450SLC door striker replacement

The drivers door on the 450SLC had become harder and harder to close properly over the past year or so.   It normally took a couple of tries before it would latch correctly.   I therefore decided to try replacing the door striker, which do wear out over time.   The part number of the new striker was 115 720 06 04.

As can be seen in the photo, the 450SLC door striker had worn over the years, particularly the plastic insert.   It is a much better design than the striker used on the W111, which is a two piece unit.   Over time, the two pieces become loose, making the door hard to latch.

The striker is held on by four screws and there is a backing plate that can be re-used.   I found it easier to screw it on loosely and then close the door a couple of times to locate it properly.

So far it seems to close properly first time, and opening the door there is a bit more resistance in the door handle too.  Changing the 450SLC door striker was a very easy job, only took a few minutes!

A striker of similar design is used in other contemporary Mercedes models.  This includes cars like the W123, W126 and others.