racerjack

Hello,

Somehow the second key that come with my 2002 SL450 is not for our car.
Now I must get a second key FOB made for backup and second drivers personal use.

Has anyone found a source of having this done woutside of MB dealership?

Please advise.

Jack

JettaRed

iTrader: (1)

NOPE! Tried it. The problem is that ONLY authorized Mercedes dealers can program the fob. You can get key blanks and have them cut by a locksmith with the capability to laser cut keys, but after 2014 model year, you need to have a dealer program the fob.

I got a fob from https://northcoastkeyless.com/ and it was identical to the one from the dealership (to include the model, FCC code, frequency, etc.), but the dealership claimed they couldn't program it. I had my doubts, but what are you going to do? All in all, the fob without the emergency key was $640 (or something close). The emergency key was an extra $100 more. I did buy blanks for a couple of dollars and had them cut by a locksmith for $45 but had to use a file to slightly alter the key to get it to work. The dealer will usually have the fobs in stock but order the emergency key pre-cut from Mercedes.

Bottom line: You are looking at $750-$800 for a new key.

JettaRed

iTrader: (1)

My above response was for a lost key. If you have the fob already, the dealer may be able to program it for an hour's labor. Does the emergency key in the non-working fob unlock the car door? Is the key fob battery good? have you tried to use the fob by inserting it in the dash where the start button is? You know you can pull off the start button and insert the fob.

JettaRed

iTrader: (1)

What year is your car? There was no SL450 in 2002.

toolguy4u

Having gone thru this with my previous 2001 SLK, here's what I learned. . GO TO THE DEALER. . .
Mercedes has a 'Key Control" which I seem to remember was in Texas at that time. . they make
the physical key. . . Then the dealership has to program the new FOB / Key. . . In 2001 there were 2 separate computers in
my SLK.
One is the ignition portion and another computer is for security / locks. Here is where it gets dicey, the security computer has
8 open 'ports' for 8 individual keys, Once a port is used, it's burned forever for future use. AND, Mercedes policy was/is to remder
any port pre-programmed without a physical key useless unless you present them all keys in your possession at the time of programing. It's their way of
ensuring that no one else can get in your car

IN my case. the technician made "some" errors and all my extra ports he was using were wasted until there were no more ports available. Mercedes had to replace both my security computer and ignition computer, The security computer was hidden inside the dashboard. . . Besides the cost of all new keys and the computer parts, Mercedes had to cover 3 days labor to R&R the dash. Expensive mistake on their part.


Reading your situation, I have this main question, Did your spare key ever work??? Does it open the doors and turn the Ignition ?? If so, possibly Mercedes can get that key to access your system.

racerjack

Hello,

Fast fingers and poor eyesight allowed 2020 SL450 to be typed as 2002. Car is 2020.

The second key FOB I have but is not programmed to our car. The emergency key will not work as it is differently cut.

Are you suggesting I might take the existing key FOB to MB and have it re-programmed for my car? And possibly have an emergency key cut from mine that works>

Wonderful if it is so.

Jack

JettaRed

iTrader: (1)

Yes and yes. The emergency mechanical key should run about $100 from the dealer, but will cost you around $50 for a blank and cutting. For the extra $50, it may be better to get it from the dealer. They should be able to reprogram the "bad" fob but may actually tell you they can't. So be prepared.

Where did you buy the car? If they sold it to you with two working fobs advertised, I would ask them to provide a working replacement. But they could just say no. For the price of a new one, it's not worth fighting it in court.

racerjack

Rest of the story.

Dealer provided 2 key fobs; one which was not for our car. Asked us to wait 30 days for lost key insurance to initiate and go to any MB dealer who would replace the key for and valet key. The insurance was for LOST key, not a key never received and replaced intentionally with a key that would not work.

After much back and forth, we decided to take the simple, straightforward route and have 2nd key fob and valet key made at dealer 60 miles away, not 240 miles where the car was purchased.

Key fob cost $400.00, valet key properly cut $100 (from TX) and dealer must have car and a working key and verification of ownership to make the duplicate. MB corporate has a. control system to prevent unauthorized duplication.

The duplicate will be made Friday August 23. Finally getting a 2nd key.

Service manager at MB also stated the importance of having a spare key as a car without any keys cannot be started and must be flat bedded to MB for authorization and new key processing which may take up to 2 weeks. Dealer will not provide loaner.

Jack

JettaRed

iTrader: (1)

I think each dealer is different. The dealer can program a new fob from inventory without a working key. The problem is that the working key (if and when found) will no longer work with the car. The existing key fob and new key fob must be coded to the car at the same time. The supposed long lead time for a cut key is because the dealer does not cut the key locally. But, as I said, you can buy blanks off Amazon and have a duplicate made by a locksmith with a laser cutter. My dealer told me at the time that they could have the cut key within 3 days.

The cut "valet" key is NOT a valet key at all. You can use it ONLY to unlock the trunk or the driver's door; you CANNOT use it to start the car. It is officially called an "Emergency Key" in case you lock your only key inside the car or trunk.

But your dealer is right to say it is very risky to have only one set of keys.

I don't know the laws in the state where you bought the car, but it is pretty shady for the selling dealer to try to fraud the insurance company by giving you a bogus key and telling you to claim a loss. What does the paperwork say? Where there any "due outs" or any mention of the second key? I would definitely have a conversation with the selling dealer about reimbursement for the new key. Otherwise, I would contact the Attorney General's Office of the state where the car was purchased and tell them your story.