A few weeks ago I went to open the driver's side door on my 1992 240 and I heard a clanking noise inside the door and all the tension on the handle vanished. The handle just flopped and, needless to say, the door would not open. The door would open from the inside, though.

I figured a linkage of some sort must have failed in side the door, and decided I'd live with it till winter goes away here in Wisconsin and I could work on it in warmer weather. Then, last weekend, I loaned the car to my brother in law without telling him about this problem.

He grabbed the handle as you normally would and when he lifted up he did so with sufficient force to snap the handle clean off.

My question: Is this going to be expensive to fix? Is it a do-it-yourself kind of job, or would you go to a mechanic? Assuming I have thr right parts, is it just a matter or removing the door panel? How would you go about finding another handle -- local junkyards, or is there a place on the 'Net where I could score what I need?

Anybody here who's handled a malfuctioning handle who can offer advice?

Pete