Replacement key
 

Hi all,

I'm new to the forum and have searched for the answer, i'm either blind, couldn't find one or i'm stupid :)

I recently purchased a 2009 E500 (E550 in some countries) and it only came with the 1 key.

I'm aware I can go to a dealer and have one replaced for the cost of the royal crown jewels, but I'm pondering the following:

If I can purchase a second hand key fro a wrecked vehicle, can it be defaulted and re-programmed to suit my car?

Hopefully there is some guru out there who can answer this one for me.

Cheers

Pete Collie
Melbourne Australia
2009 W212 E500

Do you have Keyless-Go? If so, the only option I found was the dealer for about $450. I would love to find another option.

Hi, no, has keyless entry but not keyless go..

Maybe the same though with the proximity required etc.

Swapping the damaged shell for another shell is one thing, but getting a whole new key most likely requires dealer programming to computer chip inside the keyfob / shell

I'm thinking the same thing. The shell is fine, I will give the local dealer a call Monday and see what they say. Either way, I guess I'll order one from my local dealer and sell the kidney of my first born to pay for it.

Seriously, its not that expensive when you think about it.

Thanks all.

Pete

Nobody can legitimately reprogram a used key. I believe there are guys who have come up with ways to do so via opening them up and basically hacking into the board in the key, but in general, no you can't program a key that has already been programmed.

I've heard small groups of people have learned how to reprogram keys outside of dealership help, but yes totally illegal

Replacement Key
 

I recently needed to purchase a 2nd key for my 2013 E350 Coupe as my spare key fob stopped working.

I called multiple dealers and found a significant variation in price $300 to $450 US.

I needed to show my license and state registration to prove ownership of the vehicle. Before the service department ordered a replacement key fob, they did verify that my second key fob did not work.

Good luck and please report back your experiece.

No there is no dealer reprogramming of the used keys. It can't be done. The blade is totally separate, when we order a key you get the fob alone, if you want the blade it has it's own part # and is ordered as it's own part.

Called the dealer and they confirmed that they cannot be re-programmed. (they said they always get asked)

$580AU for the new key after I prove I'm the new owner etc etc. I'll get one organised.

Thanks guys

Pete

Similar experience
 

Wife went to start the car in Nowhere Arizona during a vacation and the car would not turn over. Fob unlocked the doors. Towed by AAA to the nearest garage and they found everything they could check (battery, starter, etc) was fine. Towed 50+ miles to the nearest dealer in Phoenix and they determined the key was broke. They had to order a new key because dealers are not allowed to carry keys in stock to program. This took several days. Fortunately it happened under warranty and MB paid for the repairs, tows, rental car, meals, hotel.
We don't have keyless go so we now store the spare key in the trunk.

Dealers don't actually program the key (well, on the newest DAS4 keys we can if you have a good working key, but not older cars up to 2015 or so), all keys come from the lock and key center in Texas, they provide them to every dealer in North America. I've been there on a tour when I was in a class, pretty cool place, just thousands of keys in row after row of bins for every possible configuration. Small group of guys/gals working there, program something like 500+ keys a day or some crazy number. They also have the only machines outside of Germany to cut the blades, even for very old vehicles.

Thank you Joe for clarifying this. I have had to order keys for two cars in the past and they both came from that Texas facility (it was marked on the packaging). Others on this board insisted that all replacement keys came only from Germany or eBay.

Yeah dealer only item - there are a handful of "Theft Relevant Parts" in any modern Mercedes that require signed affidavits and proof of ownership to be provided to get the part. I don't think independents can even order them directly - when my ESL/EIS were replaced on my '09 C300 at a local indy shop they just sent their parts guy to Mercedes Benz of Buckhead to get the parts, I learned this later on when I went in for service and my VIN pulled up under the name of the indy shop and my service advisor rattled off all the parts they bought which was pretty much every theft relevant part for the repair they made to my ESL and EIS.

IIRC the new fob, engraved hard key and programming were only I think $260 or $270 from the indy who did my ESL and EIS.

I received a wide range of price quotes when I called around. Some dealers just quoted the price of the FOB and some quoted the FOB with an hour of labor. When I asked about the hour of labor they replied they needed to verify the FOB worked. I feel charging for an hour of labor on a new OEM FOB is excessive and when I order my FOB it will not be from one of these dealers.

It's well covered in several of the older threads. Basically they just take the new key, stick it in the ignition and start the car with it. Not sure what happens if it doesn't work because all the threads say that's all they do for that 1 hour of labor.

They really rob you blind with the cost of replacement key. Bought a used 2017 E300 few weeks ago that only come with 1 key. Called 2 dealers in North Texas area and they both quoted $544 for the key, $100 or so for the blade and about $170 service charge to program the new key. I'm looking at about $814 plus tax for a freaking key. Anyway I can get it for less? TIA for all the help.

holy crap... thats a lot.
try any indy shop in your area , they could probably get you for a half price or even more. That sounds like a rip off..even thos thats what dealerships are lol

also there was a thread about key replacement with a lot of info.

Thanks for the advise.
My co-worker also recommended calling keyexpress. I'm gonna give them a call and check around. I know MB means expensive, but almost $900 for a key is wayyyyyy too much.

Definitely not. The only real MB keys that aren't either a clone or a wiped used key are going to come from a dealer.

Call a few more. Most MB dealers match others in the area. You might check a locksmith for the blade price or just skip the blade, you only really need it to get in if the battery dies. Also see if someone else doesn't charge for programming. In the past threads, the programming is just putting the key in the ignition and making sure it turns and starts up. Also most MB dealers seem to run different discounts, sometimes you find 10% off in their service/parts specials.

With the price of keys these days, you should always buy a car with 2 keys or make the dealer provide it.

The newest cars can require programming, I don't know for certain on the 212 but a 2017 might. If it does, the key is actually a blank that can be programmed to any car, but the dealer doesn't have them available without going through the same steps as ordering any other TRP part. It comes as a blank but every key is tracked and recorded to prevent scams and theft. You can only program a blank with a specific workshop ID, not everyone at the dealer can do it, we have 3 people out of 40 at our shop, and you need a good working key first. If you have no keys, you must go through an extra step to get a pre-programmed DAS4 key and explain why you need one (the dealership has to explain when placing the order)

Def try a couple dealers though, there will be someone who isn't trying to kill you on the price and will get closer to cost on the key, saving you potentially several hundred dollars.

I'll keep trying. I know MB's stuff is expensive but paying $900 for a car key is just crazy IMHO.

When I bought my car it only came with one key fob (bought it used). So I had to get a second key, I think it cost me around $300? Been like 3 years, kinda hard to remember.