2000E4304Matic

It doesn't really make any sense to me why used keys can't be used in different cars... why is this the case? my infrared universal TV remote can control many devices...what is the difference?? I know it makes sense to MB sales wise, but seriously, it is pretty stupid...

ohlord

in todays increasingly litigious society they burn a key once and that way prevent it from being burned by nefarious forces that would surely have a key burner if it were available.Steal a TV sure,but make a 150k AMG easy pickins they are not going to let happen easily.

2000E4304Matic

I don't totally disagree, but I'm not talking about a 150K AMG...sure in that case make keys single use. the owners can afford to replace them.
i'm talking about my 50K E-Class, which is parked next to my 50K truck that i can get a key for at Home Depot...it's not easy pickins...if someone wants to steal it bad enough they will.

When the decision to go IR keys was made they could have easily made the keys theft resistant and reprogrammable....this is a money grubbing venture, plain and simple. I highly doubt Mercedes is concerned about getting sued when their cars get stolen...

Also, this brings up another question, are all newer MB's smart key cars? even the E-class taxis in germany?

ohlord

new it was worth more.That is what they made secure for the new owner. One of the little 300e's we own was $42 grand in 1988 and it still had a double cut key that is a B getting cut anywhere other than the dealer.
Try swapping an engine and transmission on a w210 you need all systems including the ignition. They are all married to one another.

Yes even the taxis have it.Who wants their livelyhood stolen?

When your Mercedes was worth 50K the equal for the truck you have parked next to it was 15K

sosh

Its very unlikely that your W210 is worth anywhere near 50K. Maybe a fraction of that. Why not just try removing the ignition and putting in a toggle switch to replace it?? I am being sarcastic but thats about what you are saying should be done. You do not hear owners of new MB's complaining do you??

C280 Sport

Ummm my 2002 E320 was $60,000 brand new. Fully loaded. Not worth that anymore but new when we purchased it. It came out to be around the $60,000 mark.

2000E4304Matic

Obviously my car is not worth 50K today...it's ten years old. what i am saying is it is ridiculous to pay $200+ to add a spare a key...for any car, and Mercedes could have done it a different way and still be as secure.

Yeah, toggle switch is pushing it a little ...i'm simply wondering why you can't have security and reprogrammability??

And yes, new owners don't complain because they can afford it(not that i can't, i'm just *****ing about it), and their keys are covered under warranty if they stop functioning.

raymond g-

all that you assert is nothing new for MB owners in recent years. necessity
is the mother of all inventions.....so if there is a need, and the Way is
relatively cost effective, someone will have found a method. anecdotal
reports on the web of a chinese Smartkey programmer. if you search here
or benzworld, you'll find a lead on the vendor.

but all the rhetorical arguments that resurface every half year about this
just finds us doing donuts in the dirt because we really dont have an easy
answer

afterthought: check your auto insurance policy to see how well the coverage
is in terms of key replacement. mine covered up to $100 I recall, so yes, I
could have 'lost' my key and gotten a replacement with partial subsidy.
fortunately, i was lucky enough to have gotten in on the $60 buy a couple
of years ago before MB sewed up that hole.

boltonblue

there is the little matter of the valet key which would have to be re-cut.

not sure that would be successful.
but why do they do it?
becuase they can.

tmandel

Hmmm, insurance for lost key replacement... Sounds like I better check whether I have that. I've been annoyed to think that a lost key (I mean really lost) would entail upwards of $250.

ohlord

dealers do it for 180.

tmandel

Thanks, ohlord -- how will I spend the $70 you just saved me, I wonder?

Btw, is there a thread about your E55 powered wagon? Please link me to it, if so. If not, it would be great to read about the project.

saintz

Just as a note, you can swap electronics from one key to another. So if your key is lost or completely broken, you need to buy a new one. But if the plastic case or buttons are broken, you can buy a used key on eBay and swap the internals.

ohlord

the E55 when it was in the works.On the east coast now at my brothers getting a 800hp capable 722.6 trans installed.
Will document the next build a 1968 200D with a 350 cu in smallblock and 700R4 trans.Sometime this winter.
No worries about keys on the old birds.

