[s-cars] Door Latch Repair or Replace?

[weski at verizon.net]

Patient is my 95 S6 with 244k miles on the clock.  The drivers door has 
decided it doesn't want to close any more.  There are 2 door closed 
latch positions - I'll call them full close and safety latch.  As of 
last Friday night, the door will not fully close on it's own - I have to 
give it a light hip-check from the outside to fully close the door.  
Today, as I was driving down the interstate, the door popped partly open 
- to the safety latch.

What are my options?  I've check out the latch as much as you can 
without disassembling the door and all looks OK.  It functions well with 
a screw driver to trigger the latch to full close when the door is open 
but will not do so as you normally try to close the door.  If you sty to 
force or slam it closed it just bounces open.  I've been told by a 
mechanic that it is not fixable and the latch must be replaced.  Has 
anyone else seen this before?  If it must be replaced is the bone yard a 
viable option?

TIA,

Paul Dooley