SL-Class (R129) 1990-2002: SL 280, SL 300, SL 320, SL 500, SL 600, SL 60 AMG

SL/R129: Trouble removing outside door handle

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Rate Thread
 
Old May 19, 2021 | 09:40 PM
  #1  
Nekola90's Avatar
Thread Starter
Newbie
 
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 8
Likes: 1
From: Houston, Texas
1999 500sl
Trouble removing outside door handle

I am having trouble removing my door handle. The key no longer locks and unlocks the car and I suspect some plastic or something on the inside is broken.
I have seen this video for MB plenty of times and cannot force the lock out.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZmsozrMVXY
I cannot pry it out either amd I am using a good amount of force, but can always use more. Just afraid to break everything. I know I get the little screw undone, I can see it. I'm wondering if my issue is related to the key basically not doing anything when it is turned so it doesn't disconnect something that is holding the lock in. Has anyone else had this issue?

Editing to say it's a 97 500sl
Reply
Old May 20, 2021 | 08:38 AM
  #2  
crconsulting's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
Photogenic
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 1,419
Likes: 739
From: Nor-Cal
2020 GLC300 -2014 Sl550 - 1997 SL600
Is the IR unit popping out? If the car has been resprayed or painted, sometimes paint and prep chemicals can “glue” the gasket/mounding, handle and body together.
Also age and old detailing chemicals can also have this effect. Btw once the IR unit comes out I believe you need to pull the handle towards the back of the car and release it. Then you can lift it out.

Good Luck!
Reply
Old May 20, 2021 | 09:09 AM
  #3  
Nekola90's Avatar
Thread Starter
Newbie
 
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 8
Likes: 1
From: Houston, Texas
1999 500sl
Originally Posted by crconsulting
Is the IR unit popping out? If the car has been resprayed or painted, sometimes paint and prep chemicals can “glue” the gasket/mounding, handle and body together.
Also age and old detailing chemicals can also have this effect. Btw once the IR unit comes out I believe you need to pull the handle towards the back of the car and release it. Then you can lift it out.

Good Luck!
Thanks for responding! But no that is the part I cant get out, the IR unit. It separates like a cm from the car maybe and just doesn't go any further. But yea otherwise the gasket moves and the car has never been resprayed.
Reply
Old May 20, 2021 | 09:46 AM
  #4  
crconsulting's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
Photogenic
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 1,419
Likes: 739
From: Nor-Cal
2020 GLC300 -2014 Sl550 - 1997 SL600
Originally Posted by Nekola90
Thanks for responding! But no that is the part I cant get out, the IR unit. It separates like a cm from the car maybe and just doesn't go any further. But yea otherwise the gasket moves and the car has never been resprayed.
The fact that its moving 1/2" (10mm) means it's probably hung up on something. It should pop out relatively easy. But every car/history is different. Are you sure there are not a couple of threads engaged on the little fastener/bolt? Sometimes it helps to pull on the IR unit WHILE loosening the bolt just to make sure its completely loose.

Good Luck!
Reply
Old May 20, 2021 | 09:52 AM
  #5  
Nekola90's Avatar
Thread Starter
Newbie
 
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 8
Likes: 1
From: Houston, Texas
1999 500sl
Originally Posted by crconsulting
The fact that its moving 1/2" (10mm) means it's probably hung up on something. It should pop out relatively easy. But every car/history is different. Are you sure there are not a couple of threads engaged on the little fastener/bolt? Sometimes it helps to pull on the IR unit WHILE loosening the bolt just to make sure its completely loose.

Good Luck!
Yup I can see the bolt separated from the unit, and im prying with a screw driver to help wiggle it out. I just cant use too much force as I've already put a dent in the door this way haha. But yea basically am wondering what it could possibly be stuck on, and will it break if i go harder on it.
Reply
Old May 20, 2021 | 10:06 AM
  #6  
crconsulting's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
Photogenic
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 1,419
Likes: 739
From: Nor-Cal
2020 GLC300 -2014 Sl550 - 1997 SL600
Originally Posted by Nekola90
Yup I can see the bolt separated from the unit, and im prying with a screw driver to help wiggle it out. I just cant use too much force as I've already put a dent in the door this way haha. But yea basically am wondering what it could possibly be stuck on, and will it break if i go harder on it.

Yeah thats getting ugly. The shaft end may be notched from wear/seized on the inner mechanism or something on that inner mechanism came loose/broke. I don't remember exactly what the inner mechanism looks like. It may help to jiggle the key back an fourth in the lock while pulling, (though you've probably tried that already)

Here's what you're dealing with below. You can see the end of that long shaft has a blade which is probably what is holding it in.





