In case your smart key broke
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From: SoCal OC
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In case your smart key broke
So my smart key broke (on the key fob). Going back to the original key was fine, but it's a bit too long & big (revised style came out in year 2001 or later, I think).
I manage to buy a used smart key, play around with it enough to switch out the board & chip, and YAHHOOOO, it works on my car (both window/door, and start engine).
Save myself at least $150 for a new key, and one life time of the key (you can replace key only 8 times for a car, dealer confirmed).
I manage to buy a used smart key, play around with it enough to switch out the board & chip, and YAHHOOOO, it works on my car (both window/door, and start engine).
Save myself at least $150 for a new key, and one life time of the key (you can replace key only 8 times for a car, dealer confirmed).
Last edited by zam2000; Feb 20, 2005 at 12:04 PM.
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From: LA/OC
E320
Originally Posted by zam2000
So my smart key broke (on the key fob). Going back to the original key was fine, but it's a bit too long & big (revised style came out in year 2001 or later, I think).
I manage to buy a used smart key, play around with it enough to switch out the board & chip, and YAHHOOOO, it works on my car (both window/door, and start engine).
Save myself at least $150 for a new key, and one life time of the key (you can replace key only 8 times for a car, dealer confirmed).
I manage to buy a used smart key, play around with it enough to switch out the board & chip, and YAHHOOOO, it works on my car (both window/door, and start engine).
Save myself at least $150 for a new key, and one life time of the key (you can replace key only 8 times for a car, dealer confirmed).
Cool! very useful information!
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 455
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From: Fl
92 500sel/01 320e wag
smart key
8 on rail one, there are 3 rails. You are correct the smart keys on E-bay are usefull for only cases.
Mine broke the dealer tried not to use a slot, ordered a direct replacement, someone screwed up and it disabled the second one. They took the car in and ordered another as a "additional",everything fine. The person who designed this should be in the space program, keys are coded by the factory and the remote has to talk to the system to program itself (20 min to turn) (20 to start) to unlock the ignition, but will work on the doors out of the box. If the system is replaced it ships with a coding key (and new remotes), that has to be returned to the factory.
The technical theory takes eight pages...
PS to get to the "batteries" pull out the hard key, push the little gray bar inside the opening, and slide the board out of the housing.
Mine broke the dealer tried not to use a slot, ordered a direct replacement, someone screwed up and it disabled the second one. They took the car in and ordered another as a "additional",everything fine. The person who designed this should be in the space program, keys are coded by the factory and the remote has to talk to the system to program itself (20 min to turn) (20 to start) to unlock the ignition, but will work on the doors out of the box. If the system is replaced it ships with a coding key (and new remotes), that has to be returned to the factory.
The technical theory takes eight pages...
PS to get to the "batteries" pull out the hard key, push the little gray bar inside the opening, and slide the board out of the housing.
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From: SoCal OC
S, GL, Escalade ESV, my shoes
OV
Mine is a 98. From 98 on, the W210 use smartkey.
Mine is a 98. From 98 on, the W210 use smartkey.
Originally Posted by OceanView
ZAM,
I thought your car had a switch blade key? no?
Please clarify.
I thought your car had a switch blade key? no?
Please clarify.
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From: Seattle WA
99 E320
Originally Posted by zam2000
<....> I manage to buy a used smart key, play around with it enough to switch out the board & chip, and YAHHOOOO, it works on my car (both window/door, and start engine). <....>
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From: SoCal OC
S, GL, Escalade ESV, my shoes
I'll send along the old key so that you could try it out.
There's only one chip: the whole board.
There's only one chip: the whole board.
Originally Posted by raymond g-
So which chip is pulled and replaced?....since I'm concluding that the circuit board from the older/larger unit isn't going to be shoehorned into the smaller, newer case.
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Super Member
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 693
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From: Mansfield, TX
11 ML350W2 / 17 GLC300
I purchased a used old style key on eBay to replace a cracked key. I found it is very easy to pull the old circuit board out of the old key and slide it into the new key. $19 plus $6 shipping is certainly a lot cheaper than $150 replacement keys.
Jim
Jim
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From: Khalifonia.
4 wheeled car.
Originally Posted by The Doctor
Wait so you mean the LARGE smartkey chip/board can fit into the Small smartkey? So I could take one of my LARGE smartkeys and get a small one on ebay and do a swap?
