Are W113 and W111 exterior door handles the same?

[scoot]

Are later Fintail door handles the same as Pagoda door handles?  They look the same...
Scott

[andyburns]

Scoot,  I hit this when I repaired mine if you look back through my thread.  The fintail handles do vary subtlety.  They rod on the end of the shaft with the two prongs that form a Y are shorter than the equivalent 113 rod.  I initially thought that I could just swap over my old one but discovered that the other end of the rod was also different as there are also variations in the barrel.  I think I managed to use the base chrome handle and swapped out everything else.  Even then I had to make modifications with a dremel.  It drove me crazy and consumed quite a bit of time.  But I do know that out of the box they are not directly interchangeable.

[W113SL]

If you replace the plunger which is longer on the 113 due to the thicker doors,  You should be good to go.  I have done this in the past.

I believe the door handle has a 110 part number, the plunger varies for the 111 coupe and the 113 bodies.

Pete Lesler
W113SL
1968 and 1967 250SLs

[ja17]

Yes my experience is the same as Pete's.  However, be aware of single side cut key handles and double cut key handles they cannot be switched. Also the rubber gaskets between the handles and the door are different on the different models even though the handles are the same.

[andyburns]

What about if you want your key to work.  All good and well if you never need to lock the car externally again.  If you do then you have to swap the tumblers over.  This is when you might run into the subtle differences.

[scoot]

What about if you want your key to work.  All good and well if you never need to lock the car externally again.  If you do then you have to swap the tumblers over.  This is when you might run into the subtle differences.

This could be an issue on single-key cars, but the earlier 3 key cars it shouldn't matter (assuming you have keys to both sets of door handles, which should be readily available as the key code is probably stamped on the handle...)

[andyburns]

Scoot,  I suppose if you can get hold of the key to match the new handle.  Just have to lumber around the additional key unless it coincidentally has exactly the same associated security code.  My scenario, which I think is probably more likely, is that you land yourself lumbered with just a pile of extra handles from a breakers yard, all with no keys.   My bmw 2002 had a passengers lock which couldn't be locked and it drove me nuts over the 5 years I owned it.  Suppose you could always install a central locking system to get around the issue. 

[scoot]

Scoot,  I suppose if you can get hold of the key to match the new handle.  Just have to lumber around the additional key unless it coincidentally has exactly the same associated security code.  My scenario, which I think is probably more likely, is that you land yourself lumbered with just a pile of extra handles from a breakers yard, all with no keys.   My bmw 2002 had a passengers lock which couldn't be locked and it drove me nuts over the 5 years I owned it.  Suppose you could always install a central locking system to get around the issue. 

Not exactly my scenario...   I buy the handles with locks off cars in the junkyard and then order keys.  The key code is imprinted on the handle.  So I have W111 handles with keys.  Could these not be used in W113 cars with a few parts swaps?

[andyburns]

Scoot, if you can get the keys I guess that's going to work out well.  Where do you get the replacement keys from?

[scoot]

Scoot, if you can get the keys I guess that's going to work out well.  Where do you get the replacement keys from?

I usually get them from http://key-men.com/ but you can also get them from the classic centre.  _Probably_ you can get them from any dealership.  Much to my surprise, ordering through the classic center was about the same price as key-men.   Keys for glove box locks and door locks are usually stamped on the lock itself.  Keys for the ignition lock are not.  So if you have a 3 key system you have to have the VIN of the donor vehicle and some sort of proof that it is either your car or a scrap car and MB can provide you with the key code.  That is entirely up to the discretion of the person at the classic center to provide the key code unless you have proof of ownership.  I generally provide photographs of the vehicle in a scrap yard along with a picture of the VIN on the vehicle to show that it is truly a dead car and that is generally enough.  But for doors and glove box you don't need that since it is stamped on the body of the lock or door handle.

[andyburns]

Scoot, thanks for that.  Wish I had known all the facts when I did mine.  May have changed the way I went about things.

When you say 3 key system I think I have one for the ignition and one for the petrol and one for doors and boot and glove combined.  I dont know if this is correct, its just what I have ended up with.  If you re key the doors with a 3 key system wont this mean that you will have either four keys or have to replace the boot lock and the glove compartment lock?

[tel76]

I tried to purchase from my local dealer the door lock keys using the # stamped on the assembly, I was told that this is not possible you can only get the keys using the VIN #.
I queried this response and asked them to contact MB UK, this they did, the reply was the same, you can only use the VIN#.
Therefore if the locks have been replaced in the interim you are stuffed.
I find it very hard to believe that the #s stamped on the assembly cannot be used.

[tel76]

I am resurrecting this item to put the record straight, in my post above I indicated that according to the info: i received from my local dealer you can only get keys from MB using the data card.
This is not true you CAN get the keys from MB by using the # that is stamped on the handle.
I got the wrong info: from my local dealer.
I got over the problem by contacting a known specialist on these vehicles ( Jacksons of Poole, old name) and he got them from MB, I had them delivered four days later.