Digital Key
Member
Joined: Jan 2023
Posts: 187
Likes: 48
EQE 350 4matic
I just took delivery of an EQE SUV 500 and read about setting up the "Digital Key" in the user manual. In the manual, I encountered: "Mercedes Benz recommends that you have an emergency key with you" in case of problems. Upon reading this, I decided to simply skip all the Digital Key stuff and not bother setting it up. ..others!
Difference between a fob and digital key is convenience and find-ability.
if you lose your fob at the gym you have no way to ping it, whereas if it’s your phone you can with your watch or another phone, more over you’d be able to see the location of your digital key no such luck with physical.
if your phone runs out of battery you still can use it up to 10 times to open your car and start it. If your fob runs of battery you are gonna be fighting with the door handle or waiting for a recovery truck to break into your own vehicle.
newer tech usually comes with added convenience automakers greed and profits over user experience kills brand loyalty.
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 11,400
Likes: 5,324
From: San Francisco Bay Area
2019 C63CS
I just took delivery of an EQE SUV 500 and read about setting up the "Digital Key" in the user manual. In the manual, I encountered: "Mercedes Benz recommends that you have an emergency key with you" in case of problems. Upon reading this, I decided to simply skip all the Digital Key stuff and not bother setting it up. My use case was not that strong and why use the technology if you can't trust it and have to carry a physical key with you anyway? My default is to always carry the key fob, since I do not find this inconvenient in the least.
Perhaps my thinking on this has evolved, however, to the point where I might find it worthwhile to setup up the digital key to use in limited, specific circumstances. Example - going to the gym today. Despite the efforts of some gyms to provide secure storage for things like wallets and keys, gyms are still notorious locations for theft. How easy it would be to steal a set of MB car keys, go out to the gym parking lot and find a new Mercedes there and drive it away? Would insurance even cover such a theft, if the thief stole the car using the keys?? For such a scenario, using a digital key might give me greater peace-of-mind. In the rare case of the digital key not working, I could take a taxi or bus home and get my key fob. A PITA, but not all that bad a workaround in the big scheme of things.
What happens if you have BOTH the digital key and the fob in your pockets when you approach the car? Is there potential for it to get "confused"?
Maybe I'm missing something about the pros & cons of using the (non 2024) digital key. Would love to hear further thoughts from others!
Perhaps my thinking on this has evolved, however, to the point where I might find it worthwhile to setup up the digital key to use in limited, specific circumstances. Example - going to the gym today. Despite the efforts of some gyms to provide secure storage for things like wallets and keys, gyms are still notorious locations for theft. How easy it would be to steal a set of MB car keys, go out to the gym parking lot and find a new Mercedes there and drive it away? Would insurance even cover such a theft, if the thief stole the car using the keys?? For such a scenario, using a digital key might give me greater peace-of-mind. In the rare case of the digital key not working, I could take a taxi or bus home and get my key fob. A PITA, but not all that bad a workaround in the big scheme of things.
What happens if you have BOTH the digital key and the fob in your pockets when you approach the car? Is there potential for it to get "confused"?
Maybe I'm missing something about the pros & cons of using the (non 2024) digital key. Would love to hear further thoughts from others!
Last edited by superswiss; Nov 5, 2023 at 12:25 PM.
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2022
Posts: 750
Likes: 225
From: Sweden
2023 EQE SUV 500 4Matic
In Europe, MB has supported the NFC digital key for Android phones for a while, I'm assuming that's what you have. The main reason for the advise to carry a backup, is because the key fob has a mechanical key inside of it to unlock the doors if for some reason the electronics don't work or the phone is completely dead. Just like my door locks at home have a keypad, so I can always get in and if I go away on vacation I generally take a physical key with me as a backup in case the battery in the lock dies while I'm away. I'd probably never go far from home with just a digital key. As for the gym situation, I personally walk to my gym, but you could always double press the lock button on the key fob, then hide it in the car and lock using the phone app. As for tracking ones physical key, there are things like AirTags if one is prone to losing their key.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,030
Likes: 492
From: Louisville, KY
2023 EQE350 4MATIC, 2023 EQE 350 4MATIC SUV, 2015 E250 BlueTEC 4MATIC, 1995 E300 Diesel
It disables the fob's proximity unlock and Keyless Go system. Useful is you're in a public setting and don't want to be the victim of a relay attack, or don't want the fob to drain its battery. Speaking of relay attack, the key automatically shuts down Keyless Go if the key is immobile for some period, to reduce the chance of a relay attack working at night while your keys are within range of the car.
Member
Joined: Jan 2023
Posts: 187
Likes: 48
EQE 350 4matic
It disables the fob's proximity unlock and Keyless Go system. Useful is you're in a public setting and don't want to be the victim of a relay attack, or don't want the fob to drain its battery. Speaking of relay attack, the key automatically shuts down Keyless Go if the key is immobile for some period, to reduce the chance of a relay attack working at night while your keys are within range of the car.
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2022
Posts: 750
Likes: 225
From: Sweden
2023 EQE SUV 500 4Matic
Cool! Thank you! And how to re-enable Keyless Go? Simply unlock and then it's normal again?
