W124 front door woes

[Seangbadee]

I have a hard time getting my front door on the left side to close. The passenger door closes with a bit of difficulty, but is not as bad as the driver's door.
Is there a way to fix this issue? The car is a 1995 sedan
The backdoors close effortlessly.

 

[luckymike]

Sometimes it's just a matter of lubricating the lock mechanism.

 

[Seangbadee]

I already did that, but still have to slam them to get them to close.
Thanks

 

[Kyiv]

Just age and use. Same thing on my car. Rear doors close best, probably close to how they closed when they were new: effortless and with aplomb. Driver's door is the worst. Maybe @gsxr or @JC220 know of a realistic solution?

 

[JC220]

Just age and use. Same thing on my car. Rear doors close best, probably close to how they closed when they were new: effortless and with aplomb. Driver's door is the worst. Maybe @gsxr or @JC220 know of a realistic solution?

I have had this on a few of my W124s in the past. Usually the driver’s door is affected - as the most used door in the car that may explain it. In each case oiling the latch made no difference - I replaced the latches with good used units. But do test the donor car before removing the latch.

The door should shut without effort and if it needs slammed something is worn out or bent. Coupes are slightly more common to have this - perhaps due to the longer and heavier doors.

Good used driver's door latches are an important hoard item!

 

[Seangbadee]

I have had this on a few of my W124s in the past. Usually the driver’s door is affected - as the most used door in the car that may explain it. In each case oiling the latch made no difference - I replaced the latches with good used units. But do test the donor car before removing the latch.

The door should shut without effort and if it needs slammed something is worn out or bent. Coupes are slightly more common to have this - perhaps due to the longer and heavier doors.

Good used driver's door latches are an important hoard item!

I guess it's trip time to the JY again! I saw a E320 wagon (to be crushed) here in Atlanta, and the doors shut eithout effort. I'll have them remove all the latches for me.

 

[gerryvz]

It's probably the alignment/adjustment of the door striker. There are some threads about it here, I believe. Also you can check the FSM for its procedures on door adjustment.

 

[nocfn]

Probably not a bad idea to make this simple striker change a priority if you have never done it. It takes less than 20 minutes per door to replace, including gathering the tools. This should be a consideration for things to do the first six months of ownership, like radiator cap, gaskets for the petrol cap, power steering reservoir, and all fluid changes. I do concede the fact that DS lock mechanisms by their nature take a lot of abuse over 25 years of use.

 

[gsxr]

Quadruple-check the striker alignment AND the alignment of the entire door vs frame/chassis opening. Usually something needs adjustment if one door does not close like the other three.

I've never heard of a latch assembly (inside the door) making a difference, but if so, that's interesting...

 

[Seangbadee]

25 years of abuse would do things to the door, I agree
On my 91 300E, I had a similar issue, and I adjusted the door/striker and it started closing so much easier. I will search for the FSM on this.
Because the 95 E320 is in such great shape, I have been hesitant to fiddle with too many things, however as you mentioned this should be considered a maintenance item.

 

[Seangbadee]

It's probably the alignment/adjustment of the door striker. There are some threads about it here, I believe. Also you can check the FSM for its procedures on door adjustment.

I can confirm today that it is most likely the latches and not the door striker.
I got four strikers from the JY car (its doors close very well), and I still had the same issue with my driver's door.
I moved the back striker of my car to the front, and the front one to the back; the back door still closes sweetly with the supposedly bad strike, and the front door still closed with some difficulty.
At this point I can only conclude that it must be the latches.