Trunk won't open! Even the key won't open it!
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 312
Likes: 10
From: Los Angeles
E39 M5, E71 X6M, W211 E63 AMG, W218 CLS63 AMG
Trunk won't open! Even the key won't open it!
Trunk doesn't open and all it does is make the mechanical "wrrrr" sound. I've tried using the key fob, the button on the door panel and the mechanical key itself but nothing works. 
The manual says to insert the mechanical key and turn counter clockwise while pulling the handle to open but the key wont even turn. It won't turn counterclockwise to lock either.
I've tried to look for a way into the trunk through the back seats but apparently the seats don't fold down???
Can anyone enlighten me with a solution?
The manual says to insert the mechanical key and turn counter clockwise while pulling the handle to open but the key wont even turn. It won't turn counterclockwise to lock either.
I've tried to look for a way into the trunk through the back seats but apparently the seats don't fold down???
Can anyone enlighten me with a solution?
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 312
Likes: 10
From: Los Angeles
E39 M5, E71 X6M, W211 E63 AMG, W218 CLS63 AMG
Thanks for the quick reply
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 312
Likes: 10
From: Los Angeles
E39 M5, E71 X6M, W211 E63 AMG, W218 CLS63 AMG
i took my car to my mechanic and apparently the mechanical key wasnt made for my car... wtf do i do now? He says the only way to open the trunk is to break into it somehow. seriously i've never encountered something like this in any of my cars.
Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 140
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From: chicago
2005 E55 AMG
Did you try pressing on the trunk lid and trying to press the fob?,
Also I'm pretty sure dealer can cut a key if you give them the vin.
Did you try opening the door with the mechanical key?
If it works on the door it should work on the trunk
Also I'm pretty sure dealer can cut a key if you give them the vin.
Did you try opening the door with the mechanical key?
If it works on the door it should work on the trunk
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Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 312
Likes: 10
From: Los Angeles
E39 M5, E71 X6M, W211 E63 AMG, W218 CLS63 AMG
because of the urgency on getting my stuff out of the trunk, i went to a locksmith who made me a key to open the trunk for freaking $200.
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05' E55 - 22' Jailbreak Hellcat OTW
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From: A to the Z (the state)
'06 E55
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From: NE Florida
2004 E55
If you remove the top portion of the back seat, you can move the sound deadening insulation in the upper right hand corner and access the trunk. There are a ton of wires going through the same hole. Should be able to then get the emergency Im trapped inside the trunk release from there with some creativity.
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From: In the Shadow of the Tetons
2013 ML350 Bluetec
How many of us (besides me - be right back) went outside to their cars and checked the mechanical keys for their cars in the locks after reading this post?
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Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 2
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2008 Mercedes E350
Sorry, that is NOT a fair deal for just a mechanical key to open the trunk. They cost about 75 bucks at the MBZ dealer. In 2019, I just bought an entire mercedes FOB with the mechanical key for 215, so basically if he paid 200 for just the mechanical key from a locksmith its because the locksmith needed to pay his electrical bill or buy groceries. NOT a good price whatsoever.
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 117
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From: NC
05' E55 - 22' Jailbreak Hellcat OTW
Sorry, that is NOT a fair deal for just a mechanical key to open the trunk. They cost about 75 bucks at the MBZ dealer. In 2019, I just bought an entire mercedes FOB with the mechanical key for 215, so basically if he paid 200 for just the mechanical key from a locksmith its because the locksmith needed to pay his electrical bill or buy groceries. NOT a good price whatsoever.
The OP already stated that a key cut to code from VIN would not work since the trunk lock has been changed or rekeyed in the past.
So, if he did pay the dealer 75 (non refundable) dollars to cut a key from vin it would have done him no good.
The locksmith that charged 200 bucks had to make a key from a cylinder that is installed in a locked trunk lid. I'm sure you think this is a easy task since you haven't a clue as to how its done but I will refer you to my previous post that explains why it is a good deal.
As a full time locksmith of twenty five years I feel the need to set the record straight here.
