E-Bay Smartkeys
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MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: Central NJ
C230K Coupe/Orion/C4/C5/CD/AMG Spoiler/V60/TeleAid, 2 MGB's
E-Bay Smartkeys
Ok....so I did it...just for giggles
I bought a key from e-Bay for $19. The seller said it could be reprogrammed, but based on what I read here, I sort of knew better.
I switched the 'guts' of the key with my own, and found that the hatch release button works fine (which was my ultimate goal anyway). But out of curiosity, I called MBUSA, and this is basically what they said:
MB Smart Keys are programmed at the factories for specific cars. 8 keys are made for each vehicle and use PROM technology to hold the encoded key data. This considered, they are one shot programs, and can not be altered. When your dealer orders a key for your car, it's one of the 8 originals. If someone should happen to lose all 8 or damage the ignition, then the entire ignition switch, 8 keys and the cars computer has to be replaced and reprogrammed for the car....specifically....uniquely...and again, only one shot.
Can anyone provide more details?
I bought a key from e-Bay for $19. The seller said it could be reprogrammed, but based on what I read here, I sort of knew better.
I switched the 'guts' of the key with my own, and found that the hatch release button works fine (which was my ultimate goal anyway). But out of curiosity, I called MBUSA, and this is basically what they said:
MB Smart Keys are programmed at the factories for specific cars. 8 keys are made for each vehicle and use PROM technology to hold the encoded key data. This considered, they are one shot programs, and can not be altered. When your dealer orders a key for your car, it's one of the 8 originals. If someone should happen to lose all 8 or damage the ignition, then the entire ignition switch, 8 keys and the cars computer has to be replaced and reprogrammed for the car....specifically....uniquely...and again, only one shot.
Can anyone provide more details?
Member
Joined: May 2002
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From: Southern California
C230
I got a another key for a total of 3... the third one cost $100!
Oh well, nothing beat the look of confusion the other day when I let my friend drive my car. "Where do I stick this thing in? Where's the metal part?"
Oh well, nothing beat the look of confusion the other day when I let my friend drive my car. "Where do I stick this thing in? Where's the metal part?"
Member
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From: San Francisco Bay Area
MB C230K
I've heard this before - at some point if you exhaust all the keys you end up having to spend $1000's to replace the computer.
But this brings to mind a question - is there some bunker in Stuttgart where all the "extra" keys for each car are stored?
Or (more likely) are the unique codes stored in a computer somewhere and the PROM is programmed with the unique code when you ask for a new key?
--Steffen
But this brings to mind a question - is there some bunker in Stuttgart where all the "extra" keys for each car are stored?
Or (more likely) are the unique codes stored in a computer somewhere and the PROM is programmed with the unique code when you ask for a new key?
--Steffen
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Joined: Apr 2002
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From: Diamond Bar, CA
W206 PHEV AMG
probably the code stored somewhere. If they store keys for each cars they make, there would be literaly mountains of keys.
the real question is that Is it really possible for some guy to lose 8 keys?
the real question is that Is it really possible for some guy to lose 8 keys?
MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: New Jersey
SLS AMG | S65 AMG | GL550
Originally posted by FrankW
the real question is that Is it really possible for some guy to lose 8 keys?
the real question is that Is it really possible for some guy to lose 8 keys?
Erik
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From: Canada
Originally posted by steffen
I've heard this before - at some point if you exhaust all the keys you end up having to spend $1000's to replace the computer.
But this brings to mind a question - is there some bunker in Stuttgart where all the "extra" keys for each car are stored?
Or (more likely) are the unique codes stored in a computer somewhere and the PROM is programmed with the unique code when you ask for a new key?
--Steffen
I've heard this before - at some point if you exhaust all the keys you end up having to spend $1000's to replace the computer.
But this brings to mind a question - is there some bunker in Stuttgart where all the "extra" keys for each car are stored?
Or (more likely) are the unique codes stored in a computer somewhere and the PROM is programmed with the unique code when you ask for a new key?
--Steffen
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From: Houston, TX
2002 C230 Coupe Black/Charcoal C5 C7 Auto
Re: E-Bay Smartkeys
Originally posted by Rick
Ok....so I did it...just for giggles
I bought a key from e-Bay for $19. The seller said it could be reprogrammed, but based on what I read here, I sort of knew better.
