Steel key blanks?

[Ceristimo]

When I bought Betsie, I only got one key because that's all the P.O. had. It's an original, steel master key.
I live in North Pole, Alaska, and the nearest Mercedes dealer is 400 miles away.

I called them to see if they can send me keys if I fax/email them my registration and driver's license, but they say they have to see the car. I asked him if he was kidding, because that would be a +800 mile round trip, but he was not. He said he would risk a 5000 dollar fine from Mercedes if he were to send me keys without seeing the car.

I asked if he could potentially send me a steel blank so I can try to have it cut somewhere here in town, but he could not.

Now I know I can have a brass copy made easily enough, but I don't want to go that route, because I don't want to destroy my locks.

So..I guess I have two options:
1) Finding a source for steel key blanks? I have searched all over, but came up with nothing
2) Have a brass copy made so I can at least unlock the doors if I were to lose the steel key, and order a new ignition tumbler from pelicanparts that will come with extra keys. I can then switch out the ignition tumbler, so I'd have two different keys for the locks and the ignition, but at least that way I have multiples of everything. I am afraid I'm going to lose this little key, and if that were to happen I'd be screwed. I'd have to get my car towed 400 miles, just to have a frikkin' key made for it...

Ugh, anyone have some advise? Someone with a lead on steel blanks perhaps?

[gmog220d]

I recently got keys for both W115s from the local Albuquerque dealer (just under $30 each with tax). They only needed proof of ownership (title) and valid ID. He did mention that for newer cars with wireless key functions they need to see the car so they can program the key to it. But that wouldn't apply to your situation.

I wonder if the dealers have some flexibility in determining their own requirements for things like key purchases. So long as they meet the minimum requirements they may be free to add more as they see fit. You might try calling MB USA to see what they have to say.

[Ceristimo]

Yeah, I was thinking on perhaps calling/emailing MB USA, to see what can be done. I understand the safety concern of not just sending keys willy-nilly to whomever asks for them, but feel that the dealer might have tried to be a little bit more accommodating perhaps. If I mail/fax my registration showing name and address and my driver's license showing the same, and ask the keys to be send to that address, that's pretty fool-proof?

When I said: "so, you're telling me I need to drive 800 miles to get a key", he said: "yes, that's correct, sir". He said those were new rules that were recently enforced and because of the high fine he wasn't going to risk not following those rules. That's understandable.

Anyway, I think the possibilities of getting a new key made for my car are pretty slim, so I need other options before my one and only little key goes awol...

[ah-kay]

W123 key is just a flat simple key. Have it cut at HomeDepot. I did.

[Ceristimo]

@Ah-kay
I know. But like I said in my first post:

"Now I know I can have a brass copy made easily enough, but I don't want to go that route, because I don't want to destroy my locks."

The problem is sourcing the actual steel key...

[gmog220d]

Well, one of the new W115 keys I ordered last week and picked up a few days ago. Same process as the previous one I ordered last year.

But, the parts guy told me I needed to be there in person to order and that I had to pick it up. I remember him saying that. I bet they are required to see original documents, too, but that's my guess as he said nothing about that.

Maybe the folks you talked to just didn't have a nice way to tell you that you needed to be there yourself? Perhaps, in a move to make things simpler for their employees, the management just has a blanket "must see car" policy since most of the keys they supply are for newer cars with wireless functions anyway?

If you must go the steel blank route, I assume it'll be easy to know which blank to get, assuming you can find a source (never looked into it myself). At least you've got an original key to make copies from.

I think I'd still hound MB USA. At least that way you'd know for sure what you're up against.

[ah-kay]

Originally Posted by Ceristimo

Now I know I can have a brass copy made easily enough, but I don't want to go that route, because I don't want to destroy my locks.

The other route to try eBay, they have it. Your tumbler will dis-integrate long before the newly minted brass key. I suppose it is your prerogative to stay with everything MBZ stamped. I have been using the brass keys for my car and main house door for donkey years with no ill effect.

