David Watts

Have read conflicting threads. I have a 99 E320 4-Matic wagon. Was given the Smart key with attached "metal" key as well as a separate "metal" key. Neither metal key works to lock/unlock driver's door, but both will lock/unlock glove box. Should these two keys also operate the door and ignition?

Thank you!

W210Wagon

My metal key hidden in the regular key will operate the door locks and the glove box lock. I don't see how it could operate the ignition. I think it is just a security key.

David Watts

Have tried the key in the door lock, but it just turns 45 degrees right or
left and does not have any effect on locking or unlocking the door.

Zax63

David. These are valet keys. You put your valuables in the glovebox, use the metal key to lock the glovebox, then you pull the other key (that still operates the ignition, but won't open the glovebox) off the metal key, leaving the key to drive the car with the valet, and the key to your glovebox (and presumably your keychain of house keys, etc) in your pocket.

galaxyjb

The metal key should be able to unlock your door and the trunk as well, often from non use the key cylinders don't work well. Besides valet purposes the primary purpose of the metal key is if the battery in your remote dies you can use the blade key to get in the car, the battery in your key only operates the remote buttons so the non-metal key will still start the car. Also need the blade key if your cars battery is dead and the doors are locked since the remote would not work then either.

Zax63

In the few times I have had a dead battery, there is a hidden keyhole under the trunk lid next to the handle that the little metal key fits into to get into the trunk. I was unaware it could be used to open the door. Learn something new every day.

David Watts

I must be missing a key as the two thin metal ones I have are identical and only work in the glove compartment. There must be one missing? (thin metal key for driver's door).

RichardM98

A complete keyset for a MY1999 consists of two Smart keys each one of which have a metal key in a slot along the edge and one emergency key. The emergency key has no metal key or batteries but it will start the car once you are inside.

As mentioned, the metal key is a) to open the door if the batteries in the smart key are dead and b) to lock the glove box and retain while giving the valet the smart key.

If you are sure that the metal key will not open the doors or trunk see the dealer. Perhaps the doors have been recylindered. In any event, you want to be able to open the doors with the metal key.

dee_seal

I have the exact same problem with my 2007 CLS 550. My battery died and I can't open the driver door or the trunk (to get to the battery) with the metal key, but I can open the glove box. Have you been able to resolve your metal key problem ? Please let me know either way.

David Watts

No luck. Seems, however, that the lock "stem" will not depress manually whereas the other door lock stems will move when pressed. Makes me think there's something wrong inside the door panel?

dee_seal

Were you able to get the trunk to open using the metal key ?

David Watts

No-only opens the glove compartment.

dee_seal

I just have to say this car amazes me, brand new this car was over 75K and something as simple as a mechanical key, which works in every other car consistently and without fail, those Germans over engineer the darn thing so much that it fails from lack of use