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From: Mansfield, TX
11 ML350W2 / 17 GLC300
Based on the size and shape of the board in the old key, I don't see how the old board would fit in the new key. I am not about to pull the new key from my 03 W211 apart yet to see if the chips look similar.
Jim
Jim
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From: Mansfield, TX
11 ML350W2 / 17 GLC300
Jeffery,
I'll respond. After you take the end of the key off and remove the batteries, there was a little white plastic keeper "bar" across the circuit board. I removed that with a dental pick. The circuit board will then slide out. It was easiest to perform this surgery on the "new" key since my old one was still working. With my new surgical confidence, I then removed the board from the old working key and rebuilt the new key with the old board and white plastic keeper bar.
I'll respond. After you take the end of the key off and remove the batteries, there was a little white plastic keeper "bar" across the circuit board. I removed that with a dental pick. The circuit board will then slide out. It was easiest to perform this surgery on the "new" key since my old one was still working. With my new surgical confidence, I then removed the board from the old working key and rebuilt the new key with the old board and white plastic keeper bar.
Newbie
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: Georgia
2001 E320, 1983 300D
Question about a found Smart Key
When I purchased my 2001 E320, it came with one Smart Key. However, when I took it to get cleaned up and washed, the guys found a second Smart Key inside the car.
It will lock and unlock the doors and operate the doors/sunroof mode. But it will not unlock the ignition or turn to start the car. I have read posts that mention that the car must "program" the key. Can someone give me detailed instructions on how the process works?
Blair
It will lock and unlock the doors and operate the doors/sunroof mode. But it will not unlock the ignition or turn to start the car. I have read posts that mention that the car must "program" the key. Can someone give me detailed instructions on how the process works?
Blair
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 455
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From: Fl
92 500sel/01 320e wag
Smart Key
Number one, look at the first post, slide the little gray release and the board will slide out of the housing (just like a battery change). You can replace the housing but the electronics will not work since it has to be coded to the car.
Two: you will not be able to use the board from the smaller one in the larger one. I immagine you could order the new? style but there is no reason to since the key does not wear out.
Three: if the remote you found under the seat unlocks the car it might be the correct one, but if the dealer ordered a replacement instead of an additional one the replacement will invalidate the one being replaced. I know, my dealer ordered the wrong one and it took my other remote out of service forever.
Four: these remotes are infrared and electronic and neeed to transmit their code to the car which sometimes takes 45 minutes. They light up, awile later they turn but the engine will not keep running and finally work.
The only value those remotes on E-Bay are is for housing replacements, yes they work but not on your car. Parking attendants were good for looking in glove compartments, since some people kept the extra remote there with the owners manual, rental cars were a good source since they always stashed the manual and the remotes behind the trunk liner (when the car was sold they were new)
Two: you will not be able to use the board from the smaller one in the larger one. I immagine you could order the new? style but there is no reason to since the key does not wear out.
Three: if the remote you found under the seat unlocks the car it might be the correct one, but if the dealer ordered a replacement instead of an additional one the replacement will invalidate the one being replaced. I know, my dealer ordered the wrong one and it took my other remote out of service forever.
Four: these remotes are infrared and electronic and neeed to transmit their code to the car which sometimes takes 45 minutes. They light up, awile later they turn but the engine will not keep running and finally work.
The only value those remotes on E-Bay are is for housing replacements, yes they work but not on your car. Parking attendants were good for looking in glove compartments, since some people kept the extra remote there with the owners manual, rental cars were a good source since they always stashed the manual and the remotes behind the trunk liner (when the car was sold they were new)
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From: LA/OC
E320
I got the newer smaller smartkey, and tried to make my old key into it, or make the swap the chip.
But, it seems not an easy job. The whole board will not fit, and the chips look different in size.
Anyone has idea? Thanks!
But, it seems not an easy job. The whole board will not fit, and the chips look different in size.
Anyone has idea? Thanks!
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Posts: 1,076
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From: LA/OC
E320
Originally Posted by zam2000
There's only one chip: the whole board.
Did you mean you have two different keys, and you replaced the housing of the small one?
Ben
Last edited by Ben'z; Jul 25, 2006 at 11:37 PM.
