So the GL450 I purchased only has 1 key, sucks. So did some googling and there seems to be 'some' routes but I don't know how legit they are....even the ones on Ebay for $180 that are same year and model.

I'm in Indianapolis...so if I need one programmed, etc.. I am not sure what route I'd have to go.

I just can't stomach paying half a grand for a single key to this vehicle. Any recommendations?

Sure... bite down on a towel.. and get a key from your Dealer..

That’s why you got such a great deal when you purchased the GL. Adding the cost of the dealer key to your purchase price is one way of looking at it.

Call MB Lafayette north of Indy for a quote.

The cost of a new key is insignificant ... maintaining the security of M-B keys is the real issue ... and the real expense.

As M-B owners we expect high security so that we can ... as an example ... turn over our key to a parking lot attendant without concern that our key will be duplicated while we are at lunch. Not that it can't be ... or won't be ... but not easily. Keeping control of the machines for making M-B keys is ... well, it is key to doing this ... pardon the pun!

So ... where is the other key? If your vehicle was CPO by M-B you MAY have a case to have the dealership comp you a second key. It's worth a try, but if it was a private sale ... well, @fabbrisd has already described what you must do ... sorry!

Thanks I will try that.

That is fair. I agree. This wasn't a certified pre-owned. The import dealer I got it from said they get quite a few trade ins that don't have 2nd keys (i.e; it is common).

So my understanding is with a 2nd key ordered...they would need the original key as well to pair them up, yes? We have a key. We went 8 years never losing our two ML350 keys...but still makes us nervous to only have 1.

I had to pony up recently....... yes it sucks but ya just got to close your eyes... and get it done.......... i had gone centuries without losing guys... then i leaned over the side of my boat and the dam thing slid right out of my pocket... one in a million chance cost me about $500 ... and a bottle of wine to my neighbor who delivered me the spare from the house

As you replied "in the plural" I will assume your situation is like ours ... two drivers of the same vehicle. We always take both keys when we are together in our GL550 ... regardless of who is driving. It is rare, but on at least one occasion we couldn't lock or unlock, but having the second key got us out of that predicament ... don't leave home without it!

Typically your right! But wifey wasn't with me that day

I have had to chase her down a few times though when i dropped her at the door of a restaurant and the light starts flashing NO KEY!!!!

That has happened, but to me!

I was driving, had my key in my pocket, my wife had left her purse at home as she had no need for it. I left her in the car while idling to go into a store, but she had to chase after me for my key to keep the car from beeping!

Rule #1 — Both owners always have their keys on their person while driving together.

Rule #2 — Refer to Rule #1

I guess I could drink a bottle of wine while handing them $500 LMAO

Ray Catena (biggest rip-off dealership in NJ) charges $388 after tax....

My fear of using the ebay black fob + cheap locksmith approach is security. Dude can probably print your key when ever and try to come find your car...

Ummmm he only got half a bottle technically We drank it when i delivered it to him

Is it possible to buy a used (or new) key fob online/ebay and then a brand new blank (part that will be cut) - bring that to the dealer and get programmed?

I believe I have done that in the past for my other Mercedes' or when I needed a spare key for remote start.

It's been a while - but I had to have all keys reprogrammed, but it saved me a little money - but added a lot of time/research. I think the dealer programming was 1-2 hours so wasn't much savings.

It’s all freaking BS. The dealer can order your key by the Vin # and the key will cut to your vehicle too. They did that without ever seeing or touching my vehicle. How do I know that? Because they did that for me. I think the invoice was $260, but the dealer paid that. So good luck

Isn’t that a good thing? Don’t we want the process to be under the control of M-B to prevent someone other than M-B from duplicating our keys?

This isn’t like your house key ... any hardware store can cut a new house key, which means anyone can duplicate your house key if they can get it to a hardware store before you notice it is missing!

I don’t want anyone other than M-B to be able to do this and if they need to do it I damn sure don’t want to surrender a key to make another key. Could a rogue M-B employee look up your VIN, create a new key from that VIN and steal your vehicle off the street? I guess so, but M-B “owns the problem” if that happened.