Digital Key
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 65
Likes: 20
From: Dubai
2024 Mercedes E200
I have a fully "smart" home and no longer use a key for the front door (I don't have a garage door). My wife has a Tesla with a phone key function, which is mainly based on old bluetooth technology and is MUCH more reliable. To the point that we no longer take the key card with us as the phone key "always works".
With the Digital Key on the iPhone / Apple Watch, I am fumbling most of the times as the door handles don't always pop out and I keep trying to activate the car with the Digital Key card in the Apple Wallet. I am also not sure what underlying technology it uses (e.g., bluetooth, NFC, Apple proprietary protocol etc).
I think it is a combination of poor Mercedes technology and Apple walled garden that makes it unreliable. But after getting stuck a few times, I no longer use it.
With the Digital Key on the iPhone / Apple Watch, I am fumbling most of the times as the door handles don't always pop out and I keep trying to activate the car with the Digital Key card in the Apple Wallet. I am also not sure what underlying technology it uses (e.g., bluetooth, NFC, Apple proprietary protocol etc).
I think it is a combination of poor Mercedes technology and Apple walled garden that makes it unreliable. But after getting stuck a few times, I no longer use it.
Member
Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 229
Likes: 72
From: Poland
GLE
I have a fully "smart" home and no longer use a key for the front door (I don't have a garage door). My wife has a Tesla with a phone key function, which is mainly based on old bluetooth technology and is MUCH more reliable. To the point that we no longer take the key card with us as the phone key "always works".
With the Digital Key on the iPhone / Apple Watch, I am fumbling most of the times as the door handles don't always pop out and I keep trying to activate the car with the Digital Key card in the Apple Wallet. I am also not sure what underlying technology it uses (e.g., bluetooth, NFC, Apple proprietary protocol etc).
I think it is a combination of poor Mercedes technology and Apple walled garden that makes it unreliable. But after getting stuck a few times, I no longer use it.
With the Digital Key on the iPhone / Apple Watch, I am fumbling most of the times as the door handles don't always pop out and I keep trying to activate the car with the Digital Key card in the Apple Wallet. I am also not sure what underlying technology it uses (e.g., bluetooth, NFC, Apple proprietary protocol etc).
I think it is a combination of poor Mercedes technology and Apple walled garden that makes it unreliable. But after getting stuck a few times, I no longer use it.
The Digital Key is immune from such attacks. However, if it doesn't work consistently then that's beside the point, since people won't use it.
Newbie
Joined: Nov 2024
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: Warsaw, Poland
W214 400e
Just a follow up from my service visit. They made my digital key working back again, but didn't really fix much, so I believe the fix is not permanent. Mercedes electrician said he performed a deep restart and iPhone as a key started working. He said I could do the same by disconnecting low power battery and keeping it disconnected for 10 minutes.
Now iPhone correctly discovers the car as soon as I put it in a tray. You need to remember to share internet to your car - I do have mobile plan configured but it wouldn't work this way. I had to share internet from mobile hotspot to the car.
Regardless, not much fix here. Digital Car key in Mercedes stay as unreliable way of getting into / driving car. I share the opinion of the others here that having a fob for longer trips is still crucial.
Now iPhone correctly discovers the car as soon as I put it in a tray. You need to remember to share internet to your car - I do have mobile plan configured but it wouldn't work this way. I had to share internet from mobile hotspot to the car.
Regardless, not much fix here. Digital Car key in Mercedes stay as unreliable way of getting into / driving car. I share the opinion of the others here that having a fob for longer trips is still crucial.
Member
Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 229
Likes: 72
From: Poland
GLE
Member
Joined: May 2024
Posts: 85
Likes: 32
S-class, E450 W214, E350 W214
I just installed Digital Key on my brand new 2025 E450 and it is working both on my iphone and Apple watch. However, this is a fresh install from scratch on a new car. On the Apple watch, after successful installation, it is necessary to enable "Passive Entry" on your Apple Digital Key card inside your Apple Wallet before that feature becomes functional (on the iphone this is enabled by default). One can disable the "Passive Entry" feature on both iphone and/or Apple Watch if one so desired. With all this, it does not seem MB has disabled the Digital Key feature across the USA.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 214
Likes: 45
From: New York
2025 E450 Sedan: 2019 E450 Coupe
Cruise2024, congratulations on the new E450. What iPhone do you have and what iOS is installed. It still won’t install the digital key on my iPhone 16 pro with iOS 18.1.1..
Also, could you indicate what version of MBUX came with your car.
Also, could you indicate what version of MBUX came with your car.
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Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 328
Likes: 179
From: The Middle of the Fairway
2025 E450 All Terrain Wagon, Nautical Blue Metallic, Macchiato Beige/Black Interior
I am the happy recipient of a new 2025 E450 All Terrain Wagon. I installed the digital car key onto my iPhone and Apple Watch. Thus far it works just fine but I'll update this post if the thing becomes buggy.
