What Did You Do To Your Car Today?

[Blueprint]

I started using it again after the pandemic with the stupid-high car theft rates, but yes Crosstreks aren't on thieves' radar much. I have another one I use with risky pressers, such as Hondayota trucks and SUV's.

[Firm]

Dealt with some weird German engineering today. The ignition key for the SLK has been getting more difficult to turn recently, and got to the point where 80% of the time you'd have to jiggle the steering wheel a few times while attempting to turn the key before you could get the ignition to unlock. That got old pretty quick, so I started researching it.
Apparently a very common issue, and fortunately there's a free fix that involves removing the ignition lock assembly from the car, opening up a little hatch in the side of it, and removing a little spring and pin. Then re-install everything and it all work perfectly....no more jamming key, steering lock still works normally...Couldn't really find any explanation for what that little spring and pin were suppose to do, just weird Mercedes stuff I guess. 

[Gurgie]

Dealt with some weird German engineering today. The ignition key for the SLK has been getting more difficult to turn recently, and got to the point where 80% of the time you'd have to jiggle the steering wheel a few times while attempting to turn the key before you could get the ignition to unlock. That got old pretty quick, so I started researching it.
Apparently a very common issue, and fortunately there's a free fix that involves removing the ignition lock assembly from the car, opening up a little hatch in the side of it, and removing a little spring and pin. Then re-install everything and it all work perfectly....no more jamming key, steering lock still works normally...Couldn't really find any explanation for what that little spring and pin were suppose to do, just weird Mercedes stuff I guess. 

How hard was it to remove the ignition lock assembly? Is it all part of the tumbler? I'm gonna have to Google this one to see I think, LOL!! Great work as always though

[Tortoise]

Removing an unnecessary component to solve a problem feels very German indeed!

Nice that it was an easy fix.

[Firm]

Here's the video I followed, it's a CrossFire, but exactly the same procedure. It's honestly not that bad of a job, worst part was that it started pouring when I was halfway through, and I was too stubborn to stop, so I did most of it inside the car with the door shut, lol. Putting the dash panels back together without scratching them (ours are light beige) also sucked.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2C6WC1yHM7c