When MB introduced the dvd based nav in '04 (and retrofitted '03's) was there just one
DVD disc version throughout the '04 run or was it updated at all during that year ? Thanks

Oh, and also, how many keys come with that car ? I was told MB no longer supplied a valet key in '04, is that true ?

My '04 came with valet keys. (Which is really a misnomer, as our parking valets never see this metal key... unlike a true valet key which is a door/ignition only key that you hand to a valet after you lock the owner only areas of the car with the owner only key... so technically speaking, our smart keys are also our valet keys, since that's what you leave with the valet.)

And there has been an average of about 2 updates a year (+/-) for the DVD nav disk in the trunk. I seem to remember that near the end of 04 there was a new disk available to "replace" the one shipped with the car.

Thanks Barry re the NAV disc.

So, did your '04 only come w/2 full function smart keys ? My '98 has 2 smart keys plus a valet key in that it's shaped like the smart key, only half the thickness, and will only start the car. It will not open the trunk, doors, etc, electronically.

It came with 2 smart keys, and slid inside each one like a little knife is a silver plated brass key which has a hole in it so you can attach the smart key to a key ring with the house keys, etc. When you valet park the car you push a button the silver key slides out & stays on the key ring. Youre supposed to lock the trunk deadbolt & the glove compartment with the silver key so the valet cant get into them... Thats why its not really a valet key.

And MB eliminated the trunk deadbolt for a few years, after my car was built, so you couldn't use the key to lock out the valet, so all you could lock was the glove box... and once you slide the smart key off the valet key part with the hole, the valet is left with a huge chunk of plastic smartkey, with no way to hang it up on a keyboard when he parks the car.

The smartkey should be a little smarter & have a hole in it or some other way to attach it to a key ring & hang the key up on a keyboard.

Thanks Barry, my smart keys are identical plus the "real" valet key also has a metal key. Agreed re the key hole !
Edit: So somewhere since '98 MB discontinued the valet key. Wasn't aware re the deadbolt....interesting. I'm going to see if I can get my '98 valet key re programmed to my '04......stay tuned

Smart keys can not be reprogrammed f/another car and valet keys can no longer be ordered.