Later today I'm going to venture out just using the digital key on the iPhone, as a test. I will disable the key fob and carry it, just in case, for testing purposes.
Later today I'm going to venture out just using the digital key on the iPhone, as a test. I will disable the key fob and carry it, just in case, for testing purposes.
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 328
Likes: 179
From: The Middle of the Fairway
2025 E450 All Terrain Wagon, Nautical Blue Metallic, Macchiato Beige/Black Interior
This morning I was in and out of the car doing errands, with multiple stops along the way. I had no issues with the digital car key. I may as well had the key fob in my pocket as there was absolutely no difference in unlocking the car, opening the trunk while locked and starting and driving. I carried my disabled key with me and put it in one those pouches that prevents transmission of signal in case the digital failed.
I'll still have to keep going with the "test" I noted above multiple times before I'm certain about leaving the key home. It sure looks to at least be a promising back up for when I may not have the key fob with me.
I'll still have to keep going with the "test" I noted above multiple times before I'm certain about leaving the key home. It sure looks to at least be a promising back up for when I may not have the key fob with me.
Last edited by beechcamp; Nov 25, 2024 at 03:23 PM.
Member
Joined: May 2024
Posts: 85
Likes: 32
S-class, E450 W214, E350 W214
IOS: 18.1.1
MBUX version: 262.3.4975
Member
Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 229
Likes: 72
From: Poland
GLE
Do you think the digital key in the phone has longer range than the keyfob? Or do you just keep the keyfob further away from the car?
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 54
Likes: 5
E Class 220 d
I think potentially yes, but in my case I keep the key fob in the kitchen in a faraday bag, but I charge my phone in my bedroom at night which is well within distance for a Blue Tooth connection to my car, I also frequently walk dogs during the day and every time I walked passed the car would wake up and put out the door handles. I really did not like or need this so removed the digital key from my phone and watch.
Member
Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 229
Likes: 72
From: Poland
GLE
I think this is the problem with the door handles that the car has to be constantly reacting to the key. I'm not sure but I think with regular handles the car "does" something only when you touch them and it has to unlock the doors.
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 54
Likes: 5
E Class 220 d
I am not sure it’s just door handles I noticed that the USB Connectors in the car light up so think some part of the car is awake and using power. I am about a week in after removing the digital key and my battery is fine and remaining charged
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 328
Likes: 179
From: The Middle of the Fairway
2025 E450 All Terrain Wagon, Nautical Blue Metallic, Macchiato Beige/Black Interior
When I walk into my garage with the digital key the door handles pop out at the same distance away as when I have my key fob. As "patchthefish" does, I'll mostly have the digital turned off except for when I need it. It takes just a second to turn it back on, so it is fairly ready for if/when I need it.
Last edited by beechcamp; Nov 26, 2024 at 07:43 AM.
Newbie
Joined: Jan 2025
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Tokyo
2025 E200
Anybody know if the digital key feature is supposed to be available on the iPhone 16 pro ?
I was able to get the digital key working on my iPhone 15 & Apple watch. But the option isn't even showing up in the mercedes app on my wife's phone which is a 16 pro. I'm just wondering if that is becasue the newer phone isn't supported... or the car somehow doesn't support multiple phones having a digital key for the same car.
I was able to get the digital key working on my iPhone 15 & Apple watch. But the option isn't even showing up in the mercedes app on my wife's phone which is a 16 pro. I'm just wondering if that is becasue the newer phone isn't supported... or the car somehow doesn't support multiple phones having a digital key for the same car.
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 328
Likes: 179
From: The Middle of the Fairway
2025 E450 All Terrain Wagon, Nautical Blue Metallic, Macchiato Beige/Black Interior
I have an iPhone 16 Pro and an Apple Watch and my digital key works on them. Maybe this site can answer some questions for you: https://www.mbusa.com/en/owners/manu...al-vehicle-key
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 214
Likes: 45
From: New York
2025 E450 Sedan: 2019 E450 Coupe
I also have the 16 Pro and digital key works. I think since you are the primary account holder you have to authorize the additional key. I have seen something about this, but don't recall the specifics.
Newbie
Joined: Jan 2025
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Tokyo
2025 E200
Thanks a lot for that ! It proved enough of a hint for me to go look at the mercedes app and tap on the "service explanation". Turns out I just had to share the key from the iphone wallet directly and passed on to my wife thorugh iMessage.
Newbie
Joined: Jan 2025
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Tokyo
2025 E200
Thank you for that ! That made me go to the mercedes app and read the "Service explanation" section of the Digital Vehicle Key. Turns out its as simple as sharing the key via the wallet app.. which just sends the key over iMessage.
