Tom Sederburg

Hello everyone,

I would like to know if it is possible for me to upgrade from my current remote:



to the new style that came out with this year's cars:



Are the new ones backwards-compatible?

Thanks so much.

Regards,
Tom

Ben'z

I think the answer is "no".

Ben'z

Do a search... you will find some information telling you how to order the new key in good price. Good luck!

Tom Sederburg

I thought the answer was "no" though?

I really have no use for one if it can not be programmed to work with my vehicle...

Later,
Tom

raymond g-

the answer is yes. to qualify, if you have a US model using a Smartkey, chances
are very high that you can purchase the chrome key and it will be compatible
with your car. all that is needed is your VIN / and possibly photo ID and it can
be ordered.

1) if you go to your walk in dealer, 99 out of 100 it'll be priced on the high side.
this avgs $200-300.

2) if ordered from OEMPARTSDIRECT their price is right around $115 plus s/h

3) be sure to order and state that the key is to be coded as an ADDITIONAL
key and not a replacement, else they will presume you lost your key and
invalidate the previous coding used by your current key(s). you'll end up with
one good key and the others....well, you sell on ebay

4) be sure to order the metal blade key as the earlier metal keys will not fit
inside the chorome key housing.....though earlier blades will still work, natch.

5) when the chrome key arrives, be sure to install the plastic switch FIRST
before sliding home your new metal key into the chrome housing.

6) some folks have reported need to have insert the chrome key into the
ignition for minutes/hours...for electronic handshaking. however the majority
reported that they pulled out of the baggie and immediately ....rock n roll.

photo shows my keys....all working. blah blah....in short
yes, new chrome key should work. caveat...if you have KeylessGo....I dont
have first hand knowledge so wont try to answer compatibility. try search
function and keywords "chrome key keyless" or something similar

raymond g-

oh.....the caveat (there is always one, isn't there?) is that Euro cars may have
diff frequency coding and as such, the US issued Smartkeys may not be
compatible. I had notes but cant find it right now. Something similar to
US issues at X mhz.....and Euro issues Smartkeys as Y mhz.

Tom Sederburg

Dear Raymond,

Thank you for all the information, it is appreciated.

I actually bought used one off eBay last night just to check it out:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...7753966&rd=1,1

The guy I got it from is registered in NYC so I would assume it's a US model.

(I actually won it on quasi-accident since I mistakenly assumed there was no way one would go for less than $30... including S&H. haa Oh well though... if I can't make it work no big loss. *shrug*)

Curious - what specifically are you talking about when you say: "be sure to order the metal blade key as the earlier metal keys will not fit inside the chorome key housing.....though earlier blades will still work, natch."

Do you mean it's possible to scavenge the key blade itself from one of my current emergency keys and some how adapt it to use it in conjunction with the new style?

I mean, would I have to break the base off in order to accomplish this?

It doesn't require any welding to be done does it? ... haa

Seriously though that is what I'm picturing.

Anyway thanks again for all the help. :-)

Regards,
Tom

raymond g-

tom -
bad news is you may have tossed away your ebay purchase as it is not
programmable to your car. once used, it's pretty much stuck at that
code. no dealer will reprogram.

so you're left with a shiny key and, unless you find some magic way of
retrofitting the guts from your gen2 plastic Smartkey, it wont work
within the gen3 chrome key.

you can see from my pics that all the metal keys are of different size.
not interchangeable. theoretically, you may be able to carve your gen2
key to fit into the chrome key...but why would you? new metal/blade key
costs less than $10.

the gen3 blade key is designed not just to latch into the chrome key, but
pops out under spring pressure.

Ben'z

I misunderstood...
I am sorry!
I thought you want to use the new style key as housing, and replace the IC from your old key.

Anyway, if you want to order the newer key, the answer is "YES".
Just follow Raymond's advice,

KarlBenz

If you are thinking of changing the inside of your key to the new smart key I don't think it will work, the new style is all that is presently available from MB will have to check with my Parts Dept to see if it will work but offhand I would say no

raymond g-

i am inclined to agree, Karl. someone else said they tried and reported the
circuit board was a different size, making it difficult/impossible to retrofit

Tom Sederburg

Well... that sucks. lol

I wonder why dealers won't reprogram them? Probably some line about theft protection right? As if anyone is going to go to the dealer and try to get the hook up Gone in 60 style. haa (I think Nicholas Cage actually ordered new keys in that movie anyway come to think of it.) Whatever. I'm disappointed. lol

So, moving on to plan "B" I guess I'll just order one from that OEM parts place you recommended. Are you sure they are the best deal though? I was perusing through some old chrome key threads as you suggested and discovered that up until a few months ago that site was selling them for nearly half the price they are now charging... That seems indicative of a fairly hefty profit margin.

Thanks again Raymond. :-)

Later,
Tom

P.S. Yeah, I was reading too much into that "key blade" excerpt from your initial post and totally mis-understood what you were trying to say. I thought you were talking about the old blades working with the new remotes, not the car itself.

raymond g-

Tom (from another post related to Smartkey)

https://mbworld.org/forums/clk55-amg-clk63-amg-w208-w209/179801-got-my-new-chrome-key-today.html

you'll need to wade through the bs so put your boots on....

in a nutshell, you will have to look hard to find it cheaper than $114. and if you
do, chances are high that it will be for walk in customers, not mail order....which
was unheard of before OEMPARTSDIRECT. i've even seen a dealer (so they say)
offer to sell new chrome keys via Ebay.