C300Sport

Well it took less than two months and my rear pins are history. From searching the threads I know there are several aftermarket pins out there. Question is, will the dealer install aftermarket or Euorpean pins instead of the pathetic OEM pins? Or, has MB fixed the crappy design yet and are replacing the broken pins with an improved version on a "wait till they break" basis?

techguy

Or ..... IVe got a SWEET set of pins . custom made -

CNC Aircraft aluminum..

Powdercoated satin black ..

Ive got a few extras if anyone is interested ...

Pit-Pony

I'd love a set please !!!!

Pit-Pony

Is it only the cars built in SA that have this problem?

Bokx_350

Are you being sarcastic or is this for real? Pictures please

C300Sport

Mine is German built so it looks like an overall design shortfall.

techguy

I am absolutely serious ....

Ive had about 4-5 sets made ... started out as a personal project ..

Flush when locked ... stops you from smacking that elbow on those crappy plastic door pins that stick up an inch when locked ..

Ill be happy to send pics to anyone that wants em ..

Azn_C300

For fronts only right? Unless you found a way around the ball-socket design in the rears. We can already use w203 pins for fronts.

Bokx_350

I'm interested! is it for both front and rear? does it requires removing the rear door panel?

andy_meng1024

Also interested. Can you post a couple of sample pictures of the ones you have done before?

GPI

I would be interested too!

AkaSigFreak

You guys really need to try the search feature.
It was a design flaw (plastic was too brittle and would crack). They have addressed the issue. Last time they fixed mine- it was very difficult to remove the rear lock pin. Even when it came off- it was not cracked at the bottom. I still removed the pins and replaced them with the aluminum pins (front & rear). The rears do take some modifications to fit properly but can work.
https://mbworld.org/forums/showpost....6&postcount=23

C300Sport

The search feature is great but there is still no answer for the question I posted. Will the dealer install the Aluminum, chrome or W203 pins instead of an OEM repair? If not, there is really no reason for me to have them fix the broken ones. I wanted to know prior to going in for service because, if they will replace with non OEM, as it may save me the headache of doing it myself.

techguy

well - I can only say for SURE that these fit the front and REAR of a W203 . and based on pics - shouldnt be any reason why they wont fit the rears of a W204

I will confirm this to be the case and report back .

pics will be here later today

Ron Jr

W203 pins only fit the front of the w204. As has been said many times the rears use a ball and socket setup not a threaded shaft. I drilled my pins out as well as cut about 1/4 inch off the bottem then mounted it to the cable with neoprene fish tank airline. Works like a pressure fitting.

AkaSigFreak

The Dealership will not install the aftermarket rear lock pins for you. They will repair them under warranty by replacing them with the improved part (still stick up 1 inch above door). The aftermarkets require modification to fit. It took me about 1/2 hour to remove both doors and install the modified pins. You could probably find a shop that specializes in customizing to do it for you but I bet you will won't be happy with the price.

Bokx_350

Where did you buy your pins? and where did you get the info on how to install them?

This seems like a very viabe option.

AkaSigFreak

Bought the pins from Jerry at formymercedes.com .
http://formymercedes.com/mb_results....%20Lock%20Pins
The info came to me in the form of a dream
I ordered the plastic oem european pins and installed them in the front. They sat almost flush with the door and looked OK. When I checked the rear I determined the opening at the bottom was not wide enough to fit on the shaft and that I couldn't drill it out (metal threads on plastic pin). So I bought the aluminum set and used the plastic oem pins to measured how deep the pins needed to be in order to fit on the shaft and be close to flush with the door. I then used my drill to bore out the threads on the pin and used my dremel tool to cut 1/8"-1/4" off of the bottom of the pin. Don't cut off too much or it will be noticeable when the door is unlocked. I wrapped the outside with tape (so I wouldn't damage the finish) and secured them in a vise. It takes some time and a steady hand but it came out nice. I then applied a small amount of silicone adhesive into the lock pin and used fuel line used in nitro R/C cars to act as a gasket at the bottom of the pin. If you don't- the adhesive will drip out of the bottom and glue your lock (happened to another member).
Just remember- these directions are provided to you to be followed at your own risk. I claim no responsibility or liability for damage to vehicles or property.

C300Sport

My service writer seems like a pretty cool guy. He asked me to show him a little info about what I am thinking about and he may "work things out for me". If that's the case, I will have to slip him a few bucks for sticking his neck out. Will update as to how this one turns out but it will be a few weeks before I can get in there.

dalazernet

I miss my golf tee door pins :-(.... seems Mercedes-Benz finally used up their massive over order from the 70's... or was it earlier than that? Oh well...

jstaneff

I agree. Those could be pulled up even when pushed down nearly flush. The problem with shortening the current pins is that you can't pull them up in an emergency if they're flush with the door.

Of course, if they just pop out without unlocking the door ......

Sounds like a safety issue for the back seat. MB needs to fix it.

Stick Girl

I took my car in for service a few months back and had them replace the rear door pins that both had popped off. They didn't have any in stock, so they reseated the one that I still had (the other one was lost). They told me that they would have to order some new ones and that it would take some time for them to come in. Here we are months later, and no call to say that they have arrived. What are they doing???

C300Sport

I agree, a nice set of MB logo golf pins would look pretty good, sit fairly flush and not have the saftey hazard of fully flush pins...oh well, another thing on the wish list.