Smart Key on Ebay - will dealer reprogramme?
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 332
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From: Long Island, NY
2004 E500 Wagon 4Matic
Smart Key on Ebay - will dealer reprogramme?
I've had my pre-owned wagon a few weeks now. It only came with one smart key. This single point of failure has been nagging in the back on my mind since I got it.
I see several ads on Ebay for smart keys. If I get one will my dealer:
1) Reprogram it for a nominal fee?
2) Reprogram it for an exorbitant fee?
3) Refuse to touch it?
Thanks, jim
I see several ads on Ebay for smart keys. If I get one will my dealer:
1) Reprogram it for a nominal fee?
2) Reprogram it for an exorbitant fee?
3) Refuse to touch it?
Thanks, jim
Super Member
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 513
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From: San Diego, CA
2020 GLE350
Answer is 3, buy a new chrome key from one of the dealers that advertise here and be done with it, mine cost $63 delivered, but prices have since gone up, do a search on this forum and you will find part numbers (you need both the key and the blade) and order it, you will also need to send proof of ownership.
Edward.
Edward.
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From: Philadelphia area
2010 ML550, 2010 E350 4M, 1966 Corvette Convt C2
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From: Europe
223.168 & 213.012 & 906.633 & 214.005
I guess a smiley was missing from the previous post. If you lose your key and don't do anything, I don't see why it would not continue working if someone found the key, sold it through ebay and the buyer tried the key on your car. 
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300E a couple 1994 w124wagon E320 Wagon/,1971MGB Track/Rally, MG Midget Autocross ,2000 E320 wagon.
P.M. raymond
down on the w210 forum,or post a thread there,he has info on a supply house that has the chrome keys and programs them for you.worth a try.........
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 345
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From: Chicago burb
95 C36
Answer is 3, buy a new chrome key from one of the dealers that advertise here and be done with it, mine cost $63 delivered, but prices have since gone up, do a search on this forum and you will find part numbers (you need both the key and the blade) and order it, you will also need to send proof of ownership.
Edward.
Edward.
Thanks
Super Member
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 513
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From: San Diego, CA
2020 GLE350
Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 232
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From: Southern Cali
CLK320, Honda Ruckus, pinto & BMX
oempartsdirect.. best service! good price.. smart key is about $114 and the blade key is about $4.. and shipping fed ex is about $10.. i think.. so bringing the total to $128... from what i can remember.. the key looks freaking awesome... look through the smart key thread for the part number.. i really don't have it off hand...
DO NOT PURCHASE USED KEYS ON EBAY... DEALERS WILL NOT REPROGRAM'
EVEN IF SELLER ON EBAY SAY THEY CAN.. DEALERS WON'T! or CAN'T...
WATCH OUT FOR SHADY EBAYERS!
DO NOT PURCHASE USED KEYS ON EBAY... DEALERS WILL NOT REPROGRAM'
EVEN IF SELLER ON EBAY SAY THEY CAN.. DEALERS WON'T! or CAN'T...
WATCH OUT FOR SHADY EBAYERS!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Philadelphia area
2010 ML550, 2010 E350 4M, 1966 Corvette Convt C2
Its not that they won't reprogram but it is designed as not to be reprogrammed. Reason, as a security measure and a good one at that. Only the car thieves and you think its a bad idea!!
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Joined: Sep 2007
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E320
I have to agree with SOSH. I like that the key can't / won't be reprogrammed. Think about it, if you can put programming in the key, you can record from the key and put it into another key. So a shady valet has a laptop and does a quick copy while you are wining and dining the woman, or being wined and dined if you are a lady, and your $**k or $***k vehicle disappears from the parking lot, with a copy of your key of course, and finds it's way into a container headed for South America.
So I am VERY happy that you need registration or a title to get a new key.
Of course, they could always tow the car, but the tele-aid people will be happy to look for the car, and they will find it, provided it hasn't left cell coverage area yet. In any case, I'm sure my insurance company is happy about the restrictions as well.
Just my two cents, and a bit of rambling in for good measure.
Wade
So I am VERY happy that you need registration or a title to get a new key.
Of course, they could always tow the car, but the tele-aid people will be happy to look for the car, and they will find it, provided it hasn't left cell coverage area yet. In any case, I'm sure my insurance company is happy about the restrictions as well.
Just my two cents, and a bit of rambling in for good measure.
Wade
Super Member
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 755
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From: USA
LS7 powered Corvette
The dealer does not have the equipment to "reprogram" the key, they come from the PDC's when ordered by VIN etc... and you can't send one back to them and have them do it either. So you buy a new key, programmed for your car. I couldn't tell you how many times I have seen this, be it the owner buying a bogus key or especially shady used car lots just handing over keys that don't belong to the cars. It's a damn shame.
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Joined: Jan 2005
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From: Orange County
2005 C Wagon (No snickering please!)
I was curious to see if a key could be reprogrammed. I did a teardown and cost analysis. It costs about $ 8. to buy the components. The RF and infrared comunications systems used standard parts, but were rather elegant in their execution. The induction power supply was particularly well done. The company that makes the main processor was not sharing the details of the IC for security reasons. That was my invitation to x-ray the chip to see what was going on inside. There is a simple but effective barrier to reprogramming the processor. The memory is a small scratchpad that is programed once by fusable links. The first time you put the data in the chip, a current is passed through selected links vaporizing the wire. There is no way to "repair" the link. Once the key is programmed, it wil fit only one EIS (Electronic Ignition System), and only if the EIS has been programmed to accept the key. If you lose a key the EIS can be told to ignore that key.
My advice is to buy a new key from a forum sponsor. You will need to supply proof of ownership, and have the new key added to the EIS in your car.
My advice is to buy a new key from a forum sponsor. You will need to supply proof of ownership, and have the new key added to the EIS in your car.
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Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 2,677
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From: California
i535
So did you manage how to hack key and replace write once memory with multi write flash memory to create a universal key? You can x-ray any key, get a map of evaporated links and that program the universal key.
