I have a C-coupe (brilliant silver metallic) and do not have the C7 package... because it wasn't available when I got mine (in July). I did get the leather, though, before the leather fiasco, so that's a consolation. Plus, my Tele-Aid was free (instead of $750). I still can't believe that the C7 package is only $750. I would have definitely ordered it, had it been available.

Anyway, on an earlier post, a member said that the color-coded door handles are available, for about $63 per side.

I called up my dealer, and he said that they're available, in any color, for $45 each - not too bad!

My question is: how difficult are these to install? Has anyone done this? The dealer (the guy in the parts department, at least) said that it would require taking the door completely apart.

Any input would be appreciated.

~Pete

 

Labor for the install should be around .25 hr each side. There is small hole under the door seal for access. It does not require takeing the door apart.

Randy

 

Which dealer is offering this price, It's a deal and
I want in.

Garry

 

Randy,

I saw the small hole, beneath the door seal, which is directly behind one side of the door handle, but what about the other side of the handle? Does the whole thing come out, after releasing just one side?

Also, I didn't have a flashlight, when I looked at the hole. I presume that there's a torx bolt, allen bolt, screw, or something inside the hole. Is that correct? If so, which one?

I snapped one of the retaining clips that hold the door seal in place, when I pulled the seal away from the door. The small part that snapped off went into the door, too. D'oh. I hope that it either won't make any noise (by moving around) or that it'll be easy to get out of there. I hate those little trim retaining clips. They never fail to break, on any type of car. Everything should be fastened with a screw or a bolt.

Thanks for the info.

~Pete

 

Garry,

The dealer I was referring to is Laurel Mercedes-Benz (in Westmont, Illinois).

http://www.laurelmercedes.com/

I would assume that the prices are consistent, from dealer to dealer, but that may be a naive assumption. I'm going to order mine, today. The parts guy said that he'd have to order them, but if they're in the country, it'll only take a couple of days. I didn't ask how long it'd take, if they're in Germany, but it'd probably be a lot longer.

~Pete

 

Does the coupe use the same door handles as the sedan? What is the part number?

Thx!

 

Pete,

I just watched the tech do it on my car. I think it was a torx, you can remove both partsafter the screw is removed. You will have to remove a wire conection for IR pick up. remove the back peice then pull backwards on the front peice, it should slide back and pull free. Thats all I can tell you sorry...

Randy

 

Please post pics if you can!
Thanks
Tim

 

Now you may achieve that one-in-a-million uniqueness you desperately crave!

Don't delay! Call your dealer today and order those Paprika handles!

 

I don't THINK so. Now maybe that yellow used on the SLK's,,,,,,hmmmmmmm:p

 

I went to the dealer, yesterday, to order the parts, and here is what I've discovered:

The $45 each is only for the actual handles, not for the back pieces, which house the IR sensors (on both sides) and the lock (on the driver's side). I wish that the genius that I spoke with could've told me that, on the phone, when I asked, "Are you sure that's all I'll need to do this?"

The passenger side "cap" is $23.96, and the driver side "guide" is $117.16. Apparently, the driver's side on has to come with the lock cylinder... or at least that's what they tell me. It took them like an hour to ascertain this, too, because they're morons. They had to call Mercedes-Benz, which confirmed these prices and pieces (they claim that there are no other ones).

I'm getting really sick of the poor service from the service department and the lackluster knowledge of the people in the parts department. I took my car in _twice_ to get the AudioPilot disabled, and it's _still_ not done properly. Instead, they disabled other audio features. I have to take it in, a third time, next week, where a Mercedes-Benz "specialist-engineer" will be visiting, specifically to look at my car. Maybe he'll be more competent than the idiots I've have to deal with, so far, but I'm not holding my breath. I'm very disappointed with both dealerships I've dealt with (Laurel Mercedes-Benz in Westmont, IL and Mercedes-Benz of Orland Park in Orland Park, IL). Maybe I should've bought the Bimmer I was considering...

Randy, did you just replace the handles, or did you replace the back pieces, too? I know that yours is black, so it wouldn't look _that_ bad w/o the back pieces, but mine is silver and I would certainly need both. If you did replace both, can I have the part numbers, or can you get them somehow? The people at my dealership are clueless (big surprise).

Here are the part numbers that they gave me:
(These are for brilliant silver metallic)
203-766-08-01-9744 DOOR HANDLE $45.07
203-766-07-01-9744 DOOR HANDLE $45.07
203-766-03-35-9744 CAP $23.96
203-760-22-77-9744 GUIDE $117.16

...for a grand total of $246.87

~Pete

 

Oh yeah, the $246.87 includes $15.61, for tax. I can add.

~Pete

 

I too, went to the dealer to inquire about the door handle issue. Apparently, they cannot use the existing lock cylinder and that is why the driver side is more expensive!

I decided to go with the other option, that is to get my existing black ones painted by the mercedes autobody shop. Much cheaper, I was quoted $250 CDN ($156 US) for 8 pieces (I have the sedan, so its four dour handles and four end pieces) painted and installed. Would take one day..so I would have it by the end of the day if I dropped it off early.

I questioned the durability, and they assured me that they coat the plastic handles with a special primer epoxy, so the paint bonds to it much better. In fact, they said that they just ordered some handles for the slk and they were not colored matched so they had to use the same process. The paint coats would be thicker than factory, they said, so it shouldn't chip easily.

Note that you would not get the top chrome finish on the door handles, but on the sport package and the c32, the handles don't have the chrome either.

 

I changed them I did not have to change the lock. Call me on moday @ 904-724-1080 and I will get you what you really need.
All I changed was the back cap and the hanlde on each side.

Randy

 

Can you get the door handle plastic chromed? I have a black car so the door handle is already black but chrome would match the wheels nicely. OK, no wise cracks about using tin foil!

 

No tin foil? Okay, aluminum foil looks better anyway.:p

 

c 240X... did you get the paint job done at the west van mercedes body shop?

 

And ya all laughed at my suggestion to the prospective buyer on what packages to get.

I believe my response inculded C7!!!!

;-)

 

hopup, haven't done it yet but its No.1 Collision that I'm going to cause I trust their work.

 

C240X.. where abouts is No.1 Collision??
do they specialize in Euro cars?? or jsut personal preference?

 

They strictly work on BMW and Mercedes. There are two locations, one near Burrard & 3rd? and one in Richmond at Bridgeport and 5 rd. Workmanship is excellent.

 

Thanks Lynn, I tried the aluminum foil on my door handles and they look great. Far better than the tin foil I tried. I can't imagine why anyone would want painted door handles when alimunum ones look way better.

 

Has anyone else actually done the door handle swap? I can't find any more information anywhere on the web, and I can't figure out how to remove the old knob and get the new one on. There are tiny holes behind the door, and I saw the torx screw I need to release to get the handle off, but how in the world can you release the screw and not let it fall into the door when it releases??

Anyone? Bueller?

Maybe I'll have to suck it up and pay the high dealer rate to let them do it...

 

Haven't really looked at it, but what about a magnetic torx driver/bit?

- BT

 

I just ordered the color coded door handles the other day and will be picking them up from Steve (MBenzNL) tomorrow! I hope my dealer wont charge me too much to have them installed.