I switched the 'guts' of the key with my own, and found that the hatch release button works fine (which was my ultimate goal anyway). But out of curiosity, I called MBUSA, and this is basically what they said:
MB Smart Keys are programmed at the factories for specific cars. 8 keys are made for each vehicle and use PROM technology to hold the encoded key data. This considered, they are one shot programs, and can not be altered. When your dealer orders a key for your car, it's one of the 8 originals. If someone should happen to lose all 8 or damage the ignition, then the entire ignition switch, 8 keys and the cars computer has to be replaced and reprogrammed for the car....specifically....uniquely...and again, only one shot. Can anyone provide more details?
Ok....so I did it...just for giggles
I bought a key from e-Bay for $19. The seller said it could be reprogrammed, but based on what I read here, I sort of knew better.
I switched the 'guts' of the key with my own, and found that the hatch release button works fine (which was my ultimate goal anyway). But out of curiosity, I called MBUSA, and this is basically what they said:
MB Smart Keys are programmed at the factories for specific cars. 8 keys are made for each vehicle and use PROM technology to hold the encoded key data. This considered, they are one shot programs, and can not be altered. When your dealer orders a key for your car, it's one of the 8 originals. If someone should happen to lose all 8 or damage the ignition, then the entire ignition switch, 8 keys and the cars computer has to be replaced and reprogrammed for the car....specifically....uniquely...and again, only one shot. Can anyone provide more details?
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Re: Re: E-Bay Smartkeys
Originally posted by tberry
Hi Rick, can you be a bit more specific on how you switched the guts of the key? I want the hatch release button too DAMMIT
Hi Rick, can you be a bit more specific on how you switched the guts of the key? I want the hatch release button too DAMMIT
Super Member
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From: Houston, TX
2002 C230 Coupe Black/Charcoal C5 C7 Auto
Re: Re: Re: E-Bay Smartkeys
Originally posted by Lynn
I'm sure the instructions have been posted before. Please do a search.
I'm sure the instructions have been posted before. Please do a search.
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Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 310
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From: SoCAL,:-))
2000 ML320/'03 C320WZ
Coded Keys
is being stored at Corporate office at Marlton, NJ. That's my Dealer told me when I lost my ML key. which I found it later after I recieved my new key
Now I have 3 keys. Smart Keys could be there too 
Now I have 3 keys. Smart Keys could be there too
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From: SF Bay Area
2002 C230 K
Each key also has a finite life-span. Each time the key is used to start the car the ignition code is changed (I assume to prevent key cloning). There are somthing like 25,000 (I forget the exact number) "starts" that can be encoded to each key, after these are exhausted the key will no longer work.
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From: New York City
C230 Kompressor SPORTS COUPE
That sounds wierd... If MB were to do something like that then I would imagine they would have to provide replacement keys for free whent hat problem came up, no matter how many miles the car was at. They would be artificially limiting the life span of your car, that is like building a defect into a product to make more money later, maybe after the 25,000 it recycles. Furthermore with that algorythem how could you ensure all your keys would be using the same number sequence to start the car? I would imagine that it has an algorythem that picks one of these 25,000 codes and then both the code they key is giving and the one the engine is looking for would need to match. This is all jsut a guess though, but it would seem to make the most sense from everything I have heard. I am by no means an expert though, I switched my major form computer science after a year.
Out Of Control!!
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From: Obama Land
K Car
I have a hard time believing that they make 8 keys for every car, and then store them somewhere. That means, they are storing about 6 sets of keys for each car that they sell. More likely they are storing the codes etc. to make new keys, should you loose one. I can believe that this is limited to 8 though.
I also have a hard time believing that there is a limit on how many "starts" you get with a key, even if the number is as high as 10,000.
If anyone has any "official" info on this, please post it. Otherwise, I am just writing this off as urban myth.
I also have a hard time believing that there is a limit on how many "starts" you get with a key, even if the number is as high as 10,000.
If anyone has any "official" info on this, please post it. Otherwise, I am just writing this off as urban myth.
Member
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From: New York City
C230 Kompressor SPORTS COUPE
I don't think storing the keys would be that difficult to do, With the amount of paper work they already need to store 6 keys would not be that difficlut, it would be one small box per car in a warehouse somewhere. This system is probable alot more secure then storing it on a computer by Vin do to the far greater ability to limit access to the space.
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From: SF Bay Area
2002 C230 K
Originally posted by Davidta
Furthermore with that algorythem how could you ensure all your keys would be using the same number sequence to start the car?
