duplicate key FOB
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It's a profit center for Mercedes and a lot of other manufacturers. My Ford has the MyKey system, which allows me to program a specific key to limit speed and other variables for other drivers. What it also does, however is allow me to buy a cheap blank key fob and program that fob to my car while sitting in my car. Yes, I can make my own keys. No dealer visit required. More manufacturers should offer a key product like this and people wouldn't be paying $400 for a key or worse yet, running around with only one key fob.
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From: California
2013 E550 4MATIC - P1, P2, SPORT
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1922 Ford Model T / no OBD
"Absolutely need it" makes me picturing the situation.
Your car on flatbed 1/2 way between Grapevine and Kettleman City, waiting for +- 150 miles ride to a dealer who can get you a key in 3 business days. Better that not be Friday afternoon.
For years I am buying key at MB of Fairfield. They would sell me knob for about $240, while they beat the competition on keyless go by several hundreds bucks.
It is expensive, but consider the alternatives.
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2013 E550 4MATIC - P1, P2, SPORT
I admit, I don't know what with the key would cause that. But even if I had a spare key I wouldn't carry it with me, I would have it at home.
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2013 E550 4MATIC - P1, P2, SPORT
I don't get why though. Is the concern that you'll lose a key? Damage it? Something else? Even driving +400 miles to visit my parents I never have and it would never occur to me.
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lose it, yep. The car will still start with a 100% completely dead key, and you can open it with the metal key, but if you lose it you are screwed. I keep the spare in my backpack which is always with me.
Last edited by RA72825; May 15, 2019 at 04:32 PM.
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2015 and up Mercedes come equipped with DAS4 system. As of right now, only the dealer can program them on the spot or can order one pre-programmed if all keys are lost.
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From: Southern US
2010 E550, 273 Engine: 2012 S550, 278 Engine
If you buy car from the dealer it should always come with two keys. If the previous owner lost a key MB dealer should get another key for it and they should null the missing key from working in the car.
Some insurance companies can give you hard time if your car is stolen and you cannot produce two keys to show them.
One of my keys stopped working while car was under warranty and the dealer got a new one. The non-working key was removed from the car’s program so it would not work on my car even if for some reason it would work again.
Some insurance companies can give you hard time if your car is stolen and you cannot produce two keys to show them.
One of my keys stopped working while car was under warranty and the dealer got a new one. The non-working key was removed from the car’s program so it would not work on my car even if for some reason it would work again.
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From: V E G A S
1922 Ford Model T / no OBD
The knobs seem to become more reliable, but in older models I did have couple of them who stop working. I ask SA what't up with that and his explanation was 'They just die from time to time"
One explanation is that when you have weak battery, the key can start rolling code recognition and when the starter engage, voltage drops and connection is getting lost. Key will remember different rolling, than car computer.
Bottom line, more reliable or less, I don't like to be flatbeded hundreds mile from home.
2nd key usually goes to wife purse, but on couple of occasions I separated the blade, to hid it in place accessible from outside and then hide the knob inside.
With keyless go you need to remove battery, but this way you always have the way to enter the car and drive it - no matter what happen with original key.
One explanation is that when you have weak battery, the key can start rolling code recognition and when the starter engage, voltage drops and connection is getting lost. Key will remember different rolling, than car computer.
Bottom line, more reliable or less, I don't like to be flatbeded hundreds mile from home.
2nd key usually goes to wife purse, but on couple of occasions I separated the blade, to hid it in place accessible from outside and then hide the knob inside.
With keyless go you need to remove battery, but this way you always have the way to enter the car and drive it - no matter what happen with original key.
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Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 5,141
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From: Southern US
2010 E550, 273 Engine: 2012 S550, 278 Engine
The knobs seem to become more reliable, but in older models I did have couple of them who stop working. I ask SA what't up with that and his explanation was 'They just die from time to time"
One explanation is that when you have weak battery, the key can start rolling code recognition and when the starter engage, voltage drops and connection is getting lost. Key will remember different rolling, than car computer.
Bottom line, more reliable or less, I don't like to be flatbeded hundreds mile from home.
2nd key usually goes to wife purse, but on couple of occasions I separated the blade, to hid it in place accessible from outside and then hide the knob inside.
With keyless go you need to remove battery, but this way you always have the way to enter the car and drive it - no matter what happen with original key.
