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these dealers lied to you. The keyfobs come from either Texas or Florida already programmed, based on you VIN. However, most dealers will require you have the car on location to make sure it works properly. Local dealer dont program keyfob. Another thing I read that caught my attention: many of you reported " bought the key" then paid additional for "programmed". From my personal experiences, when you buy the keyfob, the price is for the fob already PROGRAMED + metal key cut. So far I have bought additional keyfobs for Mercedes W202, W210, W211, R171 from Fletcher John MB in Irvine, MB of Long Beach, and one other (MB of Laguna Beach or Niguel)....
Not true. When I replaced my lost key, I took a new fob I got off the internet to the dealer and asked them to program it. The dealer tried, but could not do it. They had blank fobs in stock and were able to program my new key then and there. As you can see from the Time In (R.O. Opened) and Time Out (Ready), I was there about 2 hours. They charged me only ½ labor to program the key. No ordering for texas or florida. This is a dealer that I trust and has treated me well in the past.
The metal key was an additional charge of $99 if I wanted it. I did not because I had already gotten one made by an independent locksmith. The dealer told me they would have to order the metal key anyway because they didn’t have the equipment to cut a blank.
Last edited by GTIBlack; Dec 14, 2025 at 07:36 PM.
2012 E550 Cabriolet 2011 VW Eos 1985 Pininfarina Spider
Originally Posted by GTIBlack
Not true. When I replaced my lost key, I took a new fob I got off the internet to the dealer and asked them to program it. The dealer tried, but could not do it. They had blank fobs in stock and were able to program my new key then and there. As you can see from the Time In (R.O. Opened) and Time Out (Ready), I was there about 2 hours. They charged me only ½ labor to program the key. No ordering for texas or florida. This is a dealer that I trust and has treated me well in the past.
The metal key was an additional charge of $99 if I wanted it. I did not because I had already gotten one made by an independent locksmith. The dealer told me they would have to order the metal key anyway because they didn’t have the equipment to cut a blank.
Aftermarket keyless go fobs are now available. I will get one for my C207 and will report back. Will meet the dude who made me a non-keyless go key next week or early January to get one made. He said these are new aftermarket keyless go keys that just start coming out.
I had heard that manufacturers must make all the parts for any vehicles for 10 years .I still don't get (to add more confusion as those key fobs were too common in other Mercedes-Benz vehicles as well ) how they go away almost like a rarity item lol .
2012 E550 Cabriolet 2011 VW Eos 1985 Pininfarina Spider
Originally Posted by Streibensie
We'll be very interested in the outcome. Your C207 is prior to 2014, which is important for people with the older security systems. I'd like to see fobs for newer cars become available. I think it is almost criminal that any manufacturer would discontinue producing such a critical component when so many of their vehicles are still on the road. I guess they expect you to buy a new car if you lose your keys.
I doubt the Keyless Go function is considered critical. You can still buy a regular fob that will start the car.
I had a '09 GL 450 which I sold and now just bought a '08 SL 550. The prior owner said he can't find the second key so naturally I've been searching on the old interweb for another key. I too am getting the "they do not make those keyless go fobs any more" story so I'm here trying to find an answer. My local dealer told me they do not have them so I'm searching for any source of these fobs. I see Shotgun banjo has said that they are available. Do we have a name, website, email address of this source? Do these come pre programmed and with the metal key?
I had a '09 GL 450 which I sold and now just bought a '08 SL 550. The prior owner said he can't find the second key so naturally I've been searching on the old interweb for another key. I too am getting the "they do not make those keyless go fobs any more" story so I'm here trying to find an answer. My local dealer told me they do not have them so I'm searching for any source of these fobs. I see Shotgun banjo has said that they are available. Do we have a name, website, email address of this source? Do these come pre programmed and with the metal key?