2000E4304Matic

Did you think about dropping a Duramax or a GM 6.5 Turbodiesel in that 200d? Spendy, but that would be an awesome build! I wonder if anyone has done that yet with a classic Mercedes??

ohlord

smallblock chev at 22 inches wide at the heads is perfect fiy in the fintail and it will keep the old girl on the road. Quickly

tmandel

Whoa, that's going to be a fun ride, ohlord -- but... will the brakes, etc. be up the horsepower/torque snuff???

C280 Sport

WOW!!! That is out of control man.

ohlord

and you can install the disc brakes from the bigger engined fintail models on the front. Proportioning valve big discs and american discs on the rear will have no problems.The little Heckflosse at under 3000 lbs should have no problems getting into the 10's.

C280 Sport

Sweet.....You need to clear your PM box BTW

E-420

Personally I'm glad that mercedes is so strick about keys. Not being reprogrammed and requiring showing proof of ownership to get a new key or remote makes it much harder for "midnight auto" to get my car.

Seldom is there a newer car that you don't need to go to the dealer for a key. My Silverado has a chip in the key so it's back to the dealer if I want a spare.

At least I can get a new remote for the mercedes. I had a 95 Accord and Honda quite selling remotes after 7 years, and the remote for that year was unique enought that I was unable to get a replacement for broken one anywhere in the country from a dealer, ebay or anywhere else. Now that did **** me off.

2000E4304Matic

What year is your silverado? my 2005 doesn't have a chip...

Regardless of why Mercedes does it the way they do, the only way thief is going to steal your car with a key is if you leave them in it. they aren't in the business of stealing VIN numbers, creating new keys, or any of that "Gone in Sixty Seconds" stuff. They are more in the business of easy opportunity...and they are definately more apt to break your window and steal your GPS hanging in the window, or your briefcase in the back seat... Or, like in my case a couple years back your change in your ashtray...jerks.
Besides, 99.99% of thieves are idiots...if they were really smart they'd steal your car, look in your glovebox at the registration, drive to your house, push the old homelink button, park in the garage, load your car with all of your stuff, and drive away

I'm glad Mercedes has a secure ignition system too, don't get me wrong. i just think they could have made it secure, but also reasonable to replace keys...that's all.

Let's talk more about Ohlord's Mercedes Muscle car project...that thing is gonna be sweet!

OPALW208

you don't need keys to steal a mercedes. all you need is a tow truck and 4 dollies. done. 7 minutes, and it's gone.

tmandel

2d the suggestion to turn attention to ohlord's mb muscle car with fins. But... it should have its own thread, no?

ohlord... I think you're words were "some time this Winter". How's it going. Surely you can at least provide some "before" pix???? The world (mbworld) is waiting.

Schweinhund

I gotta weigh in here. I am new to Mercedes. It is the most expensive car marque I have ever owned. I do most of the service and repairs myself. I only go to dealers when necessary. This is partly due to cost and partly due to the random quality of service and dangerous incompetence and/or deliberate tampering I have experienced first hand in my 25 years of driving. The Mercedes dealer I went to, in my suit, tie, and swiss watch to ask about a trans service on my single owner W210 E55 with 125K miles, was like putting chum into a shark tank. Safe to say, that the service writer at Cal Star in Glendale, CA promptly took me for a rich fool and went on to explain that dropping the pan and changing the filter was on special for $480. Mercedes parts counters also do not give out part numbers. Why? The ONLY reason can be to prevent competitive shopping- period.

Now I knew going in that Mercedes owners by and large are people of superior means so I was expecting things to be a bit more pricey but I was also expecting a higher caliber of service. I did not see it. Only more of the same like at other dealers- just scummy opportunists.

Now I have to separate people here. Parts counter guys are generally cool. When they know you do your own work, many times they cut you a break and give you shop or better prices. But service writers, by and large, are slimy people.

So it came as no surprise to me that while my fathers 08 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland key FOB costs about half to replace, my 2000 Merc Key FOB costs more than double that for no good reason other than Mercedes owner can, and will, pay.

I know that this is the reality of owning a car like this but it doesn't mean I can't call it like I see it.