One explanation is that when you have weak battery, the key can start rolling code recognition and when the starter engage, voltage drops and connection is getting lost. Key will remember different rolling, than car computer.
Bottom line, more reliable or less, I don't like to be flatbeded hundreds mile from home.
2nd key usually goes to wife purse, but on couple of occasions I separated the blade, to hid it in place accessible from outside and then hide the knob inside.
With keyless go you need to remove battery, but this way you always have the way to enter the car and drive it - no matter what happen with original key.
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2016 E 350
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From: V E G A S
1922 Ford Model T / no OBD
Typical on US market that auction employees steal the 2nd key and all the manuals, to sell the key for $20 on ebay, when new owner faces $700 for new keyless go knob.
Just went via this few months ago with latest purchase. I actually found PO phone number and had some chatting with him. He actually check that newer used 2nd key was given with the car and all the manuals were in it.
Yet, I bought the car from small dealer without them.
Something should be done with this practice?
Anyway, when you order new key - it might need programming. In such case insist on deletion of all lost keys from car memory. You newer know...
Just went via this few months ago with latest purchase. I actually found PO phone number and had some chatting with him. He actually check that newer used 2nd key was given with the car and all the manuals were in it.
Yet, I bought the car from small dealer without them.
Something should be done with this practice?
Anyway, when you order new key - it might need programming. In such case insist on deletion of all lost keys from car memory. You newer know...
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From: Hollywood, CA
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So there is a specific blank that works for this. I typically pay around $60 if I buy in bulk. One shipped me 10 or so, already packaged in custom bubble wrap. As in the key was somehow built into the bubble wrap, 3 wide.
Address in Beverley Hills shipped, and offered me more in an email. They might have mentioned manuals too.
All of the auto wrecking yards are up in Sun Valley or other industrial parts of city, certainly real estate in Bev Hills would make it poor choice for junk yard. So I had guessed dealer, someone who can double dip. They sell the 2nd and 3rd keys that come in a car. Then, they can say "only way for a 2nd one is our service department"
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When I purchased my 2010 E550 it had one key and I demanded a second key which they ordered. The order came in and they lost it. Ordered another one. It came in and they found the first ordered one behind some file cabinet. I ended up with 3.
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From: Southern US
2010 E550, 273 Engine: 2012 S550, 278 Engine
My post was to point out that with MBrace service you do not need to hide the mechanical key outside the car. You can leave it all inside battery removed or locking the doors thru rear door with battery in the key.
Last edited by Arrie; May 16, 2019 at 06:45 PM.
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From: V E G A S
1922 Ford Model T / no OBD
Dealer will not program used keys. They probably even can't beside policy that they don't do anything with used parts.
Coming to MBrace, , anybody has actuall experience?
My cars are older than 2015, but I wonder how much that can help? Beside the fact that I frequent areas with no cellphone signal. ... like downtown Berkeley, CA, a mile from University.
Coming to MBrace, , anybody has actuall experience?
My cars are older than 2015, but I wonder how much that can help? Beside the fact that I frequent areas with no cellphone signal. ... like downtown Berkeley, CA, a mile from University.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 5,141
Likes: 1,293
From: Southern US
2010 E550, 273 Engine: 2012 S550, 278 Engine
Dealer will not program used keys. They probably even can't beside policy that they don't do anything with used parts.
Coming to MBrace, , anybody has actuall experience?
My cars are older than 2015, but I wonder how much that can help? Beside the fact that I frequent areas with no cellphone signal. ... like downtown Berkeley, CA, a mile from University.
Coming to MBrace, , anybody has actuall experience?
My cars are older than 2015, but I wonder how much that can help? Beside the fact that I frequent areas with no cellphone signal. ... like downtown Berkeley, CA, a mile from University.
I had the 2011 E350 as my first MB brand new and it came with Mbrace service for 6 months and then I paid for the service after the 6 months. But I kept the car only a year as I traded it for my E550.
Anyway, Mbrace had the “Send to Benz” feature that allowed you to send NAVI address to the car from your computer. This was kind of nice as I travel a lot and could send my targets in the car before the trip.
My 2010 E550 came with Tele Aid or what it was called “Connected Cars”. This did not have the Send to Benz function but I could call them at any time and they would beam down a NAVI target if I did not have my target in my maps. Worked well.
Last edited by Arrie; May 16, 2019 at 07:05 PM.
