PilotAlan

My wife and I have a 2013 GLK and a 2013 E350.
Can keys be authorized on more than one car? Can our keys be validated to each others' cars?

In the tech side, I am curious if the car is simply reading the key code, or is there two-way validation occurring where the key validates itself to the car via a two-way authentication process (like public key encryption, to bi-directional challenge and response).

Thanks,

WHTEVO

It can only be programmed to one vehicle and not two different ones at the same time. I don't think i would want the keys to be able to be programmed to multiple vehicles at once. Yeah it would be cool to only carry one key for a few of your cars, but think about what can be done on the illegal side of it.

Aaron

PilotAlan

Yeah. There's some possible vulnerabilities, but not any more than having another key made.
It would be cool to have one key for two cars.
Oh well.....

BigHat

Also doesn't the key capture info regarding the car? Service data is just one example. Additionally, aren't the seat/mirror positions etc linked to the individual key? How could that data be linked to two cars?

awiner

Just memory settings. No other vehicle data is captured.

BigHat

That's enough though to make it an impossible goal.

Maybe I've been mislead, but I've been told the key also records any fault codes and that's why they plug the key into a sensor when I bring the car in for service. Not true?