How to open W124 with flat battery

[vincenz]

Hi
I have been snowed in since Tuesday and the car (w124 coupe with remote locking) hasn't moved since, I came to open it before as my road has been cleared and its obvious the battery has died as the red light on the door is not flashing and fob is doing nothing.

How do I open the vehicle manually so I can get to the bonnet release catch to charge the battery? The boot opens from the key blade but there seems nowhere obvious in the door for it.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Sp!ke]

Have you got those black plastic round covers over the key entry points?


I've never seen a W124 that didnt open with a key.

 

[vincenz]

I have rather sheepishly come back indoors and found the passenger side does indeed accept a key, i'm blaming the dark for that.

Sorry for wasting the forums time

 

[jonnyboy]

damn, beat me to it lol

 

[vincenz]

I am so sure there wasnt a key slot on the passenger door as when I bought it as I thought what would happen if the fob failed.

I must of been hungover that Saturday.

 

[Diesel Benz]

I am so sure there wasnt a key slot on the passenger door as when I bought it as I thought what would happen if the fob failed.

I must of been hungover that Saturday.

So MB puts the key slot to the left front door irrespectively if it is a RHD or a LHD car? A lot easier for us LHD car drivers to spot the key slot.

Since this topic has been popular lately for some odd reason, I tried the mechanical key at home. The 204 opens like any car but one really needs to know how to operate the 221 door locks with the blade. Trunk is easy. Owners should try it at least to test that the locks are not stuck.

 

[bennesspipers]

Since iv been on this forum iv read lots of members woes of not being able to get in their cars because of flat battery/stuck door locks, so iv done a modification to my cars, iv run two cables (pos & neg) & mounted them to bolts fitted under the front valance. During this weather i had the opportunity to 'test' my mod on my 210, connect charger to my 'new' terminals, result, after 1 hour it let me in.

 

[kth286]

Since iv been on this forum iv read lots of members woes of not being able to get in their cars because of flat battery/stuck door locks, so iv done a modification to my cars, iv run two cables (pos & neg) & mounted them to bolts fitted under the front valance. During this weather i had the opportunity to 'test' my mod on my 210, connect charger to my 'new' terminals, result, after 1 hour it let me in.

Is there no key slot in the passenger side door handle on 210 models ?

 

[bennesspipers]

Yes, but what you gonna do if it ever sticks/jams/breaks, all things that members on here have suffered from.

 

[Howard]

Get into the habit of operating it once a month and it wont.

They seize because no one uses them for years because they use the fob , then the battery goes flat and they wonder why they can't get in.

Get one of the little plastic MB lock covers to stop dirt getting in it too.

 

[bennesspipers]

My 210's got a faulty lock, some time during its current restoration i'll have to remove it as all the usual tricks wont work, could even be its got a wrong lock fitted. Pleased i did my modification.

 

[bolide]

A better idea might be to fit an Anderson connector to each car and have a jumpstart pack and a charger with matching connectors

Nick Froome

 

[kth286]

the passenger door lock is just a mechanical lock and can normally open even without a battery on the car.

Once the passenger door is open it is just a matter of physically pulling up the door pins on the other doors, so cannot really see the problem.

 

[Gawdi]

Hadn't opened mine since before xmas... and read this threat last night.... so thought I'd better I'd better open it up and start it up... fob worked ok.. car started first time... Phew..... might take it upto tescos later today.. the skoda is nice to drive - but i do miss my 124...