Ignition Key 1988 560SL need a copy
 

One of my friends owns a 1988 560SL, it sits in her garage with 40,000 original miles. She’s a bit older and she keeps it because it belonged to her late husband.

She lost one of the two original keys, the dealer quoted her 500 bucks to get her a copy. She just wants to have a spare key.

I’m sure you guys know where to get a copy of at a more reasonable price? Anything I’ve needed for my old 240D you all know where to get it at a proper price.

Thanks in advance

Mechanical key, correct? If my experience with the 92 I had helps....you need to find a locksmith that carries the right kind of blanks and has a key cutter that can do the job. It took some hunting around here in RI but I was finally able to find one.

Go to a different dealer, they're less than $40...

Agreed, last dealer key I had made was less than $100.

Advice taken, I just called an old friend that’s a locksmith and he happens to have the machine and blanks. Just a dealer trying to rip off a little old lady.

Thanks for the tip.

Like $20 from there mercedes classic center w/VIN.

Even better

The Classic Center is “supposed” to follow the TRP (Theft Relevant Part) policy for all keys and locks now. The policy is supposed to require dealer verification and handling of all keys.

However I think they have a soft limit on this, that if you have a car approaching or greater than 25 years old, they relax the rules and allow you to interact with them directly and as long as you have proof of ownership (send them a copy of the title/registration and a copy of your DL with the same name on it) they will ship you a key.

There are services out of China to which you send a picture of your key and they’ll send you a duplicate key. Consider how you do this since they’ll have the details of you or key and an address.

Sixto
98 E320s sedan and wagon
02 C320 wagon

Seriously? Wow....

A few years ago I bought a new cylinder and with four keys all compatible with the trunk and doors for 120 bucks. I had one key and changed the cylinder before it caused problems. The model was an 84 300SD which has been discontinued since.

She could probably get several keys for a fraction of what that dealership asked.

Modern Rogue on YouTube actually did a entire video dedicated to this. All you need to do to boost someone car now days is snap a picture of their keys while walking by and you can 3D print a copy at home using a standard 3D printer. Assuming it's not a fob type key of course.

That doesn't sound remotely the correct price. Have you called the dealer and spoke to them directly?

Lots of good ideas, thanks everyone

Or just about any car produced in the last 15-20 years that has some sort of active electronics inside as a second form of authentication.

Honda has been doing this since the late 90s with the Immobilizer system (RFID chip, the same one they put in your dog, embedded in the key head)

GM had the resistor pellet in the key from the mid 90s on and I'm sure they've graduated to something more sophisticated.

And of course the Mercedes Smart Key that started in 1998.