Joe
You need to understand how immobilizer keys work in general. My experience is with Audis and Mercedes. When adding a new key, you need to go to the dealer with the car and all keys you want programmed. The technician will delete existing keys and add all (old and new) keys back in. There is a limited number of “slots” in which to add a key. Sometimes a slot can be reused and sometimes keys have to be added only to unused slots.
Mercedes made a change in its immobilizer program around MY 2014 and now you MUST go to a dealer if you have a 2014-2015 or newer car. But in your case, you may be able to find a licensed locksmith that can program a new fob for you. I’ve heard that once a fob is used, it cannot be reprogrammed for another vehicle, but cannot attest to that myself. As @Davery said, you may be stuck with a non-Keyless Go fob. Years ago, I thought I had lost one of my Keyless Go fobs and ordered a new key from the dealer. The one they got me was a non-Keyless Go fob which required using it in the ignition slot. That may be what @Davery is referring to.
At this point I think I'm going to forget about the whole keyless go thing and get something that I can use to start my car if I loose the one fob I have now. The availability of and access to a Keyless Go fob appears to be one of the Great Mysteries of Life. On this thread alone I've read that they are absolutely NOT available as well as they are available. It's also been reported that you MUST GO TO THE DEALER for programming as well as they come pre programmed. I got rid of my XK8 because it seems that any time the humidity goes above 50% the entire electrical system of the car becomes unreliable. Now I have a car that is either too old to have a key made or too old fashioned to have a key made or . . . who knows. And by "key" I mean a key just like the one that came with the car.
If I were to order a non-keyless go fob from an online source or a local locksmith would it be pre programmed?
2012 E550 Cabriolet 2011 VW Eos 1985 Pininfarina Spider
Originally Posted by OCJoeR
Happy New Year all,
I had a '09 GL 450 which I sold and now just bought a '08 SL 550. The prior owner said he can't find the second key so naturally I've been searching on the old interweb for another key. I too am getting the "they do not make those keyless go fobs any more" story so I'm here trying to find an answer. My local dealer told me they do not have them so I'm searching for any source of these fobs. I see Shotgun banjo has said that they are available. Do we have a name, website, email address of this source? Do these come pre programmed and with the metal key?
Joe
I am in the same boat with my 2012 E550. There are places that claim to be able to make another Keyless Go fob. Supposedly my new Mercedes mechanic said he has a friend that can do this. I will be looking into this next week. I did also find several places online that say they can do this, but you have to send in your ignition switch.. My fear in this was something happening to my ignition where they can not make a new fob and something happens to my old fob where it no longer works. Here are couple of places I found. I have communicated with them, but know nothing about these places.
2012 E550 Cabriolet 2011 VW Eos 1985 Pininfarina Spider
Originally Posted by OCJoeR
Hey there GTI,
At this point I think I'm going to forget about the whole keyless go thing and get something that I can use to start my car if I loose the one fob I have now. The availability of and access to a Keyless Go fob appears to be one of the Great Mysteries of Life. On this thread alone I've read that they are absolutely NOT available as well as they are available. It's also been reported that you MUST GO TO THE DEALER for programming as well as they come pre programmed. I got rid of my XK8 because it seems that any time the humidity goes above 50% the entire electrical system of the car becomes unreliable. Now I have a car that is either too old to have a key made or too old fashioned to have a key made or . . . who knows. And by "key" I mean a key just like the one that came with the car.
If I were to order a non-keyless go fob from an online source or a local locksmith would it be pre programmed?
Possibly. I would check the price for a non-keyless go fob from a dealer first. When I checked on this, the estimates were all over the place. The fob was $288 and about half the dealers claimed there was an additional programming charge. The other half said the fob came pre-programmed. I am pretty sure the fob comes from Texas pre-programmed.
