ralph99

It's easy (well, kinda easy) to make your C230 sport coupe's 2-button key into a three button key with hatch release . . . because the Sport Coupe's key already has 3 buttons.

The images below illustrate how to repurpose the PANIC button into a hatch release. (Please don't attempt this modification with your primary/only key . . . your mileage may vary.)

Here's the layout of the key's pc board with the buttons labeled:



Notice the upper-right hand corner of the white plastic insert. A notch was cut in the plastic with a heated exacto-knife blade. This made it easier to get aholt of the pc board and extract in from the key's outer housing. Once you can get aholt of the board it's easier to wiggle the board out of the housing rather than exerting one big teeth-gritting tug on the pc board.


Carefully remove the PANIC button and cut the pc board traces where indicated:




Next, carefully replace the PANIC button and carefully run two wires to the trunk release button:



Reassemble the key and test the repurposed PANIC button by pressing it for about two seconds. The little LED should flash indicating the key sent a release signal.


Viola! a three button hatch release key for your C230 !

antonio

im a little confused. why would you want to "add" a trunk/hatch release button if the key already has one?

ralph99

Where your sedan's key has the trunk release button, the Sport Coupe's key is blanked out with thick plastic. MB didn't intend for the Coupe to have a hatch release on the key, but the internals are still there . . . on both the key and the hatch's latch.

Please see this thread for more info . . .

firstkill

Ralph99

It is easier to get a sedan key and slide you PCB into it.
You can probably grab one for free/cheap at the dealer if ur friendly with the service advisor or a tech.


~fk

Matt230K

As interested as many of the members here are about having a trunk release, I doubt many of them want it so bad to sacrifice their panic button, and possibly make the key inoperable if not done right. I think the right way to do it would be to get a new casing.

tommy

Well, those of us with the Netherlands setting already have an inoperable Panic button.

Might try with my extra key (then order another one from the dealer when I f*ck it up, of course :p ).

Buellwinkle

How to you split the case open to expose the circuit board?

breastroker

I want this feature bad, I am so used to my Lincoln Mark VIII trunk popping open after I shop I really miss this feature on the coupe. Same think with my gym bag always in the trunk, this is great. Lets not all bid up the price of 3 button keys though.

hmn1

I have a question about this feature on the coupe...

If you get this to work, will it just unlock the lock, or will it actually pop the hatch open? 'cause on the coupe, isn't the hatch a bit "heavy" and requires some manual effort just to get the hatch open (just a little not all the way up)?

vadim

Don't hold your breath: this feature only unlocks the hatch, it doesn't pop it open. Not very useful, if you ask me.
You can see it in action with your "unmodified" key if you press over the 3-rd button hard enough for 2 sec.

TimmyC230boy

i found the easiest way to do it was with a dremmel tool, and some sand paper. Take out the circuit board, and dremmel away a little bit of plastic from the underside of the key so its easier to hit the button. Works fine for me, its more of a vanity thing, and not a usefull thing. If it popped my trunck open like my grandma's cadi, it would be really kool

Buellwinkle

No wonder it's not useful, if you have to press a button to unlatch or unlock the whole car what's the difference, you still have to reach for the latch to lift it up. No wonder they dummied out the button. It's useful feature on our CR-V because otherwise you have to use your key since it's not unlocked with the rest of the car.

breastroker

Someone inventive here could find the right combination of springs/weights so the trunk opens just a little, say 6-8 inches.
then all we have to do is bump it with our elbow etc. when our hands are full.

I couldn't press hard enough to get mine to work, will have to work on it.

spongebob

I have a wagon, I guess I was lucky, one of my keys has three buttons. (the three button one was ordered after the delivery.)
I wonder if cover of the key can be ordered separately?

gmabm

What's the PANIC button for may I know? My Right Hand Drive W203's key does not have that feature at all. Not mentioned anywhere in the users' manual as well.

Thanks.

Matt230K

The panic button sets off the alarm when you push it. It's designed for if you think someone is going to attack you in a parking lot or something, or if they are already attacking you, you can press this button to draw attention to the situation.

preyx

But we all know that people love to ignore car alarms... I don't see much importance of the panic button instead of yelling for help. Much more attention-getting.