DavidNJ

Frequently, we have up to 10k of video equipment (camera, tripod, matte box and filters, mics, lights, stands, boom, etc.). When leaving it in a garage (we always use garages) we leave the attendent the valet key and the trunk locked. On our current '01 BMW that involves turning a key lock for the trunk and each half of the fold-down rear seats.

Can it be done on the E-class? The seat looks like you can only unlock it from within the trunk. But the dealer thinks you can't lock the trunk.

Is that so?

Thanks,

David

DWP

The trunk (and the glove box) can be locked separately from the doors with the metal key that is embedded in the electronic key. You can keep the metal key when you give the electronic key to a parking valet.

Folding rear seats, which are typically standard equipment in $15,000 cars, are a costly option in the E-Class. I don't have them, but according to the manual, the folding rear seatbacks must be released from within the trunk.

scorchie

Tell the dealer to learn about the product he sells. It's right in the operator's manual on how to lock the trunk with the key.

The seatbacks can only be unlocked from in the trunk. The rationale behind this is so that... well, so you can lock the trunk.

-s-

DavidNJ

How do you do it? The dealer tried, but couldn't. He turned the key left, right, but no success.

Thanks,

David

scorchie

Turn it to position 2.

http://www.benzworld.org/forums/foru...posts=3&fid=18

This reminds me of the dealership I went to a few weeks ago... the salesman wanted to look at the COMAND we had retrofit in a 2003 E55, which has Keyless Go.

We were standing by the side of the car, and the salesman was peering in. He said "I'd like to see it" and I said "Go ahead." He said "The door is locked" and I said "it's OK, it has Keyless Go". So he said "Can you unlock the door?" and I said "Go ahead just pull the handle." He said "but the door is locked..."

So I just unlocked it with the remote. Then he sat in the car... and said "I would like to see it turned on" and I said "Go ahead, turn it on." He said "But there's no key..." and since I wasn't inside the car, the keyless go wouldn't work... so I told him "Turn the radio on then" and then he again said "There's no key"...

Anyhow.

-s-

NATS64

Separate locking of the trunk on the new E Class does not work on my car. The key will not turn the full quarter turn to the position where the trunk is locked and the key can be removed. My salesman informed me of this when the car was delivered. I later tried it, and he was correct.

The Owner's Manual states: "Your vehicle may be equipped with a function permitting the separate locking of the trunk using the mechanical key. If present, this feature can permit you to deny any un-authorized person access to the trunk by locking the trunk separately and leaving the SmartKey less the mechanical key with the vehicle."

I have the folding rear seat option, and I fully expected the trunk to lock separately. Why would MB delete this valuable capability?

scorchie

Whoa, that sucks...!!!

My manual doesn't say that.

I also wonder why that would be removed? This has been on every Mercedes for a long time...

At least your salesman was knowledgeable enough about the subject.

-s-

DWP

The separate locking of the trunk works on my '03 E500 - 1/4 turn to the left locks it, 1/4 turn to the right unlocks it. The "May be equipped ... If present" weaselwording isn't in my '03 manual.

Despite all the discussion in this forum about the content that M-B is stripping from its '04 models, it sounds like we really have no idea just how far M-B has gone down that road.

HELL ONA HARLEY

After reading this thread I decided to go and try my manual key to lock the trunk for the first time since I've owned the car.... Guess what.... Mine doesn't work either. It turns a quarter turn and thats it. It works to lock and un-lock the door, but a no go on the trunk..... W.T.F??? Looked in my manual and it also has the clause about your vehicle "may" be equipted, blah, blah, blah..... The trunk lock is there to put the key into, why doesn't it work????

W211 Ryda

Damn, mine doesn't work too! I could turn the key, but I can't pull it out unless I return the key back to the normal position.

DWP

Can you still open a locked trunk with the metal key in an '04 model, even if you can't relock it? if the metal key doesn't open the trunk in '04 models, how do you get the trunk open if the battery is dead? A crowbar, maybe? The first time I used the metal key to open the trunk wasn't when I was leaving the car with a valet - it was when I managed to drain the battery and needed to trickle-charge it. Remember, folks, the battery is reached through the trunk.

HELL ONA HARLEY

I can't figure out how MB saved any money on this issue.... I mean, the lock itself is installed in the trunk and I'm holding the damn key.... Go figure....

HELL ONA HARLEY

My 04's trunk will unlock with the key... You must turn the key and while its still inserted you have to open it with the trunk handle. Unfortunatly this also sets off the alarm!!!! what a joke.

W211 Ryda

With all the doors and trunk locked, I managed to unlock the trunk using the metal key. Alarm went off as well. I still can't believe MB went half azz on this feature. Even my dad's 88 Camry has this valet trunk lock feature.

NATS64

Oh, so you got the alarm too! I have never set off the alarm on my '97 E320, so that was a real surprise to me.

DWP

But then, if the battery is dead, you won't get the alarm. See, M-B was really thinking waaaaay far ahead.

DavidNJ

First, this key thing works correctly on the current 5-series BMW...however they have another issue.

Apparently the ski sack can be popped out from inside the car. So, with fold down seats (which include the ski sack) you can remove the ski sack from inside the car, reach in the trunk, fold down the seats and/or pop the lid with the emergency trunk escape!

Will any parking lot attendents know that? Only the ones who want to rob you!

Does the E-class ski-sack have the same vulerability?

scorchie

Doesn't the alarm have a back up battery? On the G-class, it does.

-s-

konigstiger

Built 10/02 -- Trunk locks manually, operates fine. Manual reads: "To deny any unauthorized person access to the trunk, lock it seperately with the mechanical key. Leave only the SmartKey without its mechanical key inside the vehicle."

DavidNJ

Called MBUSA...no the official word.

For all 2004 production, the trunk no longer has a valet lock. The emergency handle in the trunk is battery operated. It operated the electric lock. The valet lock was a deadbolt, and would have disabled the emergency exit. So, no lock.

Now, that said, I tested an '04 at one dealer that did lock! I didn't check the production date.

DWP

Interesting ... so on my '03, where the valet lock does work, if I want to Jimmy Hoffa somebody, I just lock them in the trunk with the valet key and the green "lemme out" button inside the trunk doesn't work. Of course, M-B could have come up with combined electrical and mechanical "lemme out" trunk release that would be compatible with use of the valet key but, hey, that would have cost them money.

konigstiger

So this is why the "boys" (Tony Soprano types) aren't rushing to trade in their '03s.

scorchie

Well, if you have folding seats... then Mr. Hoffa could still get out.

-s-

DavidNJ

Should note that BMW simply attached a cable between the lock and handle. Their lock works fine.

marksatex

I thought I was the only one with this issue- What the hell good it this "valeT" key? It does lock the glove box. Every time I go to a hotel and that is actually 2 x a month for 2 -3 days- I have used the valet, but fearful of theft I haul everything of value up to the room. !!! Maybe I will have a steel box welded to the floor of the trunk and stick stuff in there !!!