace the key/tumbler combo like I did on my W124? I have heard some of these are more complicated with some transponder module (what is that and where would it be?). Do I really need the special tools that I see in some of the posts, or can I improvise?

-If I cannot get this to position #1, am I looking at the huge, time consuming task of cutting up my ingition system under the dash as has been described in other posts?

-Another route is to get a new key for around $200 at mercedes. This seems a risk, as if the tumlber is also worn, the new key may not work. However, if it does work, it would probably allow me to replace the tumbler before things get worse without the big under-dash work, so the the $200 may be a good gamble.

Any input is greatly appreciated!!

Sorry no one replied to this post.

It is happening more and more.

The stern warning not to post if you haven’t searched all previous post should be toned down a bit.

I am currently performing this repair. Let me know if your still working on it.

How is the battery in the car?

have gone through this before. Do the pre ‘98 cats have an actual key or is it the infrared key fob thing?

Key in my 98 E300 will not turn with dead battery. Not sure if same on 97 or not.

This is a 12 year old thread.
I did not intend to revive it.

But I have been having problems lately in this forum with pictures disappearing on old threads with no real explanation of how to do the repair but to reference the pictures that are missing. And dead ends like this thread that had no replies and therefore is a dead end.

Problem solved but not fixed
 

The W210 that has the problem of the key not turning turns out to be the shift lock cable being out of adjustment under the center console by the shifter.

Not the tumbler.

Unfortunately the steering lock locked up with a loud bang when removing the key / switch mechanism.

The car may be a brick now.

There is a procedure to unlock the steering lock where a hole is drilled in exactly the right spot and then hook the locking pin and pull it to the unlocked position.

If anyone knows where to drill or has a picture of the hole location on the back side of the steering lock may save the car.

Link to discussion on steering lock removal