Reply
Old May 20, 2021 | 10:13 AM
  #7  
Nekola90's Avatar
Thread Starter
Newbie
 
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 8
Likes: 1
From: Houston, Texas
1999 500sl
Originally Posted by crconsulting
Yeah thats getting ugly. The shaft end may be notched from wear/seized on the inner mechanism or something on that inner mechanism came loose/broke. I don't remember exactly what the inner mechanism looks like. It may help to jiggle the key back an fourth in the lock while pulling, (though you've probably tried that already)

Here's what you're dealing with below. You can see the end of that long shaft has a blade which is probably what is holding it in.


Yea looks like its a metal shaft too which likely won't break. Maybe whatever component its connected to will instead. I did just think of spraying some wd40 in there. I'll have to try that and go and pry some more. I dont really want to completely break the unit and have to deal with getting a key made somehow. I love how it's never as easy as the videos make it seem.
Reply
Old May 20, 2021 | 11:09 AM
  #8  
crconsulting's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
Photogenic
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 1,419
Likes: 739
From: Nor-Cal
2020 GLC300 -2014 Sl550 - 1997 SL600
Originally Posted by Nekola90
Yea looks like its a metal shaft too which likely won't break. Maybe whatever component its connected to will instead. I did just think of spraying some wd40 in there. I'll have to try that and go and pry some more. I dont really want to completely break the unit and have to deal with getting a key made somehow. I love how it's never as easy as the videos make it seem.
I would definitely jiggle that key from open and closed position to see of that will loosen it too.
Also you may want look at the key replacement (or lack thereof) posts is this forum. It may be hard to source keys. You can probably get a key cut, but the IR parts seems to be an issue.

Good Luck!

Last edited by crconsulting; May 20, 2021 at 12:30 PM.
Reply
MB World Stories

The Best of Mercedes & AMG

story-0

New Electric Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe Unveiled: 10 Things You Need to Know

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping

 Verdad Gallardo
Old May 20, 2021 | 11:20 AM
  #9  
Nekola90's Avatar
Thread Starter
Newbie
 
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 8
Likes: 1
From: Houston, Texas
1999 500sl
Originally Posted by crconsulting
I would definitely jiggle that key from open and closed position to see of that will loosen it too.
Also you may want look at the key replacement (or lack thereof) posts is this forum. At may be hard to source keys. You can probably get a key cut, but the IR parts seems to be an issue.

Good Luck!
Yes I will definitely try that. Maybe the IR part can be separated from the chamber?
And I've definitely been following the whole key saga for a couple years now, which is mostly why I don't want to break anything haha.
Reply

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 


You have already rated this thread Rating: Thread Rating: 0 votes,  average.


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 08:21 AM.

story-0
New Electric Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe Unveiled: 10 Things You Need to Know

Slideshow: Mercedes-AMG's new electric GT 4-Door Coupe trades combustion for software, synthetic noise, and more than 1,100 horsepower.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 20:08:15


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)

Slideshow: Not every Mercedes design becomes timeless, some feel stuck in the era they came from.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:09:07


VIEW MORE
story-2
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun

Slideshow: Yes, Mercedes built manual cars, and some of them are far more interesting than you'd expect.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-02 12:36:58


VIEW MORE
story-3
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren

Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 11:19:28


VIEW MORE
story-4
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine

Slideshow: Before curves took over, Mercedes mastered the art of the straight line, and some of those shapes still look right today.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-25 12:05:49


VIEW MORE
story-5
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction

Slideshow: The 190E Evolution II shows how a homologation necessity became a six-figure collector icon.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-22 17:53:47


VIEW MORE
story-6
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know

Slideshow: Mercedes is turning one of its core nameplates electric, and the details show just how serious this shift is.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:58:06


VIEW MORE
story-7
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know

Slideshow: Faster charging, longer range, and a controversial steer-by-wire system define the latest evolution of Mercedes-Benz EQS.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-15 10:35:34


VIEW MORE
story-8
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve

Slideshow: These overlooked Mercedes-Benz models never got the spotlight, but they quietly delivered more than most remember.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-13 19:35:45


VIEW MORE
story-9
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping

Slideshow: A well-used 1991 Mercedes-Benz 300D with more than one million miles is now looking for a new owner, and it still appears ready for more.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-10 10:05:15


VIEW MORE