I recently realized I lost the panic button to my remote for my 98 ML320. Not to mention the remote's in pretty bad shape. I'm thinking about just buying a remote from ebay and swapping out the guts.

Is this do-able? Has someone done it before? Is there a trick to taking apart the case?

Thanks for any information.

Tim

I beleive the dealer can sell you just the case with all of the buttons, then you just switch the actual key part. Could be costly, but then again maybe not since I believe the key part itself is the most expensive. Mine is in pretty bad shape as well, seems pretty cheap! Post the price if you do it. Good luck

We bought our '99 ML320 used in 2000 and it came with two remotes. One of them never worked and ther worked great until the wife let it get soaked with beer at a car show (long story).

I've taken them apart (it's not too hard but you do have to be careful) so swapping in new guts does not sound like too hard but... how do you get it re-coded to you car or do you code the car to the remote?

Our backup might be broken too or it might simply be coded incorrectly. How does one do this and is there anything I need to know before buying new remotes? And how much *cringe* do these things typical cost.

Since the car show incident we have been opening the car with the key (real pain when you have two kids!) so when it get back from the body shop I'd like to have both remotes ready to go.

Any pointers are appreciated!

- David
Seattle, WA

[QUOTE=timz]I recently realized I lost the panic button to my remote for my 98 ML320. Not to mention the remote's in pretty bad shape. I'm thinking about just buying a remote from ebay and swapping out the guts.

Is this do-able? Has someone done it before? Is there a trick to taking apart the case?

Thanks for any information.

Tim

I just got mine out of the shop Tuesday. When I bought my ML it came with only one key assy, which only worked mechanically in the locks and would start the car, no remote functions worked.

To save money, I ordered a key, cut to my vin number, from the dealer at a cost of $10.90. I had bid on a remote fob with the correct frequency range and buttons and got it on EBay for $25. I put the new key on the EBay fob and it would turn the locks and the ignition switch, but a crank lock out was in effect. So I paid for shop labor to try and program it to work. It would not program, indicating the transponder in the fob was not correct.

The dealer ordered me a new key, cut to my VIN, and a new remote Fob with the correct transponder. About $94. When they came in, I had them programmed and they worked. I also asked them to check the programming on the AAM (all activity module) and somehow the remote control feature had been turned off since before I bought the car.

The good news is I now have two key assemblies that work perfectly and my remote controls, and along with it, the security system is working.

My cost was just over $200, with two 1/2 hour labor charges for my two visits.
While I could not have done this by myself, it was very traumatic to pay, and is the first time I have paid for shop time on ANY of the 6 Mercedes I have owned since 1970.

Tim, I will sell you my spare remote with nice buttons for $20, postage paid anywhere in the USA. Let lme know. Jfreezn@aol.com

Jim in Phoenix