Newbie
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 2
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2008 Mercedes E350
Point of clarification
The OP already stated that a key cut to code from VIN would not work since the trunk lock has been changed or rekeyed in the past.
So, if he did pay the dealer 75 (non refundable) dollars to cut a key from vin it would have done him no good.
The locksmith that charged 200 bucks had to make a key from a cylinder that is installed in a locked trunk lid. I'm sure you think this is a easy task since you haven't a clue as to how its done but I will refer you to my previous post that explains why it is a good deal.
As a full time locksmith of twenty five years I feel the need to set the record straight here.
So, if he did pay the dealer 75 (non refundable) dollars to cut a key from vin it would have done him no good.
The locksmith that charged 200 bucks had to make a key from a cylinder that is installed in a locked trunk lid. I'm sure you think this is a easy task since you haven't a clue as to how its done but I will refer you to my previous post that explains why it is a good deal.
As a full time locksmith of twenty five years I feel the need to set the record straight here.
Newbie
Joined: Sep 2019
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C240
Thanks CarbonHan. I managed to open the trunk by applying WD40 and turning the key CCW. However, I still cannot open the trunk with the remote control, neither from the fob or inside panel. Any solution to fix this?
Newbie
Joined: Feb 2022
Posts: 1
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Mercedes E350
Answer: Trunk won't open, battery dead
I spent hours researching how to open my E350's trunk having a dead battery, with my charger "in" the trunk.
I tried the fix of removing the metal panel up in the passenger's foot wall. I got in, but that fix didn't work for me.
I tried the fix using charging through the small battery unde the hood - to the left, near firewall.
It was fully charge. It appears it's there to keep the onboard computer. So, it didn't work.
Many members said turn the skeleton key to the left at about the 10oclock mark. Mine would turn to the 2oclock position, but not to the left. I was instructed to turn the trunk cylinder and push the driver trunk release at the same time - a two person task
It's not the driver trunk release button, but the latch that's centered near the trunk cylinder.
So, that was the key. The trunk opened. I used my charger to charge the very low volt battery.
Hope this helps.
I tried the fix of removing the metal panel up in the passenger's foot wall. I got in, but that fix didn't work for me.
I tried the fix using charging through the small battery unde the hood - to the left, near firewall.
It was fully charge. It appears it's there to keep the onboard computer. So, it didn't work.
Many members said turn the skeleton key to the left at about the 10oclock mark. Mine would turn to the 2oclock position, but not to the left. I was instructed to turn the trunk cylinder and push the driver trunk release at the same time - a two person task
It's not the driver trunk release button, but the latch that's centered near the trunk cylinder.
So, that was the key. The trunk opened. I used my charger to charge the very low volt battery.
Hope this helps.
Newbie
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 9
Likes: 2
E320 CDI
I'm in a similarly annoying situation where my trunk "thinks" it's open, but it's definitely stuck shut. The key doesn't open it but has in the past. When I pull the handle it flips the release motor like 3 times, but it doesn't actually release. Every time I pull away from a stop, I get the "trunk open" warning light. Any ideas?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,793
Likes: 44
From: San Diego
2004 E55
I'm in a similarly annoying situation where my trunk "thinks" it's open, but it's definitely stuck shut. The key doesn't open it but has in the past. When I pull the handle it flips the release motor like 3 times, but it doesn't actually release. Every time I pull away from a stop, I get the "trunk open" warning light. Any ideas?
Newbie
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 9
Likes: 2
E320 CDI
UPDATE! I guess when I originally posted the warning that I was gonn start taking things apart, the car got scared. I left the key turned after a bunch of tries, and it finally felt like it was pulling the physical cable release mechanism. A few more tries like that pushing down hard and pulling, and it cracked itself open. I lubed the latch and it's worked a handful of times in a row. I hope it keeps working. Strange that I couldn't even get it to try to release with the hard key. It still wanted to do the "3-click" thing but not release. Anyway. Another problem solved by the internet. Thanks, guys.
Last edited by Davesax36; Apr 26, 2026 at 05:14 PM.
