Limited range for Wireless Key
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 139
Likes: 39
From: Iowa
2014 CLA45; 2019 C63s
Limited range for Wireless Key
My 2019 C63s is kind of finicky about how and where it will detect my key fob. Approaching the car, I can open the door with the key in my pocket, or even open the trunk with my foot, no problem. But once I'm seated in the car, it's like the key has to be in one of a few certain areas for the car to sense it and start-up upon hitting the ignition button. I frequently get the "put key in designated area" notice, and even when I place the key in the cup holder (pretty sure that's the designated area?), it still sometimes takes two tries to get the car to start.
It's a bit annoying, to the point where I'm often nostalgic for the old-school ignition of my last car, where you'd put the key in the steering wheel column and turn it.
Has anyone else experienced this?
It's a bit annoying, to the point where I'm often nostalgic for the old-school ignition of my last car, where you'd put the key in the steering wheel column and turn it.
Has anyone else experienced this?
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 397
Likes: 117
From: TX
IG: @amg.svr
My 2019 C63s is kind of finicky about how and where it will detect my key fob. Approaching the car, I can open the door with the key in my pocket, or even open the trunk with my foot, no problem. But once I'm seated in the car, it's like the key has to be in one of a few certain areas for the car to sense it and start-up upon hitting the ignition button. I frequently get the "put key in designated area" notice, and even when I place the key in the cup holder (pretty sure that's the designated area?), it still sometimes takes two tries to get the car to start.
It's a bit annoying, to the point where I'm often nostalgic for the old-school ignition of my last car, where you'd put the key in the steering wheel column and turn it.
Has anyone else experienced this?
It's a bit annoying, to the point where I'm often nostalgic for the old-school ignition of my last car, where you'd put the key in the steering wheel column and turn it.
Has anyone else experienced this?
Do both of your keys do this? If it's only one, maybe it's the battery
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 373
Likes: 89
From: Chicago, IL
2019 c63s coupe, 2008 s63 sedan, 2007 335i coupe
You definitely have an issue.. Might just be a battery but I would check the other key first before i ran out for a battery. If that doesn't work every time then you have an issue with the system in the car itself. I have never had any key related issues starting my 19'.. actually no issues at all besides the clear coat on the carbon fiber around my rear sensors peeling a tiny bit. The car has been a Gem
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 11,467
Likes: 5,356
From: San Francisco Bay Area
2019 C63CS
Agreed, not normal. The designated area is on the passenger side of the cup holder. If you take the cup holder insert out you can see the key symbol. I guess you can even see it if you look down in to the passenger side cup holder. The only issue I have with the key fob is that locking the door is a bit finicky sometimes. It doesn't always seem to sense my finger, or I'm doing it too early or something like that. Doesn't help that these days with the dry air I'm regularly getting zapped when trying to lock the car. Never had issues starting the car, though. Key is always in my pants.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 1,723
Likes: 613
From: Australia
⏱️ 700HP Facelift converted C63 S Coupe with Drexler 3.06 plated LSD
I replaced the battery and it didn't happen again.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 4,278
Likes: 378
From: San Jose area
'19 E63S sedan
My 2019 C63s is kind of finicky about how and where it will detect my key fob. Approaching the car, I can open the door with the key in my pocket, or even open the trunk with my foot, no problem. But once I'm seated in the car, it's like the key has to be in one of a few certain areas for the car to sense it and start-up upon hitting the ignition button. I frequently get the "put key in designated area" notice, and even when I place the key in the cup holder (pretty sure that's the designated area?), it still sometimes takes two tries to get the car to start.
It's a bit annoying, to the point where I'm often nostalgic for the old-school ignition of my last car, where you'd put the key in the steering wheel column and turn it.
Has anyone else experienced this?
It's a bit annoying, to the point where I'm often nostalgic for the old-school ignition of my last car, where you'd put the key in the steering wheel column and turn it.
Has anyone else experienced this?
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 139
Likes: 39
From: Iowa
2014 CLA45; 2019 C63s
That's good advice. I do often leave the key in my car while it's parked in the garage over night. I wonder if that may explain some of the problem. I'll try my other key and see if that helps, and also try a fresh battery.
Thanks everyone for the responses. This forum is a great resource.
Thanks everyone for the responses. This forum is a great resource.
Trending Topics
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 373
Likes: 89
From: Chicago, IL
2019 c63s coupe, 2008 s63 sedan, 2007 335i coupe
Agreed, not normal. The designated area is on the passenger side of the cup holder. If you take the cup holder insert out you can see the key symbol. I guess you can even see it if you look down in to the passenger side cup holder. The only issue I have with the key fob is that locking the door is a bit finicky sometimes. It doesn't always seem to sense my finger, or I'm doing it too early or something like that. Doesn't help that these days with the dry air I'm regularly getting zapped when trying to lock the car. Never had issues starting the car, though. Key is always in my pants.
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)
Verdad Gallardo
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping
Verdad Gallardo
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 4,278
Likes: 378
From: San Jose area
'19 E63S sedan
That's good advice. I do often leave the key in my car while it's parked in the garage over night. I wonder if that may explain some of the problem. I'll try my other key and see if that helps, and also try a fresh battery.
Thanks everyone for the responses. This forum is a great resource.
Thanks everyone for the responses. This forum is a great resource.
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 11,467
Likes: 5,356
From: San Francisco Bay Area
2019 C63CS
That's good advice. I do often leave the key in my car while it's parked in the garage over night. I wonder if that may explain some of the problem. I'll try my other key and see if that helps, and also try a fresh battery.
Thanks everyone for the responses. This forum is a great resource.
Thanks everyone for the responses. This forum is a great resource.
I do have PPF on the door handle cups, but not the door handle. It was like this while in Europe, though, before I had PPF. It seems my issue is that I have to wait until the window moves back up before the locking works. I'm often trying to lock while the window is still moving up to close the seal. On my previous RS5 I could lock while the window was closing.
Last edited by superswiss; Feb 6, 2020 at 11:49 AM.
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 439
Likes: 74
From: California
2019 AMG C63S
Should be the low battery and/or leaving the key in the car for long periods of time when parked. These batteries (from factory) should usually last at least a year or two with normal usage I would expect.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,632
Likes: 150
C63s Cabriolet, BMW M4, Civic
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 139
Likes: 39
From: Iowa
2014 CLA45; 2019 C63s
After some experimenting, I think the issue may have mostly stemmed from the key fob being "asleep" while sitting in the car overnight. The issue seems limited to first thing in the morning, or anytime the keys have been sitting still. I wasn't aware of the sleep feature built into the fob, but that seems to explain the problem.