(I am reading my manual, but have only managed to get through half of it in the few days I've had the car)
(I am reading my manual, but have only managed to get through half of it in the few days I've had the car)
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,030
Likes: 492
From: Louisville, KY
2023 EQE350 4MATIC, 2023 EQE 350 4MATIC SUV, 2015 E250 BlueTEC 4MATIC, 1995 E300 Diesel
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2022
Posts: 750
Likes: 225
From: Sweden
2023 EQE SUV 500 4Matic
I'm such a NewB at this, having had the same car for the 21 years prior to my EQE SUV!
I had to Google "Relay Attack" as I had no clue what this was.
I found an article that summarized it nicely, which I will include below, as there may be some others coming at this who are similarly naive (???)
https://leasing.com/guides/relay-car...-you-avoid-it/
What an eye opener!
Bytemaster, above mentions that the key goes "silent" after a period of immobility, which sounds like a clever and simple preventative measure. I find myself wondering just how long or short this period of immobility is.
I found in my owner's manual the spot where it talks about disabling Keyless Go by holding the lock button down while simultaneously pressing the unlock button twice in immediate succession. It only suggested I might want to do this to save on key fob battery power during long periods of no use. This makes me wonder if the key fob does not actually go silent, otherwise why would MB give this explanation??
The more I read about this, the more aware -- and more puzzled -- I get!
I had to Google "Relay Attack" as I had no clue what this was.
I found an article that summarized it nicely, which I will include below, as there may be some others coming at this who are similarly naive (???)
https://leasing.com/guides/relay-car...-you-avoid-it/
What an eye opener!
Bytemaster, above mentions that the key goes "silent" after a period of immobility, which sounds like a clever and simple preventative measure. I find myself wondering just how long or short this period of immobility is.
I found in my owner's manual the spot where it talks about disabling Keyless Go by holding the lock button down while simultaneously pressing the unlock button twice in immediate succession. It only suggested I might want to do this to save on key fob battery power during long periods of no use. This makes me wonder if the key fob does not actually go silent, otherwise why would MB give this explanation??
The more I read about this, the more aware -- and more puzzled -- I get!
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping
Verdad Gallardo
10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used
Verdad Gallardo
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 11,400
Likes: 5,324
From: San Francisco Bay Area
2019 C63CS
I'm such a NewB at this, having had the same car for the 21 years prior to my EQE SUV!
I had to Google "Relay Attack" as I had no clue what this was.
I found an article that summarized it nicely, which I will include below, as there may be some others coming at this who are similarly naive (???)
https://leasing.com/guides/relay-car...-you-avoid-it/
What an eye opener!
Bytemaster, above mentions that the key goes "silent" after a period of immobility, which sounds like a clever and simple preventative measure. I find myself wondering just how long or short this period of immobility is.
I found in my owner's manual the spot where it talks about disabling Keyless Go by holding the lock button down while simultaneously pressing the unlock button twice in immediate succession. It only suggested I might want to do this to save on key fob battery power during long periods of no use. This makes me wonder if the key fob does not actually go silent, otherwise why would MB give this explanation??
The more I read about this, the more aware -- and more puzzled -- I get!
I had to Google "Relay Attack" as I had no clue what this was.
I found an article that summarized it nicely, which I will include below, as there may be some others coming at this who are similarly naive (???)
https://leasing.com/guides/relay-car...-you-avoid-it/
What an eye opener!
Bytemaster, above mentions that the key goes "silent" after a period of immobility, which sounds like a clever and simple preventative measure. I find myself wondering just how long or short this period of immobility is.
I found in my owner's manual the spot where it talks about disabling Keyless Go by holding the lock button down while simultaneously pressing the unlock button twice in immediate succession. It only suggested I might want to do this to save on key fob battery power during long periods of no use. This makes me wonder if the key fob does not actually go silent, otherwise why would MB give this explanation??
The more I read about this, the more aware -- and more puzzled -- I get!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,030
Likes: 492
From: Louisville, KY
2023 EQE350 4MATIC, 2023 EQE 350 4MATIC SUV, 2015 E250 BlueTEC 4MATIC, 1995 E300 Diesel
I'm always going to preface that any technology that renders an attack "no longer possible" just means it's less feasible. I agree that in principle, ToF is nearly impossible to defeat. However, don't underestimate that while ToF may be practically secure, there may be other issues that can affect the operation of the locking system, such as a security vulnerability in the way it communicates with the key. I'm sure MB has done an excellent job in handling edge cases, fuzz testing, and ensuring that the software is designed with formal verification methods in mind. Still, I'll never sign off on saying that something is truly 100% secure. 
Newbie
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 10
Likes: 1
04 CLK 270 cdi
I’m in the US with a ’23 EQE. The app lets me lock/unlock and remote start, but the fob is still required to drive. My dealer ran my VIN and confirmed no retrofit without code 896 and UWB hardware. I had a 2024 E-Class loaner, its phone as key worked great, and carrying phone plus fob didn’t confuse anything. For gym runs I just stash the fob in a running belt and keep the app as a backup. I’m picky with digital purchases too, so I price check legit keys and region notes at https://cdkeyprices.ca. Helpful and independent.
Last edited by Steve.r; Sep 29, 2025 at 09:45 AM.
