Disabling the door lock rod?
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2010 E220 aventquard S212
Disabling the door lock rod?
Hi I live in the UK and have a W212 estate. It has the standard tinted side and back windows which are great at preventing people looking in, but uk law doesn’t allow for the front driver/passenger windows having a tint.
I’ve just suffered my 3rd opportunist theft from the car in the last 4 years. Around my area we have regular tea leafs who walk the streets at night looking to see if some idiot (me) has left their car unlocked by looking to see if the door lock rod is up. so, I need to come up with a practical measure to get around my stupidity and make it harder for the tea leaf to notice if my car is unlocked.
Does any one know if it is possible to disable the lock rod from rising? I suspect it can’t but thought I’d ask. I can’t think of any time in the last 10 years I’ve ever used the rod to lock the door.
As I doubt the rod can be disabled, I was wondering if I can put a patch of tinted film on my car window and will it go up and down ok without getting damaged? Technically it’s illegal, but I figure that a small area of a few inches by the rod would make it hard to see if the rod was up or not in the darkness when they are doing their walk byes and the police would probably turn a blind eye to such a small area of film. I have no technical knowledge so just trying to figure out a plan.
rhanks
I’ve just suffered my 3rd opportunist theft from the car in the last 4 years. Around my area we have regular tea leafs who walk the streets at night looking to see if some idiot (me) has left their car unlocked by looking to see if the door lock rod is up. so, I need to come up with a practical measure to get around my stupidity and make it harder for the tea leaf to notice if my car is unlocked.
Does any one know if it is possible to disable the lock rod from rising? I suspect it can’t but thought I’d ask. I can’t think of any time in the last 10 years I’ve ever used the rod to lock the door.
As I doubt the rod can be disabled, I was wondering if I can put a patch of tinted film on my car window and will it go up and down ok without getting damaged? Technically it’s illegal, but I figure that a small area of a few inches by the rod would make it hard to see if the rod was up or not in the darkness when they are doing their walk byes and the police would probably turn a blind eye to such a small area of film. I have no technical knowledge so just trying to figure out a plan.
rhanks
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Hi I live in the UK and have a W212 estate. It has the standard tinted side and back windows which are great at preventing people looking in, but uk law doesn’t allow for the front driver/passenger windows having a tint.
I’ve just suffered my 3rd opportunist theft from the car in the last 4 years. Around my area we have regular tea leafs who walk the streets at night looking to see if some idiot (me) has left their car unlocked by looking to see if the door lock rod is up. so, I need to come up with a practical measure to get around my stupidity and make it harder for the tea leaf to notice if my car is unlocked.
Does any one know if it is possible to disable the lock rod from rising? I suspect it can’t but thought I’d ask. I can’t think of any time in the last 10 years I’ve ever used the rod to lock the door.
As I doubt the rod can be disabled, I was wondering if I can put a patch of tinted film on my car window and will it go up and down ok without getting damaged? Technically it’s illegal, but I figure that a small area of a few inches by the rod would make it hard to see if the rod was up or not in the darkness when they are doing their walk byes and the police would probably turn a blind eye to such a small area of film. I have no technical knowledge so just trying to figure out a plan.
rhanks
I’ve just suffered my 3rd opportunist theft from the car in the last 4 years. Around my area we have regular tea leafs who walk the streets at night looking to see if some idiot (me) has left their car unlocked by looking to see if the door lock rod is up. so, I need to come up with a practical measure to get around my stupidity and make it harder for the tea leaf to notice if my car is unlocked.
Does any one know if it is possible to disable the lock rod from rising? I suspect it can’t but thought I’d ask. I can’t think of any time in the last 10 years I’ve ever used the rod to lock the door.
As I doubt the rod can be disabled, I was wondering if I can put a patch of tinted film on my car window and will it go up and down ok without getting damaged? Technically it’s illegal, but I figure that a small area of a few inches by the rod would make it hard to see if the rod was up or not in the darkness when they are doing their walk byes and the police would probably turn a blind eye to such a small area of film. I have no technical knowledge so just trying to figure out a plan.
rhanks
Try unscrewing it in the up position?
Then put some tape over it or something?
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Joined: Oct 2010
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From: Southern US
2010 E550, 273 Engine: 2012 S550, 278 Engine
Hi I live in the UK and have a W212 estate. It has the standard tinted side and back windows which are great at preventing people looking in, but uk law doesn’t allow for the front driver/passenger windows having a tint.
I’ve just suffered my 3rd opportunist theft from the car in the last 4 years. Around my area we have regular tea leafs who walk the streets at night looking to see if some idiot (me) has left their car unlocked by looking to see if the door lock rod is up. so, I need to come up with a practical measure to get around my stupidity and make it harder for the tea leaf to notice if my car is unlocked.
Does any one know if it is possible to disable the lock rod from rising? I suspect it can’t but thought I’d ask. I can’t think of any time in the last 10 years I’ve ever used the rod to lock the door.
As I doubt the rod can be disabled, I was wondering if I can put a patch of tinted film on my car window and will it go up and down ok without getting damaged? Technically it’s illegal, but I figure that a small area of a few inches by the rod would make it hard to see if the rod was up or not in the darkness when they are doing their walk byes and the police would probably turn a blind eye to such a small area of film. I have no technical knowledge so just trying to figure out a plan.
rhanks
I’ve just suffered my 3rd opportunist theft from the car in the last 4 years. Around my area we have regular tea leafs who walk the streets at night looking to see if some idiot (me) has left their car unlocked by looking to see if the door lock rod is up. so, I need to come up with a practical measure to get around my stupidity and make it harder for the tea leaf to notice if my car is unlocked.
