Originally Posted by parodielin

I spent too much time on the car today. I went to the Benz dealer I ordered the key to pick up the key. The parts guy offered to check the key for me. He inserted the key into the car and cannot start the car.

He said that's weird, it usually recognizes the key right away. I was kind of "disappointed" originally because I wanted to be the person to "mate" the key to the car. I should be the person to do the honor. But he is doing it, and it's not working.

Then he said, oh - I know, this is our stock remote. The blade came from Benz. We need to have the key programmed.

Now I'm very confused. B/c if you read what has happened with another dealer, they told me there was no way they can program the key. So the parts manager came out and said:

"See, you don't believe me. I told you the new key needs to be programmed here" He was very sincere. Now I have to believe him b/c that's what's happening. He explained that my key model requires programming. I think it's just Benz decided to let dealer stock the remotes and program.

But why would another dealer told me differently? The parts mgr said: do you have the other key they said not working? Our service dept can check if the key is new and can be activated for your car. If it has been activated, it cannot be reprogrammed. But we can check for you.

That explains the problem. The other dealer didn't check. They inserted the key to the car and said it won't work. Probably that service mgr doesn't know. They made me believe the key I found in the glovebox is useless.

I found another SA in the dealership. He said we'll check the glovebox key for you and program your new key. After 40 mins, SA asked me would you let us wash your car? Sure.

"I'm sorry that you have to order a new key. We cannot refund your new key. But the key in the glovebox has never been activated and we believe it was intended for the car. It just needed to be programmed. So now you have three working keys"

I'd never know why there is an un-activated key in the glovebox. It could be someone ordered. Or could be when Mercedes Financial put it in when selling the car b/c the blade matches. It's a new remote w/ metal key cut for this car but not programmed.

The best part is the dealer did not charge me for the programming. I think it was a mistake somewhere but I won't complain. Now I have three keys all working with Keyless Go.

They told me the two keys are in bank 3 and bank 4. This means there is a "missing" bank 2. One of the original two keys came with the car is missing somewhere ....

Originally Posted by Arrie

Ok, to make this easy to understand.


Programming in your post is misused. A dealer cannot program the key. It can only be done by MB in Germany (unless they changed since last year). The dealer does the activation and what happened in your case probably is that the key in the glove box was correctly programmed but the dealer missed activating it.


Your dealer should also de-activate the missing key from the car. Did they?