I need two new SmartKeys. One for my W203 and one for W211.
They were on put on the same key chain and died in the washing machine together...

Just checked with the parts depts of all 5 local MB dealers.
The cheapest one wants $189 and the most expensive one
wants $210. (all prices are after the club discount, but
not including sales tax)

Times 2 and it's nearly $400!!! (the cost of the guilty washing machine...)

Are there MB dealers out there who can sell the keys via
phone/mail order? There are some parts depts that do
mail-order(Caliber Motors in CA, for example), but not
on keys...

As an alternative, I frequently drive between NYC and
Norfolk, VA., so I can possibly get one from any MB dealer
anywhere in-between.

Any replies appreciated...

only place you can get the smart keys is thru the dealer and you have to bring proof of ownership of the car with you. have you tried ray catena. i could have sworn when i needed a new one a few years back it was just over $100, i dont think anymore than $150

My salesman says that you can actually get an old key, like off ebay, reprogrammed by the dealership. Not sure how much it costs, but he says it can be done? But then he may be just BSing me? Anyone heard or know if this can actually be done?

I've seen the used smart keys on ebay going for about $25-$40, and even on there the seller states any dealership can reprogram the key?

I've heard that as well..

about the smart keys, they don't all look the same. the dealer gave me two of them when I bought the car. the key release button on one of them is black and on the other one it's silver. i thought they would be identical but nope, they are different.

yeah and theres 2 different size smart keys as well plus the switch blade like ones for the ML

Different on the W203 or the W211? I have the 05 c230 SS and both of my keys are identical? Not sure about the w211 though. But if you go on ebay, you can search for "Mercedes smart key" and it will pull up the keys by yearly models I believe. Check with your dealership to see if this is possible to reprogram them.

I was thinking about gettin me another smart key on ebay and see if i get it reprogramed to use as a spare.

i mean in general. my old w202 had a larger smart key then my clk's smart key now and my friends w211 e500. i think in 2001 or 2002 they started making it smaller, but not sure of the year 100%