Here's a less discussed query to ponder. I have noticed that my MB key has degraded noticeably in short time over the last year and a half of daily use. Moreso than my other keys. I have had to drill thru the top of the metal & use a black zip tie to hold it into the plastic head piece even. I recall in younger days my father making the same repair to a key for our old Volvo, which was similar in construction. Is this just a european key thing or what?

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Chris
64 190D R.I.P.
80 240D W/617 engine -for sale
82 240D -for sale

Both my 84's still have their original keys.

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DJ


84 300D Turbodiesel 190K with 4 speed manual sold in 03/2012

They keys for my W126's are pretty much the same. I got a couple of new ones from the dealer when I bought the car back in 2004. I put one on my keychain and thats the only one I ever use, it still looks new.

They do tend to rust a bit around salt water.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

My 83 has the original key. It will only open the trunk if one side of it is put in facing up, but it works fine in the ignition. The black plastic came apart so I superglued it back together.

It's visibly worn down a fair bit but still works...

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1983 Mercedes-Benz 240D
Automatic, A/C, Power Sunroof, Power Right Side Mirror
231K Miles FOR SALE MAKE OFFER

How much stuff do you have hanging on the key ring? If your car key is on the same ring with a bunch of other keys, a bottle opener, and a solid 18K rabbit's foot it will wear out much faster than normal. The additional hanging weight will also accelerate wear on the ignition switch.

I keep the keys for my fleet on individual rings. I have a separate ring for all my other keys.

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- Greg -
1973 220D, The Prodigal Benz
1974 240D

Do you mean ?

1.) Until I lose them..?

2.) Until someone else loses them for me..?

3.) Until I break the key off in the ignition, out of pure frustration because the P.O.S. just won't start...Only to figure out a minute later, that I had not put the car in "Park" the night before when i came home tired or drunk, and that the neutral safety switch is all that's actually preventing the car from starting in the first place..?

Truckenstein

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[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

My '83 CD igniton/drivers door key bends a little too much when I unlock the drivers door. Tip: I always keep a spare key tucked in my wallet for that 1 time someone locks my car door with the key inside.

I think it is pretty cool that the engines not only outlast the fenders and the weather stripping on these old diesels, but also the keys they came with too.

Not many American or Japanese cars can say this.

....

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'87 924S
'81 280SEL

Sold ->

81 300SD -
93 300E w/ 3.2
85 300D-
79 300SD
82 300CD
83 300CD - CA
87 190E 5 spd
87 Porsche 924S

"..I'll take a simple "C" to "G" and feel brand new about it..."

The plastic head of my genuine MB laser-cut replacement key fell off after about 2 weeks.

The one I always use is the original, from 1977. The spares are hardware-store copies. The original vallet key is in a drawer somewhere.

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Don't Chrome them; polish them

My 84 would accumulate brass dust under the ignition lock on the dash, from when you mpulled the key out. My 85 doesnt, its a much newer lock (less miles)

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1981 300SD 512k OM603

My replacement key head tore apart after 3 weeks. Dealer charged something crazy for it, too. My ******** one is holding up nicely, but I'm trying to use the other key.

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Andrew

1989 Volvo 745- 202K

AFAIK, mine are all original.

Ditto here, but the brass bits stopped after a while once I switched to the new steel key.

As for the durability of the key itself, the steel is holding up fine, but the plastic joke wrapped around the head finally tore off after about a year of use. In contrast, our Volvo key is 10+ years old and still doesn't show any signs of failing. Heck, it's seen so much use that the steel bumps are showing signs of wear.

If anyone knows where one can get an all-steel Mercedes key, I'd be interested in replacing mine pronto -- the steel "T" key that was inside the plastic joke is really hard to use bare

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'83 300DTurbo http://badges.fuelly.com/images/smallsig-us/318559.png

Broadband: more lies faster.

On my ring:

Ignition
Bicycle Lock
Yakima SKS Fork Lock Key
Yakima SKS Accessory Lock Key
Yakima SKS Control Key
House Key
Parent's House Key
Mailbox Key

Back when I carried keys for work, I used to have all of the above + 4 more...that was pretty bad.

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1983 Mercedes-Benz 240D
Automatic, A/C, Power Sunroof, Power Right Side Mirror
231K Miles FOR SALE MAKE OFFER

Over time worn keys cause damage to tumbler assemblies. I have disassembled over half a dozen door locks and seen it over and over. What happens is a dull key does not fully retract the brass plates in the tumbler. Since the plates are not fully retracted they start to wear the lock cylinder. After repairing the tumbler assembly on my Federal 1985 300D I went out and bough new keys. Everything (door, ignition, trunk) works much better. If you keys have lost their edge/points...replace them. Otherwise you may find yourself tuck some day with a door that you can not unlock.