Can this be done anywhere else besides the dealership? I order a new key from the dealership couple of days ago. When I went to pick it up, I was told I had to pay additional $20 to program the thing. I was trying to discuss the price with the SA, thinking I already paid $125 for the key why should I pay more? But he was being a total prick. No customer service skills what so ever. The guy basically told me he didn't have time for me and I either pay the $20 or leave. WTF???? I'll be damned if I go back to that dealer and give anymore of my money.

Can I program the key somewhere else or do I have to go back to the dealer?

Thanks in advance.

Insert key to ignition
turn on position without starting car
than remove key from ignition
within 60 seconds hold down the lock button and press unlock 5 times while still holding the lock button
let go of lock button to complete procedure

wheres my $20

read your manual. it has a wealth of information.

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Thanks for the replies. I looked in the manual, and indeed there are instructions. The instructions are as follows:

Turn the key to position 2, then to postition 0
Take the key out and old the lock botton for 15 sec, after that press the unlock botton 5 times.

I've tried it a couple times, but nothing happens. I close the door before trying. What could I be doing wrong. By the way its a 98 ML.

If it won't work after trying the resynchronization procedure as outlined in YOUR owners manual (there are 3 different procedures that I know of, depending on build date), then yes, the dealer will need to assist. The tech needs to use the SDS to go into the AAM and activate the 'Learn new RF key' mode. At that point, he does about the same thing as you have done, except with the AAM in this "learn" mode. Takes less than 5 minutes to do it. We do it for free where I work. Exactly right, you spent over 100 for the key, "WTF" is right. Just stupidity, people these days (hate to generalize here) just don't realize the value of a customer any more.

Gilly

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Thanks for the help. I'm going to be talking with the SA's manager. Hoping to get the key reprogrammed for free, since I was treated like crap by the SA. If that doesn't work, I gonna call MBUSA. I'm hoping they would want to resolve and issue with a customer. Thanks again.

Not really. I just read the one that came with our ML and there is one paragraph about the key and noting about setting the car to read it..

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Look in the index in the back of the owners manual for "Remote Control, synchronizing" (under the "R"'s), should be in there.

Gilly

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I'll check it again.. but I looked up all sorts of stuff trying to find the info yesterday.

However the GREAT news is that the first proceedure listed worked perfectly!!!

It even got a spare key that never worked with the car working! We're extatic! Thanks for the info guys (even if it is in the manual and I'm too daft to find it myself).

I'm really digging this website!!

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I went to the dealer and they told me that it would cost $125 to program the key! Apparently the easy way to program it didn't work.

Can any Mercedes mechanic do it or do I have to go to the dealer?

Did you already buy the key or not?
It would only take a few minutes to make the key lock/unlock the truck, it will start the truck without any work at all.
The problem is having the correct computer to do this work, I believe that only the MB SDS computer has this capability, so it's not so much the mechanic (although they have to be familiar with the diagnostic computer) but in having the correct computer to do the job.
$125 is outrageously high, they should be able to do this for free IMHO if you bought the key from them. But I'm a nice guy, so lets say certainly no more than $20 to $40 dollars to program the ML key. Is there another dealer you could ask?

Gilly

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I had to buy a new key too. As usually I could not buy it from my dealer in Charleston, SC their price was not competitive. So I ordered one from the dealer in Greenville, SC: Charlton Motorcars.

When I was up that way I picked it up. I tried to program it myself following the directions in the owners manual but had no sucess, so the service advisor tired and he couldn't get it to work either. Of course it would start the car, it's just the electonic stuff, ie the buttons on the key did not work.

I paid about $100 for the key. The service guy said they were supposed to charge to program it if need be and that the fee was I think about $40. He was nice and said if I would buy the technician lunch that would be fine, that meant a tip. So they did it and I tipped him $15. which seem like enough to have a nice lunch.

These keys with the electronic functions are expensive.

Advice. Don't put the key thru the wash more than twice it will most likely stop working and will not be able to be reprogramed.

Ours initially quit working after our boy tossed it into a cup of beer at the local car show..

I was quite thrilled to find out that it managed to survive the event and the re-programming instructions worked.

I would not recomment trying this at home, or anywhere else for that matter. Man.. what a pain..

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Thanks for all of the responses!

The story is this...I just purchased a '98 ML 320. It came with two keys. The one that works is worn and has most of the panic button broken away from the center.

The other one had been sitting in his drawer as a spare. However, it had no battery. The owner did tell me that I needed to go to the dealer to get it programmed.

I went to the dealer and paid $12 for the battery and they tried to get it to recognize the car. It wouldn't at all. It would just start the car.

The service manager told me that I would have to schedule an appointment and it would cost an hour and a half for labor...$125.

He also told me that a new key would cost over $300 plus $125 for labor.

There are other dealers in the area. So, I will inquire with them.

I think this dealer may just be overpriced for everything. I thought that pricing would be standard for MB dealers. How niave I was...LOL

Thanks again for all of your help!

I don't think those keys for the ML are anywhere near $300, anyone with more recent experience on the price of an ML key?
I think they are right around $100, and again i wouldn't expect to pay a dime to make the darn thing work, it's about a 5 minute job, they should be able to "comp" you that for buying the key! Whatever happened to the value of a customer?!

Gilly

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