1997 E300/320 - what kind of ignition switch?
 

What kind of ignition switch does the 1997 E300/320 use? Does it use a metal key like the 1996 W210 cars or the new "electronic" key that the 1998 and newer models have?

I need this information for a DIY I'm writing and have searched this forum and the Internet with no luck (must have looked in all the wrong places :D).

Jeremy

The '97's have the switchblade key and the '98's and up have the electronic version. Interestingly, some newer models still had the switchblade key after the E's got the newer one.

The W140 used a normal key right up to 1999, MB wasn't very consistant in switching over.