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OK, this was just posted on another MB forum. I know nothing more than what I am posting here. Oh, and he also posted a copy of his invoice.
I ordered my key yesterday March 9 2021 from Mercedes Benz of San Diego.I have a 98 Sl500. The key should be at the dealer Friday. Went to service with my registration, driver license and filled out some paperwork. $243 including tax.
Sounds like they are again available here in the states.
I just called a Mercedes Benz in Manhattan today and they said they have another person who’s been trying to get a key and they can’t help me either (I have a 97 SL500)
I guess it’s only certain dealers but I plan to go in and speak with them in person and make the case for them to escalate the issue.
MB has moved on from these older cars, and so should you. They don't care to keep them on the road as it's not profitable for them. They want everyone to rent (lease) a new Mercedes every 3-4 years for the rest of their lives. MB stopped making interior and trim parts for the r230 SL several years ago. Actually, their vendors stopped making parts for them. Many of those vendors no longer exist. Your r129 SL is obsolete. You can't buy a new Motorola brick phone either. Think about it this way, your r129 is nothing more than a Motorola brick phone with 4 wheels on it. All the emails and letters in the world won't stop the progress of technology.
Last edited by E55Greasemonkey; Mar 19, 2021 at 08:33 PM.
MB has moved on from these older cars, and so should you. They don't care to keep them on the road as it's not profitable for them. They want everyone to rent (lease) a new Mercedes every 3-4 years for the rest of their lives. MB stopped making interior and trim parts for the r230 SL several years ago. Actually, their vendors stopped making parts for them. Many of those vendors no longer exist. Your r129 SL is obsolete. You can't buy a new Motorola brick phone either. Think about it this way, your r129 is nothing more than a Motorola brick phone with 4 wheels on it. All the emails and letters in the world won't stop the progress of technology.
Wow !! So much for "Classic Car Collectors". Guess they have been relegated to the scrap heap of Automotive history.
If I ordered one of these for my '93 500sl, would it work, and would MB honor the order ?
Thanks.
NO it wouldn't. The older R129s use a different remote and chip. While I have no direct experience, it is my understanding that the chip in the early keys can be cloned. People have had various luck with third party remotes as there are none from MB, and it is unlikely that there ever will be for the pre-97 cars (one button remotes).
The three button remotes house a special chip that communicates with various black boxes to start the car (security system). The early cars used a different technology that is not the same as the late model R129s.
Just a heads-up, you need to insert the new key into the ignition.
You will see the hazard lights flash for a bit and then the car will understand it..
Thanks for posting that. I've just now verified with a U.S. dealership the part number supercedes to another number. Neither number is available anywhere in the U.S. and there is a note from MBUSA once the stock is depleted (which it is) the part will no longer be available/this is the final stock.
I just received a quote for a key fob from The House of Imports in Buena Park, CA. The Service guy quoted $474.00 plus tax! My friend needs a new key fob as well so I asked the Service guy for a group discount. He said my key will cost $474 and my friend's key $674! What makes my request so frustrating is the Service guy doesn't know a thing about our older cars. (He thought there is only one key that works on the car and never heard of a Valet key!) Apparently, he just writes up the tickets and bends customers over. Time to try searching elsewhere.
Facts I know about these key is I bought two in the last 4 years in SOCAL one for my 98 SL500 and one for my 99 SL600 before they went extinct from the same dealer. The info is given to dealer in person pictures are taken of the door post and windshield VIN along with title. This is sent to Dallas Texas, keys are created and shipped to said dealer in sealed bag. No dealer programming is done. Just walk out to car and key is ready to fly. These so called service managers have no clue about the keys for our cars. I really wish the "Mother Ship" Would crack down on these crooks all three of my R129's cost from 80k to 130k and I cant get a F=-&ing key? But some kid with a 30k A class piece of under powered crap with a star on the nose can?? WTF
These cars came with 4 keys, 2 remote fob keys, 1 flat wallet master key and a flat valet key, all contain a chip. So I guess there will soon be some real cool 4-wheel bricks around for us to get parts from. I last tried to get a Key from Caliber Motors in Anaheim CA and was told about key guys in town that can cut blade keys??? Another clueless service manager and parts manager. I can't imagine a wire butcher getting into my car to try his skills at defeating the ECU and immobilizer to start the car much less make the remote features work. So for us that value the true Mercedes R129 roadster as a classic and want to keep it original we are collectively screwed .
What makes my request so frustrating is the Service guy doesn't know a thing about our older cars. (He thought there is only one key that works on the car and never heard of a Valet key!) Apparently, he just writes up the tickets and bends customers over. .
No dealer programming is done. Just walk out to car and key is ready to fly.
I collected my new Key FOB from the dealer and went home to try it. It didn't unlock the car, I had to use my old key to unlock the car and then inserted the new key into the ignition and the hazard lights came on a couple of time with a strange humming noise, and then it worked.
UPDATE: I have called several So Cal MB dealers and both the Parts Departments and Service Advisors told me there are no more keys. (Gee, what's new!) They also told me there are no aftermarket keys as well. Perhaps, somewhere in a different galaxy, there are a few around but it appears, sadly, there are none here on earth. So, if you have a key I suggest guarding it with your life!
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