Snapped door cable?

[Alex.A]

Hello guys.

Just found this forum from Google and I need some advice, my car is a 2009 (59) plate c class 220.

I've one home gone to get out the car and pulled the door handle, heard a it of a snap and the handle has gone floppy. I can open the door from the outside with the same handle with no problem at all it seems.

Gone to a Mercedes specialist place (who were quite rude and not very helpful) who tell me they THINK it's a hook on the cable and I've snapped it, and if so you can't repair it or buy new hooks, it's a whole new door panel. £500-£700 apparently they say.

Has anyone had any experience with this? Surely there must be someway to fix it or get another hook on there?

Any help appreciated guys, thanks a lot.

 

[whitenemesis]

The parts for the closing system are all available separately.

Bowden cable and rod looks like less than £20 from MB

Suggest you find another Merc specialist for a second opinion

Whereabouts are you?

 

[MancMike]

Yeah, it hooks onto it from behind the door panel. You can probably easily fix it yourself.

The door panel comes off with a couple of screws, pop the tweeter off at the top, then pop all the panel clips around the bottom and sides and then the panel lifts up and away. It's about 5 minutes job to remove the door panel, just be careful not to snap any clips.

Open it up and have a look first, as you might not need a new cable, it might be the latch it hooks onto on the handle that's gone, so investigate first before buying any parts.

 

[Alex.A]

I'm located in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire

I rang actual Mercedes after leaving and they said to pop down tomorrow and they will have a look, I'm not very knowledgeable when it comes to cars so I tend not to attempt repairs myself.

They said to come down tomorrow and they will have a look and find out what it is, they said they might have to charge a "small" fee if they have to remove loads of parts or something to find out what it is

 

[Alex.A]

Apparently I have a 204 chassis someone has just told me, so it is in fact a whole door panel replacement?

Still not sure what to think

 

[whitenemesis]

No, the parts are available separately.

 

[mr. shr]

Bowden cable from MB Dealer is less than a tenner.

Does the car lock ok?

 

[Alex.A]

I've had a look around the net places and it's about 50/50 between people saying it's fixable and others saying it is a whole new door panel

Yes the car locks perfectly fine, just can't open door from inside, only outside

 

[mr. shr]

I'd say it's fixable.
Who's telling you it's the whole panel?

As stated by whitenemesis, the individual parts are available from MB.
PM me your VIN and email address and I'll send you a diagram of your door.

 

[Alex.A]

Just seen some posts around, including this one from here;

http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/interior/107321-w204-broken-door-handle.html

I'll have a look and I'll let you know, thanks for the help

 

[Alex.A]

Also here;

W204 Interior door release - Mercedes-Benz Owners' Forums

 

[Alex.A]

I'd say it's fixable.
Who's telling you it's the whole panel?

As stated by whitenemesis, the individual parts are available from MB.
PM me your VIN and email address and I'll send you a diagram of your door.

I've mailed you, I think it went through? Let me know, thanks for the help

 

[mr. shr]

Yes received your messages.
I'm having a bit of trouble saving the diagrams.

But reading those threads you linked above is a bit concerning.
It seems the cable itself might well be ok but the bit the cable attaches to has broken? And this broken bit forms part of the whole panel?
Horrible design if that's the case.

Would be good if you could remove the panel and have a look at what exactly has broken.

 

[Alex.A]

Oh ok, is there anyway I can check them out?

I will get it checked out and will let you know what happens, if you can send me those diagrams would be a big help, I'll keep you informed

 

[Alex.A]

Just to let you know I've been to Mercedes and they have said the parts do not come separately and that it is a whole new door panel, £600 including fitting or £430 just for the parts.

Still not convinced by this, gonna go to a scrapyard later and see if I get lucky and can just take the door panel from another car, and gonna ring round some Mercedes breakers.

 

[whitenemesis]

That's an appalling design if truly not repairable. Of course if MB don't do a repair kit then the dealer has to fit a complete panel.

Defo see if you can scavenge a panel and check out the issue. Maybe possible to graft on a repair.

 

[ash59fifty-uk]

Just to let you know I've been to Mercedes and they have said the parts do not come separately and that it is a whole new door panel, £600 including fitting or £430 just for the parts. Still not convinced by this, gonna go to a scrapyard later and see if I get lucky and can just take the door panel from another car, and gonna ring round some Mercedes breakers.

Would this be of help mate? I'm sure the 2011 fitment is the same if someone can confirm

https://www.gumtree.com/p/car-repla...unctioning-air-bags-half-electric-/1132911989

 

[Alex.A]

Been round a few places today, spoke to a guy who says he's got the door cable and the latch it attaches onto from a w204 he was breaking, and he will post it to me for £45

Getting my friend to take the door card off Saturday to have a look and see what's going on underneath.

And some scrapyards got my number and gonna ring me if they get any, the most expensive I was quoted was £210, and varying £175, another was £125, £65, and one place was actually only £15

I'll keep you guys posted,

Again thanks for all the help

 

[Alex.A]

Would this be of help mate? I'm sure the 2011 fitment is the same if someone can confirm

https://www.gumtree.com/p/car-repla...unctioning-air-bags-half-electric-/1132911989

I'll look into it mate, thanks for the link

 

[Alex.A]

That's an appalling design if truly not repairable. Of course if MB don't do a repair kit then the dealer has to fit a complete panel.

Defo see if you can scavenge a panel and check out the issue. Maybe possible to graft on a repair.

I'll keep at it bud, thanks I'll let you know