inside door locks and door openers

[Joe]

I can't find this with the search function. There are two types of door locks and door openers on our cars. SLS has them divided by (1) 230sl and (2) 250 and 280sl. I have a 1965 230sl with the rectangular handle escutcheons and a 1967 250sl with the other style (circle attached to a rectangle). It seems odd that both cars have the (apparently) wrong style on them.
The door locks match the handles in that the 230sl has the black plastic locks and the 250sl has the chrome lock inside the circular chrome piece (with the two sliding covers).
This stuff is hard for me to describe, but I suspect you will know what I am talking about.
So, when was the change made from the earlier styles to the later ones? Was there an overlap period?
Joe

[Naj ✝︎]

Hello, Joe,

The door hardware changed after 043 002979
230s and early 250s have the more circular hardware

250s from  002980 and 280s have the later rectangular hardware.

naj

[Peter van Es]

It was in the Tech Manual: http://www.sl113.org/wiki/pmwiki.php?n=ChassisBody.Doors

Peter

[scoot]

I have a 1965 230sl with the rectangular handle escutcheons and a 1967 250sl with the other style (circle attached to a rectangle). It seems odd that both cars have the (apparently) wrong style on them.
The door locks match the handles in that the 230sl has the black plastic locks and the 250sl has the chrome lock inside the circular chrome piece (with the two sliding covers).

Someone replaced the early style locks on your 230 SL with the later style.  The early style that is currently on your 250 SL is correct for "an early 250 SL".   That's what should be in your 230 SL also.    If you change them back, the holes in the door panel will be the wrong shape so you will end up replacing that, and then new upholstery, etc........

[Joe]

Thanks. That makes sense, as the 230sl trunk key fits the glove box, but not the doors. Both doors operate off a different key, which leads me to believe the doors have been replaced. The 250sl is an early model (001332), so should have the earlier-style locks, which it does.
Joe

[scoot]

Thanks. That makes sense, as the 230sl trunk key fits the glove box, but not the doors. Both doors operate off a different key, which leads me to believe the doors have been replaced. The 250sl is an early model (001332), so should have the earlier-style locks, which it does.
Joe

do your doors (interior) have soft pockets or rigid pockets?

[Naj ✝︎]

the 230sl trunk key fits the glove box, but not the doors. Both doors operate off a different key, which leads me to believe the doors have been replaced. Joe

I believe this is by design, so that you could lock the glove box and trunk and let a valet take it away?

Door key #s are prefixed 'T' and trunk/glove box keys 'K'

naj

[Joe]

The door panels have the hard pockets. Did they switch to soft pockets with the change of lock styles?
Joe

[scoot]

The door panels have the hard pockets. Did they switch to soft pockets with the change of lock styles?
Joe

They switch but not at the same time.  The door pocket switch to soft pockets is after the lock style change.