I ordered a key from originalkeyless.com and i called around dealers and half told me they cant do it and had to be only special ordered and the other half said it would cost 115 to program for an hour labor... Any suggestions would help

 

You have to order the key through a dealer in order to have a functional key. Mercedes has a strict security system for its vehicles, and it guards the key purchasing and provisioning process very closely.

You have to fill out forms at the dealer that prove your ownership of the vehicle. These are sent into Mercedes' security center before a key is order is processed. They cut the blade and program the key for your car before it is shipped to the dealer. They have all of the security codes for your car in a central database. The key is sent prepped to activate a learning mode the first time it is inserted. It then pairs with your car and is "mated" at that point.

If you purchase a key outside of the dealer network you will be wasting money and you will be holding a very expensive piece of plastic and chrome.

 

^ +1.

Every MB dealer charges different price for key, so call around several MB dealers. Go with the dealer that is charging the lowest price. Dealer's labor charge is to 'program'/'mate' the virgin key to the car. Usually that takes about 5 to 10 minutes, but they will charge an hour labor charge.

 

I called several dealers and they all told me that the price quoted included any programing. ie: No extra labor charges.

FYI: the lowest I found in my area (called about 5 dealers) was ~$260. A couple dealers wanted more than $350 for the same key.

 

$260 is a fair price.

 

You said the key comes programmed already? Just hypotheically do I need to have the car physically there or can I order one from an uot of state dealer obviously fax proof of ownership and have them mail me a key if I do find a good price

 

Key is shipped from Germany to the dealer where you are ordering from. After that, the dealer needs to have access to the car for few minutes to program/mate the key to your car.

 

I have heard that Mercedes won't let you order a key out of state anymore. Don't know if that is true or not. I also heard that some places make you bring in the car but i think that is just a dealer being a pain.
I ordered my key from the online (dealer) place in Florida that closed awhile back. They got me a key for like $175 or something like that. I faxed them registration and photo ID and within a week I had my key

PCY the key comes from Texas from my understating. and the dealer never has to see the car unless you want them to deactivate an old/lost key or you have used up your allowed 8 keys.

 

If you ordered a key from any other place then the dealer you got ripped off. I hate to say it but keys you buy are not able to be re programmed. So what you paid for is a really expensive key fob. If you wanted you can remove the guts from inside the key fob and swap it with one of your old ones.

 

Were you talking to me?
The parts place in Florida was a dealer
I will edit my post if you like

 

hey no samaritrey i was talking to norwich. He said he got his key from originalkeyless.com Which isn't the dealer. The dealer cannot reprogram any used keys. People usually just sell them for the shells. That's why they sell on ebay from 15 dollars to 40 bucks. I will be getting one soon and doing the swap because the older black key just looks outdatedd

U got ripped off the first thing i would do is call your credit card company which will do nothing unless you used paypal. You also over paid for the keyfob shell too.


Programming Instructions -

Mercedes vehicles require a scantool for programming.

Many Dealerships now have small portable scantools and can perform this procedure for you in the parking lot for free as a courtesy to their customers

^ What a crack of b/s

 

I was told that the car must be present along with proof of ownership for the key to be ordered.

I don't think you will find any legitimate out of state dealers who will order you a working key anymore. There are a few threads here about dealers who used to allow faxing of the registration/drivers license/etc., to place an order, but it seems they have all discontinued that practice.

 

Yeah my guess is that something happened like a few stolen cars or something and Mercedes forbid the dealers from ordering keys without the car being present, same state or something like that. sucks for us though since the dealers all seem to mark up the keys a lot. Glad i have 3 keys. 2 normal ones and a valet key which has the blade and can start the car

 

Hehe reminds me of the movie gone in 60 seconds.

 

Most of the dealers here require that the car be present. The exception is if you have a notarized copy of a court order for repossession.

 

Dont keys come from Mb security or something like that.

 

In SoCal, price is different from dealer to dealer: a low $250 to a high $350. The car do not need to be present, but they need :
1. Your driver licence
2. Your car registration (or the cars's tittle, that match your D/L.
If someone name is on the registraton (or car's tittle) & you order the key, there is a NO GO. MOST of the MB's dealer in this local are very strict on apply this rule.
I happen to be at a MB dealer, waiting in the lobby for the car (in service) : the husband order a MB car's key, but the part counter guy do not take the order (he said that he lost the key, the car's is in his wife name), they guy is very angry ask to talk to the part manager, the part manager come out, NO GO, the manager said : take your wife in, we will order the key for the car. Later, I learned that the car is belong to his girlfriend, she had the car, the guy want to take the car from her... he had the VIN #, the correct person's name on the registration, ONLY the person on the registration with legal driver licence is allow to order the key. The part manager SHOW the guy the rule (sheet) require by MBUSA when order the key.
4 years a go, I order online the chrome key from VA MB's dealer (fax D/L & registration over) for only $125.00, this go over a few months on this & others MB forums, after this event. MBUSA tight up the rule : in person at the part counter (with paper work required) when need to order the key. NO MORE online key's order. Ebay's key is to reuse the case only, no re-program is possible for the Ebay's MB keys.

 

I used a buddy's wholesale account to order a key for my wife's 07 c230. Just gave them the VIN, they ordered it, I went and paid $175 without any paperwork, did no sort of programming or scan tool or anything. Works perfectly.
I tried to offer this to members but my buddy said he'd rather I didnt.

 

Serendipitous thread. Ordered a replacement key last Friday from the local dealership.
Seems our former $61.41 chrome key from January ’07 (via a TradeMotion internet source) had mysteriously disappeared from one of her purses.

Aware of MB’s TRP policy, I walked up to the retail parts counter with the requisite documentation in hand. The gent said, “That’ll be $325 [plus tax], please see the cashier.” For a car worth less than $10,000? Typically polite and mild mannered, I raised my voice a bit --within earshot of a half-dozen customers in the waiting area-- to ask him, “Why does [name of dealership] always charge more than MSRP?!” “Just a moment, sir” he said while tapping away furiously on his keyboard. $241.45 (including 9.75% sales tax) mysteriously appeared on the revised paperwork.

Picked up the new key today. It’s a different design with significantly raised braille-like pads for its four key functions. I apologized for having barked at him while he was verifying that I owned the car for which he’d ordered a key for sight unseen. He said, “Forget about it,” complimented me for having a clean car, and asked if I’d like a ‘free’ license plate frame. “No, thanks…how ‘bout some #744 brilliant silver metallic touch-up paint?” Done.

Still pricey when compared with my $3 GMC keys though.

 

Looks pretty much like a carbon copy of MBSA requirements. Good on you for achieving proper pricing.

I was told that MBUSA central security office was in Cali - can anyone confirm or refute this?

 

negative. key prep is done in Texas (for US folks)

separately, programming can be done by end user. place/leave key in ignition. go make breakfast. key should be done after breakfast.

 

Thanks. I was misinformed by the SA at my local MB dealer.

 

Go make breakfast?
Again, the MOMENT I inserted the key into the igntion, it fired up. Hell, it even unlocked the car before I got in it.

 

same for me....but not all cars/keys are PnP. some require electronic interrogation process for a few mins

 

No.. the breakfast is for celebration.