Not true... unless you are talking about new MB, in which I have no opinion. There are multiple people have ability to program, cut the metal key for MB cars. Few months ago, I meet up with a lock smith in Los Angeles area, he has a device that was able to copy my original key fob into a after market key fob (2007 E350 W211 and 2008 SLK 280 R171). It worked perfect (and my original keyfob still working afterward). The aftermarket keyfob was about 90% of the OEM: it a little lighter, the buttons a little too sensitive/less resistant to my liking. He has a machine to cut the metal key in couple minutes. He charged me $100 for the new keyfob/metal key. Couple years ago, a regular lock smith was able to cut the metal key for my car, worked perfect.
Would you be able to send me the contact information for the person who made your keys? I have an '08 SL 550 that the prior owner only had one key for. It's the keyless go type of key that does not have to be in the ignition to start the car.
Possibly. I would check the price for a non-keyless go fob from a dealer first. When I checked on this, the estimates were all over the place. The fob was $288 and about half the dealers claimed there was an additional programming charge. The other half said the fob came pre-programmed. I am pretty sure the fob comes from Texas pre-programmed.
My local dealer wanted around $500 for the key and another $450 to program it.
A couple of things you need to be aware of and ask questions about.
What does the supplier mean by “preprogrammed” since the key fob needs to be electronically linked/programmed to the ECU and assigned a specific slot in the configuration? Not sure what is meant by preprogrammed.
The blade key can be pre-cut and ordered by the dealer from Texas (or wherever) using the VIN. Make sure “preprogrammed” doesn’t mean “pre-cut”.
You can always order the blade key precut from the dealer without getting a new fob.
A licensed locksmith with a laser cutting machine can make a copy of the blade key. Depending on what the dealer wants to charge, it may be a lot cheaper to use a locksmith to cut a blade key. Beware, however, eBay blanks are not OE blanks and may require some tweaking with a jeweler’s file after cutting (I speak from experience). I paid $50 to have a blade key cut by a local locksmith. I had to provide the blank.
I'm sure the price from the dealer I contacted was partially based on where they are located, ritzy area of So Cal. I'm going to call a few others and see what they say.
A couple of things you need to be aware of and ask questions about.
What does the supplier mean by “preprogrammed” since the key fob needs to be electronically linked/programmed to the ECU and assigned a specific slot in the configuration? Not sure what is meant by preprogrammed.
The blade key can be pre-cut and ordered by the dealer from Texas (or wherever) using the VIN. Make sure “preprogrammed” doesn’t mean “pre-cut”.
You can always order the blade key precut from the dealer without getting a new fob.
A licensed locksmith with a laser cutting machine can make a copy of the blade key. Depending on what the dealer wants to charge, it may be a lot cheaper to use a locksmith to cut a blade key. Beware, however, eBay blanks are not OE blanks and may require some tweaking with a jeweler’s file after cutting (I speak from experience). I paid $50 to have a blade key cut by a local locksmith. I had to provide the blank.
I'll make sure I ask those questions if I buy one online. I think I've found a local locksmith who has a mobile service which I would prefer. That way they're out here with the car and I can make sure everything works before I hand over my credit card.
Would you be able to send me the contact information for the person who made your keys? I have an '08 SL 550 that the prior owner only had one key for. It's the keyless go type of key that does not have to be in the ignition to start the car.
(818) 208-0439 allan agent011@hotmail.com
I sent this info to an member on the earlier post. You should check with him how it turned out. Any way, contact the email I posted, or maybe text him for information
I wrote and asked all the questions. He stated that I need to send him the working key and the EIS. He will then furnish a new Keyless Go fob, program it to work with the car's EIS. He said he could also cut a new mechanical key from mine but couldn't guarantee that it would work since the car is not there to try it out on the door. The SL 550 is not listed on his posting as one of the vehicles supported but he specifically stated that the fobs he uses will work with the Keyless Go system on the 2008 SL 550. He also stated that he will fully refund any payment if the key does not work.
The person I posted above is in Los Angeles. I drove up there. He charged $100 for a new keyfob + metal key. Worked perfect. My car is a 2008 E350 NON keyless go.... the keyfob is aftermarket, quality is about 90% of OEM.... otherwise, worked perfect
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