moayes

Hi guys,

I was wondering how far does your remote work? Mine is an E320 '98. The remote workes not farther than 10 feets at best - most of the time it is around 5-3 feet, just few steps before I reach the car; comparing it to other cars, like Toyota, it is far less than them.

I understand that for security reasons, that migth not be a good idea for a remote control to work from a long long distant, but it happens you have parked in the parking lot, and you walk all the way to the store and you remember "..shoot, I didn't lock the car". You can see the car, but the remote doesn't work... or you can't find the car, you hold the panic button, but your car is far and doesn't get the signal.

So, here is my 2nd question, do you guys know any method to extend its range? Some remotes have an external antenna (not OEM's), but not a MB's.

andy the hun

Mine works to 30 yards.
If I don't open the door,locks it again in about 20 sec.
All my previous keyes worked at least 20 yds. or more fresh batteries or not.

dynomite05

It works farther when you hold it up to your chin and open your mouth..lol

moayes

Wow.. 20 yrd.. good for you... seems mine need new battery!! - though I'm note sure, I guess I changed it few month ago.
.
.
.
.
.
I tried that trick too.. didn't work!! LOL

BigBoss

Mine works usually around 10-15 feet. I put new batteries in about 3 months ago and they're already weak for some reason. The other day I arrive to work and I'm trying to lock my car and nothing is happening. I had to stand next to the door and point the key at the handle for it to work.

Sometimes if you open up the key and wiggle the batteries around, it works too.

BordeauxW210

One key works only within 10 feet or so. The new key works form at least 50 feet.

moayes

I wonder why they have such a short range!

kbad

mine...a good 75ft, maybe even 100ft...clear line of sight, that is!.... it's infra red and the sensor sits on the middle of the dash at the bottom of the windshield (plz correct me if i am wrong), so gotta make sure that's where you are aming (or where ever the receiver is on yours).

ejrooney

kbad is correct in that the remote is infra-red. There are essentially 3 receivers on the car: the drivers door handle, the trunk lid (next to the lock) and the rear-view mirror. The key fob must be aimed at one of these three areas to work. Newer vehicles' key fobs work off RF frequencies, therefore do not have to be aimed, and can work from greater distances.

moayes

I understand the part regarding IR. But I thoght the IR is only for openning and closing windows. You have to aim it toward either of the receivers on the front doors handle - and hold it for few sec to open/close all windows. But to lock/unlock, does it work also with IR? I thought that one is RF. TO OPEN/close windows, it makes sense to be in a closer range and also based on the nature of IR I wasn't expecting it to work from far, locking / unlocking is a different story. It's kind of stupid to expect the remote to SEE the car!! Particularly when it comes to the panic button! Does really the whole remote key system work with IR?

Fabio D

Sensor in the middle of the dash is not an IR sensor, is the Air conditioning sun radiation sensor, the open/close function at distance is via RF & works with the antena receiver RF sensor located in the rear left pillar - rear windsield integrated antenna

Fabio Daniel

raymond g-

active smartkeys uses RF, not IR, to un/lock the vehicle...and IR to invoke
convenience opening/closing of the windows and roof.

moayes

How come some get longer distance and some less? Is it because of malfunctioning or something like that, or it is just the way it is?
Does anybody have any figure, what was the farthest nominal distance once this car was made?

Fabio D

One Key is not for your car

Fabio Daniel

raymond g-

took almost 2 yrs before someone mentioned it, F. top right, belongs to the 00, whereas the others are for the 99.

saintz

The key uses both IR and RF.

RF is the main method and is used to lock and unlock. The antenna is in the rear window. The RF receiver is in the rear driver's side C pillar (more on this later).

IR is a secondary method. It is also used to lock and unlock. If you hold the IR signal, it will start rolling the windows up or down. The IR receivers are in the door handles and the red receiver in the dashboard.

What can happen is the RF receiver can lose its ground connection and stop functioning. If this happens, the remote will only work through IR. This means you have to have line of sight and be within 10 feet or so of the door handle or dashboard. You can test this by seeing if the key works in your pocket at short range. If the key works in your pocket but won't work at longer range, your battery is probably low. If the key won't work in your pocket at close range, then it's only using IR and not RF.

To fix, get behind the driver's side C pillar (by the rear glass). You can normally wiggle the RF receiver around and it will get a ground again (to the car body) and will then work. It should be number 3 in this picture.

raymond g-

saintz-
according to my notes, the module you've pictured is the radio amp. take a
look at this link. it seems to indicate that the receiver may be near the rear
view mirror....at least the antenna is. leaves me scratching my head for now
until we reconcile this.

dynomite05

Pulled this off the WIS. First one is W210 up to 05/98. Second one is W210 from 06/98 and on. Might help

e24kgold

you can increase the range by holding it to your temple and pressing the button. No sh*t

kbad

okay...so here's what i figured out on mine....

my 2001 e320 only has infrared sensors (for raising/lowering windows/sunroof) on the driver/passenger door handles...(there is no sensor on the trunk lock or inside the car....the sensor on the dash is definitely not for the key as it did nothing when i aimed the key fob directly at it from ~6"-12")....and the range is ~10-15ft within ~20-30 degrees perpendicular to the door handles and direct line of sight of the the handle (there is an infrared sensor on the end of the key fob - therefore, you have to point it directly at the sensor on front door handle) - similar to tv remote.....the RF (for lock/unlock) works from behind objects ~20-50ft non line of sight and ~50-100ft direct line of sight, with nothing in between and of course with good batteries.

moayes

I have changed one of my keys. So I have the exact combination as pictured above. I usually use the newer one, it's sleeker.

Seems I need a pair of new batteries.

moayes

It's interesting... Thanks.

moayes

I checked the link. Liked it. There is also the .iso file of E320 2002 repair manual for download!!!! I wonder if there is also one for '98

Fabio D

I got it

PD: The sensor in the middle of the dash IS NOT an IR receptor, is thesolar radiation sens for the A/C system

Fabio Daniel

JayDee4711

Have you observed a difference in the range between the keys? Is the chrome version any better than the others?

What is the technical term for the flat emergency key on bottom left? When I asked the dealer who sold me the wagon, he just gave me that look as if I had said something obscene. US cars do not seem to come standard with this key. How much is it?