I got a telephone call today from Mercedes , saying they have a limited amount of flip keys . They sent an email with my vin and a few groupings of numbers. Rushed to the dealer and with a surprised look they said that is available , I placed the order and I should have it in a week.
What a nice Christmas present-

Happy Holiday;s to all

 

Congratulations.

 

Congrats! Called my local dealers today and they gave me the same usual run around. Wondering how I can get MB to send me a similar email... did you reach out to someone in particular?

 

Use the info in this post as ammunition/reference. Your $tealer$hip$ are lazy and pulling your legs.

 

I called MB USA at 18003676372.
Talked to Customer Service.

There is a kind of list that they have of people who have called in about keys in the past.
I know this because I went to get keys from the dealer about a year ago and the dealer told me to call MBUSA since the key was discontinued.

On the call to MBUSA I gave the tech this part #: Q-4-76-0025 and asked if I could have one.
She checked and said that they are controlled release and that since I am the list from a year ago that I can expect an email from MBUSA.
But she did also say that the supply was limited and that there would be a chance that they might have sold out all the keys.

The next morning, I got a call from MBUSA and they told me that I could buy the key if I still wanted it.

They sent me an email with the following information: (copied from the email)
I took a print out of the email to the dealer and wham bamn, ordered 2 keys.

I ordered 2 keys but was informed that I may only get one since the keys are a limited supply.
Each key was $225 (not including tax).
They said the turnaround time was 2 business days.

So definitely call MBUSA. It seems like the wait-list thing may have just been corporate speak and that calling in speeds it all up.
Maybe just call the same woman in the signature line below.
================================================== ======Thank you for your patience. We are following up with you about your request for a replacement key for your 1998 SL 600 bearing VIN WDBFA76F4WF168448.

To process an order for the key on your 1998 SL 600 WDBFA76F4WF168448, here are instructions for ordering at an authorized Mercedes-Benz dealer:

1. Present this email to your dealerships’ Parts Advisor.
   

a. The dealership is required to adhere to Daimler’s Theft Relevant Parts Policy. This policy has been put in place to protect you and your vehicle. It will require various forms of identification and documentation in order for a key to be released to you.

　For Dealership Use Only:
To process this order, please submit a case to the PAC via the Workbench with:

1. Case Type: Parts Order
   
2. Case Reason: CB05 Blocked Part
   
3. Please add the CAC Case # (2-1923044101) to the comments field
   
4. MBUSA will place the order on your behalf following case submission
   

Rasheeda

Executive Referral Manager

Mercedes-Benz USA LLC,.

1-800-367-6372 (ext. 4605)

IMPORTANT:
When responding, please “reply with history” as this email includes a special thread ID that ensures faster notification and processing of your response. Please be sure to not delete the THREAD ID associated with this e-mail when responding.
[ACTIVITY ID:2-1FRL9GE][CASE ID:2-VSXIBP]
===========================================

 

You guys are lucky, my local dealer won't even respond.
Even MB Classic Dept responded asking me to contact my dealer.

 

Thanks Mazen - gave MB USA a call and finally got in contact with the same manager, Rasheeda. She was very helpful and sent over the same email.

Finally have some movement! Hope this leads to bigger production.

FYI, my local indie mechanic has had a SL600 sitting for 7 months due to not having a key. They were going to swap the locks/ignition from a donor car, but the costs were heavy and it's been sitting in the corner collecting dust. Sad to see cars like this go to waste because of this key issue.

 

Cool!

 

So you can definitely order more than one key at a time!
The keys are heavy!
Nice texture and feel.

 

Congrats to the 1998 SL600 owners - you can get keys. According to MBZ Corp 1997 Model year is still not avail.
Here is the email I received from MBZ Corp.
Below are the Model’s and year range for which a limited amount of key parts have become available.

•  
  • 1996 S & SL Class Vehicles- Part # BQ4760032

•  
  • 1998-1999 S Class and 1998-2002 SL Class Vehicles- Part # BQ4760025

 

Hi there,

I called customer service yesterday and they said they changed their system and opened up ordering and to just go to the dealer for the key order. Upon doing so yesterday they placed the order and I found out today the keys are no longer available. Must be some out already. Who knows how many they actually made. Anyone else have any luck recently? I know this thread is a few weeks old now...

Thanks for any insight!

 

I began trying to order a key last Friday for my 99 SL600😤. It started with some what of a run around between MBUSA and the dealer, First I went to the dealer and ordered a key after all the info was taken the service writer called the parts dept to place the order and was told N/A So I went home and called Customer Care and the lady said the dealers have authorization to order the keys and I just need to go there with the car and ID, I told her I did that so she got them on the phone with me and the dealer told her N/A and he said there are lock smiths around that do it, I told him they can't do this car plus the lady told him that they are available, so after a bit of back and forth he took my VIN and said he's sending an email to TX and will call me Monday to tell me what he found out. So far he called me this morning and said he has sent 2 emails with no response so he sent a 3rd one today so I hope some positive info may come?

 

Update from my end - I placed the order with my dealer a few weeks ago after receiving the email authorization from MB USA. It finally came in a few days ago, picked it up and works great. The part number for the key was for the pre-'97 SLs, which caused some confusion as mine is an '01. But I assume MB programmed these keys now to work for all R129 years. Works great so no complaints here.

The parts rep at the dealer let me know that the system showed general availability and MB USA wouldn't be supplying the manual work order authorization anymore. However, he said in his system there were only 17 keys as available across the entire dealer inventory. I'd assume those 17 are accounted for now...

This whole key ordeal has been a nightmare for us loyal owners. I recommend still reaching out to MB USA to figure out what to do as these dealerships have no clue what's going on or how to handle these requests.

 

Thanks to you both for the replies and information. I’ll try call customer service again. They just may have sold them all. At least if enough people request maybe they will make more.

 

I have a '96 SL500 and the key FOB just fell apart. I ordered two replacement mechanical keys only to learn they do not work in the trunk. Mercedes says $700 for a trunk key and there is only one in Germany. They also said it will require a tumbler change. Good grief. Am I getting bad info? How can I regain access to my truck?

 

I have a '96 SL500 and the key FOB just fell apart. I ordered two replacement mechanical keys only to learn they do not work in the trunk. Mercedes says $700 for a trunk key and there is only one in Germany. They also said it will require a tumbler change. Good grief. Am I getting bad info? How can I regain access to my truck?

 

Congratulations. I am living in the United Arab Emirates. I have 500 SL Model 1991

How can I order spare key? Please let me know.

Good luck and Thank you very much.