My 85 300SD has peculiar keys that I am told, can only be obtained from the dealer for big $$$ bucks. Is there any place that can cut these keys or some cheaper alternative to the dealer?

You'll have to get them from a dealer, unless you can find a locksmith that has the equipment for laser cut keys...

cheaper alternatives are copying a key by cutting a brass one, that is what locksmiths will do.
If the original is worn (as it probably is) you then wind up with a worn original from the start, then when it wears a little more it will suddenly get flaky or quit working. My brother is a locksmith and will not copy a Mercedes key (or other high end laser cut keys) says its a waste of his time because they usually come back or fail to work initially.
Factory keys are about $30 ea and are made of a steel alloy and code cut using a computer. You usually have to supply a copy of your drivers license and the pink slip to get the dealer to order for you, but after that you will have the best thing available and it should last you 15 or 20 years, so hey that's not much on a day to day basis, is it?

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'95 E320 Wagon my favorite road car. '99 E300D wolf in sheeps body, '87 300D Sportline suspension, '79 300TD w/ 617.952 engine at 367,750 and counting!

My '81 SD key was $17 and '85 300D key was $26 at Jackson Automotive Group in Macon, GA. Seems like the laser cut SD key would have been more than the regular notched key for the 300D.

Stay with steel keys. The brass copies lead to early ignition switch failure.

RP

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Rick
Avid Benz watcher

Previously owned 126's: 2 1981 300SD's, 1987 300SDL, 1991 350SDL,
Previously owned 123's: 1978 300D, 1983 240D, 1985 300D
Previously owned 124: 1994 320TE

Currently:
2004 Toyota Sequoia SR5 206k
2010 Ford Edge 122k
Always looking for the next MB diesel!

I had a set of mercedes keys made some time ago through my independent mechanic, he called the dealer and order it at a discount. The dealer quote me a price way higher than what my indy got it for.

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benzino

$25 for a copy at the dealership... and you get it in 2 days.

I got a new key from the dealership ($25) a while back and the plastic part broke after a few uses. I have to wonder if they are using cheap crappy blanks now.

Same thing happend to me, Twitch, but you can buy the replacement plastic part and re-use the metal key section. I did it two years ago and the replacement plastic part is still holding up well.

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1983 300D 218K miles

Thanks, you got that plastic part at the dealer?

No, actually got it from Performance Products. Check with Fastlane to see if they have it. I think I paid something like $3.50 for it.

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1983 300D 218K miles

$37 at the dealership and had it in a couple of days. I've heard that there can be steep differences in the cost from dealer to dealer.
--Matt

Right after I first bought the two coupes, I ordered keys from the dealer, total of 30 for both. Sold the 83, the key head broke for my friend a little more than a year later. Mine now for the 82 is starting to get a little loose. The replacement heads were around $10 for me, which is kinda steep in my opinion.

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1980 500SE/AMG Euro
1981 500SEL Euro
1982 380SEL
1983 300TD
1983 500SEC/AMG Euro
1984 500SEC
1984 300TD Euro
1986 190E 2.3-16
1986 190E 2.3
1987 300D
1997 C36 AMG
2003 C320T 4matic

past: 1969 280SE 4.5 | 1978 240D | 1978 300D | 1981 300SD | 1981 300SD | 1982 300CD | 1983 300CD | 1983 300SD | 1983 380SEC | 1984 300D | 1984 300D | 1984 300TD | 1984 500SEL | 1984 300SD | 1985 300D | 1986 300E | 1986 560SEL | 1986 560SEL/Carat | 1987 560SEC | 1991 300D 2.5 | 2006 R350

I got all four keys with my car, three normal (square head) ones and the valet key, the owner had only used one of them over all the years, so two of the square ones and the valet were still in brand new condition, so I tossed the worn one in a drawer, and am using one of the good ones + the valet key.

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

yeah right. i tried for 2 weeks and had to make two 30 mile trips to find out the key was too long. they were dumb founded or is it dumb that it didn't fit even though it was longer than the key i made an outline for to use as a template(no fax??) i found a locksmith who made 4 steel keys for me for about 6 bucks.

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currently
[1981 300 td tdidi 165500 dark brown/palamino-Brownie-mine-3k miles of ownership
1983 240d 162+++ Anthricite grey w/ henna red interior and hella lights-wifes car-Red

the above two cars are for sale
and can be seen on the cars for sale thread here. pix also available.


240d-144+ Manilla Yellow w/ palmino interior-greasecar kit-Blondie-the college kids car

23" gt 21 speed still on original tires-still got the nubs
21" khs tandem

The dealer is the best place to get them from. They use your vin to order new ones and they seem to work perfectly. I paid $20 each for a pair, I got them in about a week. They come from Germany and laser cut.

Since MB uses steel keys they last a very long time, as long as I don't lose them those two keys should last forever. Heck the original key is still fine I just wanted more then one key.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200