Keyless Go Problem After Window Tint

Nov 10, 2025 | 10:31 AM

c204_germany

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W213 E200

Keyless Go Problem After Window Tint

Hello guys, I have a Mercedes E 200 W213 sedan, and I had the rear windows tinted. When I picked up the vehicle, I could no longer use my Keyless-Go. I can only start the car if I place the key in the compartment by the cup holder. If I have the key in my jacket pocket or my trouser pocket, it no longer works, and the message “Key not found” appears. Before I tinted the windows, it worked without any problems if the key was, for example, in my jacket pocket.

I've heard that this problem is quite common, that moisture or water gets behind or under the rear window, where the control unit for the keyless go system is located. Now I'm not sure whether I should just wait a few weeks for it to dry out or should I go straight to the workshop? Do you have any recommendations for me?

Best regards from Germany

Nov 10, 2025 | 10:48 AM

6speeddave

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I had this problem and it went away after the moisture cleared up a few days later.

Nov 10, 2025 | 10:49 AM

The_Judge

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From: Hermosa Beach, California

2018 E400 Coupe

Have you tried installing a new battery in key fob?

Nov 10, 2025 | 10:53 AM

c204_germany

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W213 E200

Quote:

Originally Posted by The_Judge

Have you tried installing a new battery in key fob?

Yes I tried both keys and both with new batteries.

Nov 10, 2025 | 11:01 AM

c204_germany

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W213 E200

Quote:

Originally Posted by 6speeddave

I had this problem and it went away after the moisture cleared up a few days later.

Now 3 days ago it still doesn’t work but we have cold and wet weather. Do you think it could work if I wait some more days?

Nov 10, 2025 | 11:05 AM

ua549

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Keep in mind that the top several wires in the rear window are antennas that the tint material is interfering with.

Last edited by ua549; Nov 10, 2025 at 11:13 AM.

Nov 10, 2025 | 03:32 PM

c204_germany

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W213 E200

Quote:

Originally Posted by ua549

Keep in mind that the top several wires in the rear window are antennas that the tint material is interfering with.

Sure? Where can I check this? If it’s like u said then many people should have this problem. It annoys me 😩 …

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Nov 10, 2025 | 03:43 PM

c204_germany

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W213 E200

Quote:

Originally Posted by ua549

Did you use a metallic tint material? All vinyl material does not interfere with the antenna.

I asked and they told me it’s non metallic tint.

Nov 10, 2025 | 07:35 PM

#10

MacVidMB-V8

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Posts: 538

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From: Hollywood, CA

W209, W124

It has also happened that a little over exuberance while trimming the film with an exacto/box knife has cut wiring around edges of window.

Nov 13, 2025 | 06:29 AM

#11

c204_germany

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W213 E200

Now I don't understand anything anymore. Yesterday it suddenly worked again. I thought, cool, it's probably dried out. Today the error is back: key not detected. Can you explain this?

Nov 13, 2025 | 09:11 AM

#12

trigital

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From: Spain UTC/GMT +2 hours

W213 All-terrain

You can ask the tint workshop to pay for a diagnose, this could lead you directly to the damage created. Your rear window was not tinted by default?

Nov 13, 2025 | 09:56 AM

#13

ua549

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Quote:

Originally Posted by c204_germany

Now I don't understand anything anymore. Yesterday it suddenly worked again. I thought, cool, it's probably dried out. Today the error is back: key not detected. Can you explain this?

Another possibility is that moisture is shorting the antenna.

Nov 13, 2025 | 10:23 AM

#14

The_Judge

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From: Hermosa Beach, California

2018 E400 Coupe

I had a problem a few months ago in which the FOB would unlock the car's doors but it would not start the car. I had the car towed to the dealer and after extensive diagnosis they determined that it needed two software updates, which fixed the problem. See my post from July 3, 2025, "No Response to Key FOB"

Nov 19, 2025 | 01:25 AM

#15

Eggie

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SLK 350

Following this thread as I am about to get my w213 re-tinted with new film.

Nov 19, 2025 | 04:56 AM

#16

c204_germany

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W213 E200

Can someone explain why it worked again for a while and then stopped working again after two days? Did moisture get into the control unit again, or how can this be explained?