No, that was not the reason. The dealer acknowledged that replacement keys with W123's were pretty "hit and miss." Obviously, it's worth a try, but the outcome is not all that certain.

When I had my 123 I ordered a new switch cylinder and key set from the Classic Center. The keys they provided according to the VIN were a spot on match to the existing door and trunk cylinders.

__________________
The OM 642/722.9 powered family
Still going strong
2014 ML350 Bluetec (wife's DD)
2013 E350 Bluetec (my DD)

both my kids cars went to junkyard in 2023
2008 ML320 CDI (Older son’s DD) fatal transmission failure, water soaked/fried rear SAM, numerous other issues, just too far gone to save (165k miles)
2008 E320 Bluetec (Younger son's DD) injector failed open and diluted oil with diesel, spun main bearings (240k miles)

1998 E300DT sold to TimFreeh
1987 300TD sold to vstech

if you're near a bigger city there's usually a locksmith that can make a duplicate of the mercedes key. look in the yellow pages where they advertise that they can make high security keys (sidewinders)

__________________
1983 300SD (daily driver)
1991 420SEL (work in progress)
1979 300SD (future replacement for 83 SD)

RIP:
1983 300SD (totalled)
1986 420SEL

When you talked to the dealer, did you ask him (or her) Why? The answer would be the reason I gave you. Mercedes is meticulous with record keeping. I'll buy the arguement that it's either hit or miss, but that is because someone changed the lockset without the dealer's knowledge.

I have been fortunate enough to never had gotten a rekeyed car.
Have you tried your key in every lock? glovebox, trunk both doors? you might find that you can lock / unlock the glovebox with the dealer key.

__________________
Closing the store
Benzbonz.biz on your smart phone or tablet.

Every master key I've ordered from the dealer was a match to the existing ignition. Granted. I also was able to VERIFY that the key also fit the passenger & driver's front door locks, glove box lock, and trunk lock.

I've had several ignition tumblers and door locks that were stubborn with old worn out keys. A new master cured the issue.

Good Luck and please come back and post to this thread the outcome of your issue.

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daw_two
Germantown, TN

Links:
Sold last car --- 05/2012 1984 300D Light Ivory, Red interior
Cluster Needles Paint
New Old Stock (NOS) parts

Past:
3/2008 1986 300SDL "Coda"
04/2010 1965 190D(c) "Ben"
& many more

A few years back, I ordered a master-key for my '82 240D from the local dealer. Only issue was it was sometimes a bit tempermental in some of the locks that had previously worked with a badly worn aftermarket key.

On my previous 240D, someone had replaced the ignition-lock and I got tired of fumbling for two keys everytime i drove it. I was able to pull the ignition tumbler and rearrange the pins to work with the original key for the doors & trunk.

Happy Motoring, Mark

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DrDKW

For the sake of discussion, let's assume that someone, somehow, replaced all my locks and by some totally bizarre circumstance, I didn't notice. How is it that the original keys still work just fine, in all five locations? (I didn't loose any keys, I just wanted an additional spare.)

Do you think that someone could replace your locks without you knowing anything about it?

the only "hit and miss" with dealer vin matched keys is the possibility of previously switched tumblers, or damaged tumblers... vin matched replacement tumblers fixes that though...

__________________
John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

Not if I was the original owner.
Possibly the dealer, or someone down the pipeline, copied the VIN wrong.

__________________
DrDKW

From all indications, there is a strong possibility that you have overlooked other possible possibilities. It's tough to blame "damaged tumblers" when the replacement key looks entirely different that the original keys. And the original keys still work just fine.

they may be original keys to your ownership of the car, but not original keys to the actual car.
I believe my quotation lists, damage or replacement as the reasons possible for vin mismatch...

every year vehicle I have EVER gotten keys for from the dealer has been perfect. 79,82,83,87 etc...

__________________
John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

hey qwerty, where are these "plenty" of other reports of mismatches? dealer replacements seem to have a pretty good track record.

also, did you bring the key back to the dealer and point out the problem? did they double-check the VINs and test it themselves?

I to have had no problem with the keys I have received from the dealer.

__________________
2004 F150 4.6L -My Daily
2007 Volvo XC70 -Wife's Daily
1998 Ford F150 -Rear ended
1989 J-spec 420SEL -passed onto its new keeper
1982 BMW 733i -fixed and traded for the 420SEL
2003 Volvo V70 5 Speed -scrapped
1997 E290 Turbo Diesel Wagon -traded for above
1992 BMW 525i -traded in
1990 Silver 300TE -hated the M103
1985 Grey 380SE Diesel Conversion, 2.47 rear end, ABS -Sold, really should have kept this one
1979 Silver 300D "The Silver Slug" -Sold

The first time I ordered a key for my 240D it didn't work so the dealer reordered one which did work. No issues for another replacement or for my old 300D. I know my 280E has a different ignition key so I will need a new tumbler to have them all keyed alike. I will be making that order in a few weeks so we will see what I get.

The key never left the dealer. I could see from across the room that it was nowhere near correct. The VIN number on the order form was verified to be correct.

The dealer, Park Avenue Motors in Palo Alto, CA, stated that the problem was a common occurence. They were of the opinion that reordering would produce the same results, so I wound up having a spare key made by a locksmith.

That pretty much shoots down the "MB can do no wrong theory."

Unless, of course, someone changed your locks, then changed them back, all without you noticing!!!