W124 Ignition switch problem

[chuff]

I have a 1994 E280 Estate. The ignition switch seems to be sticking. The key goes in fine, although the mechanism feels loose. It is then very difficult to turn the key and it sticks at several points, requiring much 'wiggling' to get the get turned. It does not appear to have anything to do with the steering lock, although the feeling is similar to trying to turn the key with the steering lock on.
Can the mechanism be rebuilt? If so, are there any tips wrt to getting at the mechanism that I should be aware of.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Wafter]

I had this problem on my W124. The barrel is breaking up inside and needs replacing. If you leave it there is a danger that it will fail completely and you will never get it out. I ordered one from my local stealership (take log book) and it came quite quickly. Advantage is that your original key will fit this new barrel. Can't remember the cost, but less than £50.

Getting it out was another story. Haynes manual tells you how to make a tool out of welding rod, a bit like the U shaped tool you use to take out car radios. However, it didn't work for me after 3 days of trying. I took it back to the stealership and they replaced it in 3 minutes, for nothing! They aren't all bad.
Hope this helps.

 

[Wafter]

I had this problem on my W124. The barrel is breaking up inside and needs replacing. If you leave it there is a danger that it will fail completely and you will never get it out. I ordered one from my local stealership (take log book) and it came quite quickly. Advantage is that your original key will fit this new barrel. Can't remember the cost, but less than £50.

Getting it out was another story. Haynes manual tells you how to make a tool out of welding rod, a bit like the U shaped tool you use to take out car radios. However, it didn't work for me after 3 days of trying. I took it back to the stealership and they replaced it in 3 minutes, for nothing! They aren't all bad.
Hope this helps.

 

[andy_k]

do not waste any time on this one - get yourself a new lock barrel ordered.

If it seizes then getting the old one out is a big (read expensive) job if you do it whilst the lock still works it takes less than 5 minutes.

The Haynes "tool" does work but you have to make sure that you grind the ends of the prongs exactly as shown in the manual.

HTH

Andy K

 

[MW]

My 1992 230E did this 3 years ago. Swirt of WD 40 solved everything, never a problem since. If it is only £50, might be worth changing. Do Europarts sell them?

 

[andy_k]

go to your dealer, armed with the V5 and some other proof of ID, they'll order one for you that matches your current key.

When we changed ours the dealer lent us a "spare" barrel to use whilst they got the correct part in stock so that we didn't get stuck with a completely seized one

Andy K

 

[Wafter]

Andy K is absolutely right.
The point is, you need the key to be inserted in the lock in order to remove the barrel. If the tumblers inside the barrel break up so that you can't get your key back in, then you can't get the old barrel out. That's when it becomes expensive.
The dealer didn't lend me a replacement barrel but I did leave the key in the ignition for the time it took for the new barrel to come. Only drove it to work and a strategically hung J cloth hid the key. One advantage of the key being in a 'non standard' position.

Alan

 

[william silver]

W124 ignition barrel: cost of fitting new.........

I have a W124 estate with the beginnings of th same problem. A new MB ignition barrel is £54 so quite reasonable BUT MB in Hampstead want one hour labour to fit it (labour is only £95 per hour plus VAT).
Any garages in London NW recommended by y'all out there?[/u]

 

[Wafter]

Over 100 quid for a three minute job!!! They are well named as "Stealerships". I must have a good one here in Wigan.
Why not try it yourself? Follow the Haynes manual and it may work for you.

Good luck
Alan

 

[NormanB]

William - either do it yourself or get an independant to do it but do it now!

 

[Grumpy]

You MUST change the Barrell

Hi
CHANGE THE BARREL as soon as you can!!!. I had the same problem. WD40 seemed to improve it. I then stopped at an out of town shopping center, and found that the key would not turn the steering lock. AA had to take me home and MB took the car and had to cut off the steering lock. £450!!!

As soon as it starts playing up get a new barrel. It is so easy to change. With the key in the lock, a bit of bent wire down each side of the barrel and out it pops. The replacement MB barrel will use the same key.

 

[william silver]

ignition barrel replacement

Changed by George Fraser in Alperton NW London in 3 minutes for £35.00 including VAT.
Real value.............

 

[NormanB]

Well done William - you acted in the nick of time and saved yoursel a lot of heartache and unnecessary expense. Judging by the timeframe you have had a replacement barrel put in that now does not match your door locks. To get a matching one (and new keys) you will need to produce your documents (D.Licence, V5, Passport, DNA) at the dealer around £50 IIRC. To be honest you will then be able to replace it yourself - max 10 minutes.

 

[Zanimat]

Having lost my keys I was intending to remove the barrel & have a new one made - but would I be better off taking the above details to a dealer & asking for new keys?

 

[Bolide]

Keys

Your local dealership will supply a key for any vehicle if you supply the chassis number and a V5 to prove ownership. Keys aren't expensive and neither are lock barrels - on many other cars you have to buy a complete new lock costing hundreds

I don't agree with the categorisation of Mercedes Dealerships as "Stealerships". MB parts, particularly for W124s, are extremely reasonable and much better value than bits from third-party suppliers. You may take exception to their hourly labour charge - I can certainly understand that - but the local Mercedes parts department is always my first port of call, not Eurocarparts and the like


Nick Froome
http://www.w124.co.uk