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One thing I miss about my BMW is that it came with a digital key card. It was a key the size of a credit card that could be used to drive the car. It was great if you didn’t want to carry your keys around, you can put your key in your wallet and you’re good to go. Also, the model year just after mine introduced the phone as a key. You could use a certain model iPhone that had a special NFC as a key.
Mercedes is lagging behind BMW on this which is unfortunate given that MB had that credit card key already 20 years ago…
The digital key plus from BMW is part of the Digital Key 3.0 standard from the Car Connectivity consortium which Mercedes is a member of. So there is hope
You are right. This was a loser if I remember correctly. Heard about it when we got the E63s but was never available in the US and I believe this was discontinued.
Any NFC solution wasn't worth the use due to its very short range and inconsistent specs across manufacturers. UWB solved that and BMW has a really nice implementation; if you have one of the phones that support it https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o...mobile_devices
PFL205.064 with M276.823 (Oil pump solenoid defeated)
I heard Mercedes considered partnering with Google a few years back on the digital key and stuff and then with Samsung but either it didn't happen or it never came to North America, meaning Europe might had got it.
PFL205.064 with M276.823 (Oil pump solenoid defeated)
Originally Posted by Wolfman
Mercedes is lagging behind BMW on this which is unfortunate given that MB had that credit card key already 20 years ago…
The digital key plus from BMW is part of the Digital Key 3.0 standard from the Car Connectivity consortium which Mercedes is a member of. So there is hope
Oh ya good times, you are talking about this key card right?
That’s the one! I thought that was the coolest thing ever. Got that in 2002 with our 2003 SL55. Had it in my wallet and left the regular key at home.
Even then one could lock/unlock/start the car without ever touching the card.
PFL205.064 with M276.823 (Oil pump solenoid defeated)
Originally Posted by Wolfman
That’s the one! I thought that was the coolest thing ever. Got that in 2002 with our 2003 SL55. Had it in my wallet and left the regular key at home.
Even then one could lock/unlock/start the car without ever touching the card.
Wish MB continued it, I wonder why they discontinued it was it because it broke easily?
PFL205.064 with M276.823 (Oil pump solenoid defeated)
Originally Posted by crabman
I had no idea one was available that early; interesting.
Granted MB's version was more bulky and I really think the reason MB discontinued was it broke easily, I don't think it used NFC at that time. I used to have one, I feel old....
Edit: Scratch that, I realized I wasn't the one that used to have it, one of my family member did.
Last edited by W205C43PFL; 04-06-2023 at 05:58 PM.
Reason: Edited
This is not that appealing as I think it is just a regular key but is shaped into a thick credit card size.
One still needs to press the button to unlock the door?
PFL205.064 with M276.823 (Oil pump solenoid defeated)
Originally Posted by bishop64
This is not that appealing as I think it is just a regular key but is shaped into a thick credit card size.
One still needs to press the button to unlock the door?
I can't remember how it works but it is very old school, I mean a family member of mine used to have one forgot from what vehicle as they joined the MB family in the early days and I caught up afterwards and joined later. I doubt they still have one of those key cards around.
This is not that appealing as I think it is just a regular key but is shaped into a thick credit card size.
One still needs to press the button to unlock the door?
Much more appealing than an unnecessary key IMO…
important to remember that you just put it in your wallet and never pull it out. So there is no handling or physically using the card ever.
The button was only for programming wether the unlocking (when touching the door handle) would unlock just the driver or all doors.
And it’s thick because it’s 20+ year old tech
Today it’s just a UWB chip and software in a phone.
Granted MB's version was more bulky and I really think the reason MB discontinued was it broke easily, I don't think it used NFC at that time. I used to have one, I feel old....
Edit: Scratch that, I realized I wasn't the one that used to have it, one of my family member did.
The card was too delicate and if the battery went out you were locked out. The tech in the card was identical to the smart key itself. RF tech.
PFL205.064 with M276.823 (Oil pump solenoid defeated)
Originally Posted by Wolfman
The card was too delicate and if the battery went out you were locked out. The tech in the card was identical to the smart key itself. RF tech.
It was killed off for MY2005
I see wish MB will just bring it back but in the form of UWB and NFC? Just watching video back on this one and seems like the battery was just a coin style battery? If so then it was easier to replace than I ever thought it was. Was hoping if the battery was dead on that key card you can just hold it where the steering column is.
Mercedes is lagging behind BMW on this which is unfortunate given that MB had that credit card key already 20 years ago…
The digital key plus from BMW is part of the Digital Key 3.0 standard from the Car Connectivity consortium which Mercedes is a member of. So there is hope
I loved that credit card key back in the early 2000s when I had a 2002 CL500. Never understand why they stopped it.
Lexus still offers it. I had this in my GS like 15 years ago. To be honest, Tesla I think has probably the greatest implementation of this out of any MFG. Not only can I use the phone or a razor thin card to start the car, I can also assign people digital keys. In addition, I can start the car for 2 minutes and allow anyone to enter with NO key whatsoever and just drive away. To be honest it's something I think most mfg's should have with basically everyone having a smartphone. BMW also has a really nice implementation of this system
PFL205.064 with M276.823 (Oil pump solenoid defeated)
Originally Posted by DoctorDash
Lexus still offers it. I had this in my GS like 15 years ago. To be honest, Tesla I think has probably the greatest implementation of this out of any MFG. Not only can I use the phone or a razor thin card to start the car, I can also assign people digital keys. In addition, I can start the car for 2 minutes and allow anyone to enter with NO key whatsoever and just drive away. To be honest it's something I think most mfg's should have with basically everyone having a smartphone. BMW also has a really nice implementation of this system
04-01-2023, 01:07 PM
and joined later. I doubt they still have one of those key cards around.