Furthermore with that algorythem how could you ensure all your keys would be using the same number sequence to start the car?
So if you lose a key (that has yet to be exhausted) MB gives you a replacement for the one of the slots you already have, which necessitates sticking the key in the ignition for thirty minutes to five hours, at which time the car verifies it is a true replacement key and enables it with the current code (while at the same time it renders the key it replaced non-functional). Once a key is exhausted they send you a key for "slot" #3, which should work immediately without the "programming step."
With regard to the number of starts, I tried to search for the actual number but couldn't find it (although I did find one of my own posts that thought it was "25,000 to 100,000"). It's probably on the high end of this range, even if a car is started twenty times a day (which is a pretty high number of starts per day) then there will have only been ~36,000 starts after five years. Although, this could be as revstriker said an MBWorld legend.
Last edited by trench; Jul 23, 2003 at 05:12 PM.
Out Of Control!!
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From: Obama Land
K Car
Originally posted by Davidta
I don't think storing the keys would be that difficult to do, With the amount of paper work they already need to store 6 keys would not be that difficlut, it would be one small box per car in a warehouse somewhere. This system is probable alot more secure then storing it on a computer by Vin do to the far greater ability to limit access to the space.
I don't think storing the keys would be that difficult to do, With the amount of paper work they already need to store 6 keys would not be that difficlut, it would be one small box per car in a warehouse somewhere. This system is probable alot more secure then storing it on a computer by Vin do to the far greater ability to limit access to the space.
By the way, I'm sure most of the paperwork being stored is done so digitally. Plus, they probably have a purge date on the paperwork after so many years. With the keys, they would never be able to purge them.
Almost a Member!
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 49
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From: CA
03 C320 Sedan
re: smartkey
And for those that are interested in using the sleeve of the key for their coupe. I have one for sale.
It is actually a third key that I have, from a car that was bought back by MBZ. Now I have that extra key laying there.
$10 shipped.
Or you can come by and pick it up if you live near by. I am in Orange County, CA.
spacetrain.ca@netzero.net
Thanks.
It is actually a third key that I have, from a car that was bought back by MBZ. Now I have that extra key laying there.
$10 shipped.
Or you can come by and pick it up if you live near by. I am in Orange County, CA.
spacetrain.ca@netzero.net
Thanks.
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Originally posted by Davidta
I don't think storing the keys would be that difficult to do, With the amount of paper work they already need to store 6 keys would not be that difficlut, it would be one small box per car in a warehouse somewhere. This system is probable alot more secure then storing it on a computer by Vin do to the far greater ability to limit access to the space.
I don't think storing the keys would be that difficult to do, With the amount of paper work they already need to store 6 keys would not be that difficlut, it would be one small box per car in a warehouse somewhere. This system is probable alot more secure then storing it on a computer by Vin do to the far greater ability to limit access to the space.
We now know they would need to make and store 22 keys. Why would MB spend the money to make and store 22 keys for each of the hundreds of thousand of cars per year that they build? We are talking millions of keys per year. The cost would be enormous. The cost of storing the key data on a computer would be comparatively insignificant. And safer. How does a hacker get into a lan that is not connected to a phone line? Or a stand alone computer that is not connected to a phone line?
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From: Philadelphia, PA
'02 C230 Kompressor Sports Coupe in Citron Green
A friend works for MB USA and says people loose all 8 keys all the time. He says that almost all of the people to do this are M class owners.
There are 8 keys possible per car, and for whatever technical (not policy) reason, they can't recreate a previous key. I can't remember the details as to why.
See: https://mbworld.org/forums/showthrea...threadid=44800
There are 8 keys possible per car, and for whatever technical (not policy) reason, they can't recreate a previous key. I can't remember the details as to why.
See: https://mbworld.org/forums/showthrea...threadid=44800
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From: Ohio
2010 C300 4matic
A customer at my dealer usually gets a new ML and new SL every year. For each car, he always orders two extra keys, for a total of four. But when he trades the cars back in after a year, the two extras are usually still sealed in the same bag from the parts department when he ordered them. But at least he's not losing them.
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From: Diamond Bar, CA
W206 PHEV AMG
I have a thought. Could it be that MB just made 8 laser cut keys without the SmartKey for each car, and then when people lost'em they grab one of the keys to go with the SmartKey.
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From: Ohio
2010 C300 4matic
Originally posted by FrankW
Could it be that MB just made 8 laser cut keys
Could it be that MB just made 8 laser cut keys
