New Member, Needs Advice!
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Aug 2023
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: San Francisco
1987 2.3 190e
New Member, Needs Advice!
Hi fellow 190e lovers,
I am a proud owner of a 190e 2.3 that I bought as my first car when I was 17, it had 80k miles. I have kept it on the road for the last 10 years and it has served me well, but last week after I came back from some traveling, my central locking system failed. I live in San Francisco, so this was very bad news. I took it into a local mechanic who specializes in Mercedes, and he tried to fix the drivers side door lock thinking that it was a pin that dropped. However, after some investigation and considerable expense ($600 - yikes) it turns out that I need to replace the entire locking mechanism because the previous owner attempted to lock and unlock mangling some of the metal.
From my understanding, it sounds like I have two options:
1. Replace the drivers side door lock - This sounds like the more affordable fix, but I can't find the part online and it seems to me that this is a near impossible find.
2. Replace the central locking vacuum pump - This is the more expensive option, I was quoted $800 to $1000.
I am not sure what to do, or how to find the drivers side door lock. Any advice is welcomed. Thank you!
I am a proud owner of a 190e 2.3 that I bought as my first car when I was 17, it had 80k miles. I have kept it on the road for the last 10 years and it has served me well, but last week after I came back from some traveling, my central locking system failed. I live in San Francisco, so this was very bad news. I took it into a local mechanic who specializes in Mercedes, and he tried to fix the drivers side door lock thinking that it was a pin that dropped. However, after some investigation and considerable expense ($600 - yikes) it turns out that I need to replace the entire locking mechanism because the previous owner attempted to lock and unlock mangling some of the metal.
From my understanding, it sounds like I have two options:
1. Replace the drivers side door lock - This sounds like the more affordable fix, but I can't find the part online and it seems to me that this is a near impossible find.
2. Replace the central locking vacuum pump - This is the more expensive option, I was quoted $800 to $1000.
I am not sure what to do, or how to find the drivers side door lock. Any advice is welcomed. Thank you!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 1,369
Likes: 195
From: SF Bay Area, CA
190E 2.6L 1989, 190E 2.6L 1988, BMW 535dXdrive 2014, BMW 428i 2015
Welcome to the forum! I myself bought my car in '89 when it was new and I was still in my 20's like you are now. And have kept it for must of the time and happened to be the 1st and 3rd owner.
Back to your issue. At this point in time, you should not be taking the car to mechanics for issues like this. It will start costing you mega dollars quickly as things like this will break down and there are very few specialists out there who know how to fix the problems.
Most of us just go to junk yards for NLA parts and get working parts for a fraction of the cost. Unfortunately they are rare to find in the Junk yards these days.
That is where you should go for a pump. Any W124 or W201 that is built in the same year will have the same part number. You have plenty of Pick and Pulls around you. Newark P&P is a good source.
Same for the door locks (minus the tumbler because you do not want to replace that)
I assume you already fitted the car with a keyless entry as that is the way to go with these cars. Very convenient and a $20 solution that works. Saves the lock tumblers wear as well.
Cheers!
Back to your issue. At this point in time, you should not be taking the car to mechanics for issues like this. It will start costing you mega dollars quickly as things like this will break down and there are very few specialists out there who know how to fix the problems.
Most of us just go to junk yards for NLA parts and get working parts for a fraction of the cost. Unfortunately they are rare to find in the Junk yards these days.
That is where you should go for a pump. Any W124 or W201 that is built in the same year will have the same part number. You have plenty of Pick and Pulls around you. Newark P&P is a good source.
Same for the door locks (minus the tumbler because you do not want to replace that)
I assume you already fitted the car with a keyless entry as that is the way to go with these cars. Very convenient and a $20 solution that works. Saves the lock tumblers wear as well.
Cheers!
Last edited by dolucasi; Aug 12, 2023 at 01:01 AM. Reason: typo's
Member
Joined: Sep 2021
Posts: 82
Likes: 19
89 190E 2.6 Blue, 89 190E 2.6, teal green, 99 SL500 Sport
Welcome aboard! Great to see another Bay Area member here.
Dolucasi is spot on-you're going to want to learn to monitor the local junkyards and grab parts whenever a car drops. (row52.com is your friend, you can set alerts whenever a car drops)
By the way I found the part on ebay One tip for searching MB parts, is always google by part number.
Dolucasi is spot on-you're going to want to learn to monitor the local junkyards and grab parts whenever a car drops. (row52.com is your friend, you can set alerts whenever a car drops)
By the way I found the part on ebay One tip for searching MB parts, is always google by part number.
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 25
Likes: 4
1990 190E 3.0
Replacing the air pump will not help this situation. Do any of the other doors or trunk lock fine?