Does any one know if it is possible to disable the lock rod from rising? I suspect it can’t but thought I’d ask. I can’t think of any time in the last 10 years I’ve ever used the rod to lock the door.
As I doubt the rod can be disabled, I was wondering if I can put a patch of tinted film on my car window and will it go up and down ok without getting damaged? Technically it’s illegal, but I figure that a small area of a few inches by the rod would make it hard to see if the rod was up or not in the darkness when they are doing their walk byes and the police would probably turn a blind eye to such a small area of film. I have no technical knowledge so just trying to figure out a plan.
rhanks
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From: Southern US
2010 E550, 273 Engine: 2012 S550, 278 Engine
Edit:
I must take the above back. My car doors do open from handle when they are locked.
Edit 2:
The front doors open from the handle when locked but the rear doors do not. Rear doors needs to be unlocked by some means. The handle does not work without first unlocking.
Last edited by Arrie; May 9, 2025 at 08:03 PM.
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From: Baltimore County, MD
'13 s212 63 p30. '06 LX470
I’m in the US. Many euro cars have a double pull on the handle in case of emergency such a going underwater. I personally first had this a quarter century ago in and Audi 1.8t. Each euro car owned has had it since. I’ve owned has had it since. My w212 will only do this on the driver door first while running in park or drive while locked and the rear doors will open with a double pull after the driver door unlocks. Last year I was explaining to a friend in the rear seat that they shouldn’t pull up on the pin because it’s plastic and they could damage it and all they had to do was do a double pool on the handle and it didn’t work and that’s when I went investigating.. and honestly, it doesn’t make sense to link it to the front door because if the electronics fail, you need the mechanical linkage to not fail….and it’s a plastic pin on mine. Not sure if everyone’s works this way but I literally took apart the door to see if the child lock was broken.
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From: Baltimore County, MD
'13 s212 63 p30. '06 LX470
Since I can’t edit…when in drive and locked the double pull will work on both front doors and when either of them open the others unlock. I know it isn’t a huge deal detail, but I remember being amazed in my first car with it because I thought it was so genius and German for the safety aspect..
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 5,141
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From: Southern US
2010 E550, 273 Engine: 2012 S550, 278 Engine
Since I can’t edit…when in drive and locked the double pull will work on both front doors and when either of them open the others unlock. I know it isn’t a huge deal detail, but I remember being amazed in my first car with it because I thought it was so genius and German for the safety aspect..
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Since I can’t edit…when in drive and locked the double pull will work on both front doors and when either of them open the others unlock. I know it isn’t a huge deal detail, but I remember being amazed in my first car with it because I thought it was so genius and German for the safety aspect..
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Yes that lock rod as OP calls it as a sign, folded mirrors (is usually a sign, assuming didn't manually fold it in), a flashing red light in the centre console (or does the W212 have it somewhere else, can't remember) is another sign. Double pressing the lock button to disable the key fob then pulling on four door handles can confirm if the vehicle is locked.
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From: Dallas-Ft.Worth,TX
2016 E350 Sport
I can't imagine it took until post #10 before someone posts the actual solution. 
On my US W212, I exit the car, close the door, and simply touch the square molding on the outside handle. Car is locked, all pins are down. A habit as easy to develop as pressing a lock button on the remote.
On my US W212, I exit the car, close the door, and simply touch the square molding on the outside handle. Car is locked, all pins are down. A habit as easy to develop as pressing a lock button on the remote.
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From: Dallas-Ft.Worth,TX
2016 E350 Sport
As a practical matter... The plastic lock pins are functional (as well as decorative) because they locate to metal rod through the holes in the door trim. If you remove the pins, you will see very little of the locking rod in the hole in the locked position. It's possible for the rod to fall out of position -- into the door -- blocking the ability to unlock the door, at all.
You can screw the pins further on the rods, which will give the impression that they are lower in the holes. But it's still a poor camouflage substitute for actually locking the doors.
You can screw the pins further on the rods, which will give the impression that they are lower in the holes. But it's still a poor camouflage substitute for actually locking the doors.
Last edited by DFWdude; May 12, 2025 at 09:52 AM.
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I can't imagine it took until post #10 before someone posts the actual solution.
On my US W212, I exit the car, close the door, and simply touch the square molding on the outside handle. Car is locked, all pins are down. A habit as easy to develop as pressing a lock button on the remote.
On my US W212, I exit the car, close the door, and simply touch the square molding on the outside handle. Car is locked, all pins are down. A habit as easy to develop as pressing a lock button on the remote.
MBWorld God!
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As a practical matter... The plastic lock pins are functional (as well as decorative) because they locate to metal rod through the holes in the door trim. If you remove the pins, you will see very little of the locking rod in the hole in the locked position. It's possible for the rod to fall out of position -- into the door -- blocking the ability to unlock the door, at all.
You can screw the pins further on the rods, which will give the impression that they are lower in the holes. But it's still a poor camouflage substitute for actually locking the doors.
You can screw the pins further on the rods, which will give the impression that they are lower in the holes. But it's still a poor camouflage substitute for actually locking the doors.
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Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 5,141
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From: Southern US
2010 E550, 273 Engine: 2012 S550, 278 Engine
I just can't believe someone wants to jeopardize rear seat passengers for being sloppy locking the car. Explain this to people who were trapped in the rear seats when the car burned and nobody in outside nor inside had a tool to break a window...hey wait, you can't ... they burned DEAD!!!
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I just can't believe someone wants to jeopardize rear seat passengers for being sloppy locking the car. Explain this to people who were trapped in the rear seats when the car burned and nobody in outside nor inside had a tool to break a window...hey wait, you can't ... they burned DEAD!!!
