Door closure on 1994 E320 cabrio - what is normal?

[fuseman]

I've recently bought a 1994 E320 cabrio Sportline. Nice car for sure but both doors need a good pull to get them to close - anything less and the mechanism doesn't engage. I can see no evidence of accident damage although I think it has probably had a high quality 100% respray at some time as the paintwork is immaculate.

Not having had a Merc before I don't know if this is unusual or typical. I've also got a 2000 BMW 728 and the doors on that are much snappier in operation.

I may try some adjustments to the catches but won't bother if this is par for the course.

Any advice please?

 

[gina2201]

Not sure if it's relevant (when did that stop me?!) but my bro's w124 coupe, the doors need a bloody good pull to get the doors to shut properly, they are so heavy and anything less they are just ajar...Might be just normal....?

 

[ms500]

Mine are the same on my W124 estate, I think it's due to the good air-tightness of the cabin.

I find they close easier when a few windows / other doors are open at the same time.

 

[franey]

I had the same on my 300ce, the door hinge pinse were worn.

To check, open the door fully and gently lift the door from the lower edge at the back end of the door. If there is any play you will feel this as you lift the door up. This will cause the door to be lower than the aperture as you try to close it. Parts are cheap enough.

Worth a try!!

 

[gt-83]

my coupe is the same, and a mates coupe.......im guessing most are the same

 

[Ian B Walker]

Most, if not all 124's I have worked on tend to have doors that require a hefty tug to close them. The doors are heavy, very heavy. One could do some serious damage to ones fingers should one catch them in the door when closing.

 

[bolide]

Coupes have a longer door and the internal handle is in exactly the wrong position to get a good pull on them

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[Smiley]

just to add my cab is just the same - it is a feature!

 

[The G.F.P]

on the cabriolet w124 where are the pull/lock/turn handels ?

on a e34 bmw328 there are none its all automatic

on a w208 clk there is 1 above the rear view mirror

on an old xr3i there is 1 eother side of the sun visors

has anyone got a piv or can they let me know as its important

 

[Roger Jones]

My current Coupé, my previous Coupé and one I tried in a forecourt all had doors reluctant to close. The driver's door is noticeably worse than the passenger's door, presumably reflecting amount of use; on my present car the latter does close with a pleasant "thunk", but the driver's door is more of a clunk/clang. Air tightness does have something to do with it.

 

[grober]

on the cabriolet w124 where are the pull/lock/turn handels ?

on a e34 bmw328 there are none its all automatic

on a w208 clk there is 1 above the rear view mirror

on an old xr3i there is 1 eother side of the sun visors

has anyone got a piv or can they let me know as its important

There are 2 soft top locking pin sockets on the top of the front windscreen surround approx 1/2 way between the mid line and edge each side. The locking levers are probably hidden by the sun visors.

 

[Ade B]

The doors on mine are heavy but I've never noticed them being particularly difficult to close.

Ade

 

[Number_Cruncher]

While the subject's being discussed, what's the best lubrication method for W124;

Door hinges,
Check strap,
and latch?

 

[The G.F.P]

There are 2 soft top locking pin sockets on the top of the front windscreen surround approx 1/2 way between the mid line and edge each side. The locking levers are probably hidden by the sun visors.

can you be more precise, i can not move out or across from the drivers seat at all so can i on my own without moving bring the roof up & down or would i have to get somone to grab the handels and pull and lock them into place?

anyone got any pics

cheers

 

[The G.F.P]

just found these pics

also why do i see so many with the toumbstones up all the way ?

 

[The G.F.P]

looking at the pics i see 2 holes infront of the sun visors

id say there are no manual handles/hooks involved

do i just press a button and that does it all?

 

[grober]

AFAIK there are 2 handles to manually clip the hood in place- raising and lowering the hood is of course fully electrical.

 

[mercboiuk]

Just scanning quickly through the replies, I've noticed this hasn't been mentioned....
My coupe's doors were a quite hefty to open and close. I was told that my doors had dropped slightly, and they just required some re-aligning. Takes ages though, as test drives are required after each adjustment, to ensure no wind noise.
It works, but as other have said, W124s need a bit of effort to close the doors, especially if other windows and doors are closed

Darren

 

[grober]

Here's a pic from the manual.

 

[Mark300SL]

can you be more precise, i can not move out or across from the drivers seat at all so can i on my own without moving bring the roof up & down

Just get a 129 SL - much easier and IMO better looking