Cannot reinstall the door handle removed from a 1998 e320
I recently changed the door latches on both front doors on my '98 mb e320. The driver side was the first and went back together nicely. The passenger side, however, didn't work as well. After installing the new door latch and the other components, I tried to install the door handle and it wouldn't slide all the way forward unless I pull the handle out about one half inch. The handle then stands that distance away from the fully flush position.
Looking in from on top (the window is still out), I can see that the catch on door handle is hitting up against the external release tab on the door latch.
What am I forgetting?
What happens if you operate the latch? Perhaps this will move the catch out of the way.
The door latch works as it should except it just doesn't return to the flush position.
The picture shows the door handle partially installed with the extension on the door handle coming in contact with the release tab on the door latch. The door handle has to be pulled out in order for the door handle to be fully seated (moved to the left in the picture). I do not know what I did. The door latch is new OEM and the door handle is the original equipment.