[Ceristimo]

I have brass keys for my house and my Mazda as well. No problem. But I've read enough warnings about brass keys in combination with the ignition of the W123's to prefer not having to go that route.
I don't care about staying with everything MBZ stamped, I care about not breaking the lock. Those with brass keys have reported seeing the shavings from their keys right underneath the ignition. This will then eventually clog up the ignition, which is why I would prefer a steel replacement, which outside of the dealership appears to be impossible to get by.

So I think I'll go and have brass keys made as backup so I have something and order a new ignition when the steel key goes missing. The reason I opened this topic was just to see if someone has been able to get steel blanks before and if so: where?

[pedrocamp]

Try these guys:

Key Men - Keys for Classics

They made keys for my 68 230 from the codes, they have W123 keys. You may need to call to see if they have steel.

[pedrocamp]

Actually they are email only but may be able to help.

[Junkman]

Originally Posted by pedrocamp

Try these guys:

Key Men - Keys for Classics

They made keys for my 68 230 from the codes, they have W123 keys. You may need to call to see if they have steel.

That is a sweet deal if they have them. Dealing with the dealer is a pita.

[Ceristimo]

@Pedrocamp
Thanks!! I will contact them and see what I can do. Really appreciate it!

I did went by Lowe's, and Home Depot, and Wall-mart, and some other big stores today, and NONE of them could copy my key. It won't fit there key-copy machine things.

Did some Googling around, found a locksmith and called him. He was closed in the weekends, but said I could stop by on Monday and that he would take a look and see if he could copy the key. He said he was fairly confident that he could. At least that would give me a brass emergency copy, in case I loose the one-and-only key I have.

[Diesel911]

All of My Keys are Brass Keys for my 84 300D.

When got the Car in 2007 it had only the valet Key. The plated but Brass Key Blanks I got on eBay.
The Key Blank has "For Mercedes" on side and MB41 on the other side.

The local Home Depot could not do them because their Key Machine is automatic and there is a set of Dies they have to have. One die to insert the old Key into and another die to hold the new Blank Key.

ACE hardware had the older Key cutting machine where the new and old key are clamped onto the machine. One out of 2 keys they made did not work.
The one that worked brought my total to 2 keys and was enough to keep mey from worry.

Later I had another Key made at a Lock Smith Shop with my own Key Blank.

When My Key got stuck in the Tumbler it turned out the cause was the innards of the Steering Colum Lock were broken.

Previous to the Steering Colum Lock breaking I had occasionally hosed out the Lock Tumbler with WD-40 to lube and flush out any particles.

When I got the Lock Tumbler out I threw it into the little Harbor Freight jewelry cleaning ultrasonic cleaning thank and a little cloud of particles did come out of it.

That was over 4 years ago. I have had no issues I can attribute to the Keys being brass except that on got bent due to my Wife not sticking the key in far enought and trying to turn it.

Not the little ultrasonic tank was handy to clean small automotive parts in using Pruplr Power or something similar. When the Lid broke on it I bought the Harbor Freight larger ultrasonic cleaning tank.

[Diesel911]

Found this info at an eBay Seller:

"Important Fitment notes: Mercedes used 2 different types of blanks on this Series of vehicles from 1977 to 1985, the MB39 and MB41. My best advice is to check if your ignition key has one of the following part numbers stamped on it: MB41, X82, or MB38, or HU36. If your key has NO flat groove along the far RIGHT edge (pic#3) and one of these same part numbers, you can be sure its a match. Keep in mind, Mercedes Benz also used a slightly different MB39 key during the same period, so it needs to be exact. If you have no part numbers stamped on your current key, compare it closely to the pictures above as its grooves need to match EXACTLY both back and front."

"If your current working key or ignition bezel has a key code with the letters "HU" followed by some numbers from between 6001 and 8130, this would be the right key."

P on the end of the Key part number indicats a plastic head on the Key.

[Maxbumpo]

An expensive route would be to order a new ignition tumbler and two keys, NOT VIN coded to your car, if the dealer will do that. You replace your ignition and tumbler, and then you have different (original) keys for door/trunk. If you can get a local copy made of your original key, then you have a spare for the doors and trunk should you ever need it.

Perhaps your local police department could act as "trusted agent" and assure the dealer you are the owner with a registered letter or some such?