Internet/Ebay key sales for MB
 

Just wondering, as this is being discussed at the ML forum: Has anyone ever had any luck with these places selling MB keys on eBay? As far as I know, keys at least for the late-model MB's have to be ordered for the specific vehicle. Am I wrong about this? Specifically interested in Smartkey equipped vehicles and DAS2b vehicles, which would include ML's, SLK's, late model 140 and 129's etc, in other words the "last" of the MB's with a bladed key that starts the car.

Gilly

Here is a search of eBay Smart keys. Question is, can they be programmed?

The other day, while at the dealer to program my keys, they found both my keys' internals bad. I need new keys. The service manager and the tech were talking offline, but I think I heard the tech tell the service manager that only 8 keys can be programmed to the car, and then something else has to be programmed? 8 keys? Comments?

Anyway, I'm going to be out around $400 - $600 for three new keys (ordered one so far).

My thoughts were to buy two more ML Keys from eBay, swap out the metal key, and then have the internals reprogrammed, saving me some bucks to do other stuff to the ML. Can this be done?

Are there any current techs out there that can answer this?

Short overview of Ir/smart keys
The short answer is no. The program in the key matches the program in the car. Thank the insurance companys. Every time the button is pushed one of the two messages changes, this change is stored in the Keyhole for that key in the car.
The keyhole knows what message is next if the wrong message is sent the car won't respond. (the window of operation is 30 to 50 key cycles, then the key must be resynched)
Depending on the model it can be 5 keys as in keyless go, 8 keys ml's and some may go to 24 these are estimates from memory. Without doubt on the ML after 8 keys are broken/used/lost/deactivated the AAM (which has the keyholes) must be replaced. This then starts the 8 key cycle again.

So please do not buy used keys unless you think they will work as fishing lures.

Well, I guess thanks Paulwho. I'll have to buy another key from the dealer. Ouch!