The first dealer I called wouldn't do it, period. Didn't matter that the car has been in my name for over 5 years, title in hand. Nothing mattered if the car was not in front of them. I got lucky and found another dealer that was willing to sell me a cylinder provided I showed the title in my name and my drivers license (he made copies of them). And that makes sense. But to require the car to be there in person? That's just idiotic.

This policy got my ire up bad this morning. And made the 3 hour round trip to the dealership an angry one. I appreciate them trying to cut down on theft, but it reaches a point when your just upsetting your legitimate customers.

I hope all the lock cylinder how to's online get updated to reflect this new MB policy.

My friendly MB parts lady told me earlier this week that the car is going to have to be there to get a key.

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Jim

When buying a classic Mercedes key and ignition tumbler use the Mercedes Classic Center in Irvine, Ca. Just email them a copy of your registration and drivers license. Contact Tom Hanson (thomas.hanson@mbusa.com). Tom is the Parts Supervisor.

Star Motors here in Houston wouldn't sell me a cylinder either with a title and photo ID. They said they had to verify the VIN themselves. They wouldn't even accept a picture of the door plate (matching the VIN on my title!) on my iPhone.

I called another dealer (Greenway Mercedes) who was more sensible who just required a title and ID. The parts guy there was pretty friendly. They had it for me in <24 hours.

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Charlie

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'66 VW 1300 96K miles
'97 E300D 239K miles
'85 300D 203K miles (sold Sep 2012)

This is a company wide policy. Don't blame the dealers. If they decide to go against company policy, great, but if they get caught or one of the vehicles they provide the key for actually ends up stolen, they'll get a huge fine from MB USA. For most dealers, it's just not worth it. A ridiculous policy since it applies to such old vehicles but not much that can be done about it.

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Current: 1975 450SEL, 83 300D, 88 Yugo GVX, 90 300D OM603 swap, 91 F150 4.6 4v swap, 93 190E Sportline LE 3.0L M104 swap, 93 190E Sportline LE Megasquirt, 03 Sprinter, 06 E500 4Matic wagon.

Mercedes Benz of Tucson requires the car be there in person with DL and title or registration in hand. Not a problem for me. I wouldn't want somebody sold a key to my car with simply a stolen registration and fake ID.

What was MOST irritating by far was trying to get someone over there to sign off my odometer reading for my high mileage award. Everyone looked at me like I had 3 eyes...

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'84 190D 2.2 5MT (Red/Palomino) Current car. Love it!
'85 190D 2.2 Auto *Cali* (Blue/Blue) *sold*
http://badges.fuelly.com/images/sig-us/302601.png
http://i959.photobucket.com/albums/a...0/sideview.png

The only company wide policy I've seen is proof of ownership / proof you are the person on the title. If the car needs to be there also, I want to see the MB policy in writing.

When I got a spare key for my SL , all they needed was a title and proof I was the person on the title.

The real issue is what happens when your ignition tumbler totally fails and you need another and have no way to get the car there aside from towing it. I have developed a great relationship with some of my dealer's parts guys since they found out I was swapping a manual transmission into my 300TE so I'll ask about the new policy the next time I'm there.

I've been dealing with the dealer I use since 1999 and have a card file in the parts department with my cars vin numbers on it and she tells me I will still have to bring car in. It is coming down MB corporate.

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Jim

When I got some spare key made up I had to bring my car with me to check the VIN number and key etc, then wait around 10 days for the key to arrive owing to there only being 3 places in the world for it to be programmed. I then had to bring the car back again to pick up the keys.

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UK spec Mercedes W210 E300 Turbodiesel wagon - OM606.962 with 722.6 transmission - rust free!

Yup

http://www.startekinfo.com/StarTek/outside/219812/?requestedDocId=219812

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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