W211 E-Class 2004 saloon rear door handle won't close flush with door

[grahamwoodward]

Hi. The handle on the offside rear door of my W211 E-class saloon won't close flush with the rest of the handle. (See picture below.) Any idea what is causing this and how to fix it? The door can still be opened and closed and locks when I lock the car. Inside the handle works as normal. When I come to remove the inner panel is it likely I will need some replacement parts? Thanks

 

[AMGeed]

No need to remove the inner door card. I would remove the door handle and reposition it to see if that fixes it.
It's pretty simple.
1 Open door and peel back the rubber door seal level with the door handle (pics below)
2 Use a long Torx screwdriver in the hole behind the rubber ,sorry can't remember if its T20 or T25, and loosen off the screw holding the handle to the outside door. Don't remove the screw completely, just loosen it off.
3 Prise the handle outwards and towards the front of the car to remove the handle.
Refitting is just a reversal of the first 3 steps.
Hopefully the handle will work after refitting. It's only a 10 minute job. Take no notice of the wires in my images. They are keyless go wires but the handle is just the same.

 

[grahamwoodward]

Hi AMGeed. Thanks for this. I managed to get the screw undone (very tight after 21 years) and removed the handle but it won't go back behind the springs correctly. The double-pull leaver arms won't go in around the springs correctly so the handle is now flush but is loose. My local garage expert (who has done a number of door handle fixes) believes that there is something broken in the latch box (my term) inside the door and that I need a new one. Do you have a picture of the inner box or a part number please? I hope to get one second-hand. Thanks.

 

[AMGeed]

Apologies for late reply, I've been out of the country and not logging in for a couple of weeks.
I'm afraid I don't have pics of the inner box. I have added a link below where you can check for part#'s from the EPC for a 2004 W211.
Hopefully that can be of some help if you haven't found a fix yet.

FG 211.222 - REAR DOORS > Mercedes EPC Online > nemigaparts.com

Parts catalogs. Spare parts catalog Mercedes EPC Online. Mercedes. Car. REAR DOORS.

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