W203 Bouncing door lock - springs replaced but still bouncing

Hustler

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Hi guys,


I've been suffering with the infamous bouncing door lock with machine gun sound effects for 5 years. I replaced the springs a couple of years ago, but my left side lock started bouncing again a few weeks later and I've lived with it ever since.

I assumed the springs had failed again and so bought new springs. Opened the car door panel up today and went through the painful task of getting the lock unit out only to discover that the spring was still intact.

Nonetheless, I still replaced it with a new spring and tested it out before re-installing the lock unit and everything appeared fine - no bouncing lock.

After I had put everything back together, the bouncing door lock re-emerged and let's just say I wasted a couple of hours and was not best pleased.

I'm now thinking that it's not actually the spring but something else that is the issue here, but I'm not sure what to look at.

I'd be grateful if someone could help me out so I can get this sorted once and for all. :)


Edit: I replaced my right-hand side door spring a couple of years ago and have never had an issue since, it's the left door that's the stubborn one.
 

Oldspanners

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C CLASS 2004 C180
Hi guys,


I've been suffering with the infamous bouncing door lock with machine gun sound effects for 5 years. I replaced the springs a couple of years ago, but my left side lock started bouncing again a few weeks later and I've lived with it ever since.

I assumed the springs had failed again and so bought new springs. Opened the car door panel up today and went through the painful task of getting the lock unit out only to discover that the spring was still intact.

Nonetheless, I still replaced it with a new spring and tested it out before re-installing the lock unit and everything appeared fine - no bouncing lock.

After I had put everything back together, the bouncing door lock re-emerged and let's just say I wasted a couple of hours and was not best pleased.

I'm now thinking that it's not actually the spring but something else that is the issue here, but I'm not sure what to look at.

I'd be grateful if someone could help me out so I can get this sorted once and for all. :)


Edit: I replaced my right-hand side door spring a couple of years ago and have never had an issue since, it's the left door that's the stubborn one.
I agree with LostKiwi. If the lock is operating properly before refitting then the mechanical linkage is preventing it from full travel. Perhaps the linkage has been bent a little or displaced on reinstallation, I did the rear door on mine a few years ago and remember the difficulty of reinstallation!
 
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Hustler

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Thanks for the replies guys. By mechanical linkage are you referring to the door handle cable? I don’t recall seeing any bends or damage to it and the handle operation worked perfectly fine after reinstallation. Then again I didn’t pay any attention to look for those issues so I’ll definitely have a thorough look at it. :)
 

mersum1es

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As above, likely something prevents mechanism to reach end stop. I remember one case where door inner insulation mat (foam) was preventing door knob connecting steel wire traveling free, and that caused bouncing. Are you sure you have got all broken spring parts away, they may go inside lock system and 'revenge behind the grave'...
 
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Hustler

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As above, likely something prevents mechanism to reach end stop. I remember one case where door inner insulation mat (foam) was preventing door knob connecting steel wire traveling free, and that caused bouncing. Are you sure you have got all broken spring parts away, they may go inside lock system and 'revenge behind the grave'...
Yep, definitely got the whole spring out spring 5 yrs ago, so no remnants left behind. I still got it in a packet lol.

I tried my third attempt today, but this time I only took the interior door panel off and tested the lock. There's no bouncing with the panel off which was a relief.

This leads me to believe that its the angle the bouncing stick is left to rest once the door panel is on that's causing the issue because when I force-hold the stick to a slight angle with my finger and lock/unlock with the key, the bouncing occurs. But when I let go and let it free-roam, there's no bouncing.

I tried taking a video but it wasn't too great - if you look at the end of the video you can see what I mean (although it only shows it once - had a hard time holding the phone, stick and the operating the key simultaneously). Link to video.

I've also notice the rubber boot where the stick emerges out from has worn, which has probably allowed the stick to be easily moved about and easily prone to get into the 'bouncy mode'. I tried keeping the stick to a certain angle by tieing it up. That seemed to work after re-installing the panel but not long after the bouncing is now back, so I've given up for now.
 
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V6Matty

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We had this on the wife 169, I replaced the spring and it fail a week later, had the local Indy change the entire lock which sorted it, okay cost me £160 but I know it will last at least another 13 years as the original did.
 

Shadgrind

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Holy thread revival Batman! I have just got my Mercedes back after three weeks. I had the bouncing lock issue. I even told the garage where to get the springs. I got them to give me the ‘broken’ actuator back I think they fitted the drivers side spring in the passenger (left) near side! Ordered some new springs as it’s cheaper than the fuel to drive it back to the stealership, muppets also managed to break almost every clip on the door card! Not that you can blame them on a 17 year old car but they could have at least replaced them, they also said the part cost £300??? They gave me the car back covered in greasy hand prints and filthy dirty, didn’t even have the courtesy to chuck a ucket of water over it as thr=e great Mike Brewer says. Also had the classic rear deck lid side flap issue where i wound up the rear window and it caught the flap sending it flying off down the road and they blamed me for it!
 


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