Replacement key FOB online

[TheBishop]

Has anyone had success with buying a second Mercedes Key FOB from anyone online.


We have lost our second key to our 2003 E320. I believe it's in the house somewhere. Fell behind furniture or got thrown out by mistake, but not by me. I say she did it, she says I did it. It's her car and she drives it 95% of the time. My key, the missing one, always stayed on the top of my desk. I never carried my Mercedes key unless I was driving her car. I prefer to drive my truck. She drives my truck 5% of the time.


I just called our local dealer for a replacement key and it's about $300, which is not that bad if I knew the key was put out with the trash last year.


I just don't want to spend that much and then find our lost key the next day. I asked the dealer if they could program a second key bought online and they said no.


Where did you get your second FOB?

[raymond~]

i got my chrome key online....before MBUSA put the stop to online Smartkey ordering.
they also updated their Theft Relevant policy and made it clear to dealers that they cannot
do this anymore, and asked owners to bring their car to the dealer with proof of ownership.
they made one exception which was that if the car could not be driven or towed in, that
the dealer could send out an MB qualified locksmith to the location.

http://www.nastf.org/files/public/trp_policy_pac003_5feb.pdf

[tjts1]

I paid $260 for a 2nd key.

[raymond~]

... p.s. to give you an idea why MBUSA put an end to this, our group buy in was
able to get the Smartkey shipped to our door, programmed by MBUSA TX
facility, for $61.58 including metal blade key.

[dieseldiehard]

Originally Posted by tjts1

I paid $260 for a 2nd key.

Just visited the San Francisco dealer where they quoted $350 for a replacement key. No discount, period.
I'll be looking elsewhere, even if I have to drive 50 miles I'll not support that piracy.

[dieseldiehard]

holy batman the next quote I got is even higher!
quote: " A new key will run $357.20, and there will be an additional $75 paid to the service department to program the key. To order the key you will need to come to the dealership, in person with your driver’s license and proof of ownership. A current registration, or title will both work. If you are not the registered owner, we will need a signed letter from the owner authorizing you to order a key for their vehicle, along with a copy of their driver’s license. Once the key has arrived you will need to schedule the programming with the service department."

last key fob I bought about 2 years ago was $218 and no charge for programming.
I think the dealer above is full you know what

[97 SL320]

Originally Posted by dieseldiehard

holy batman the next quote I got is even higher!
quote: " A new key will run $357.20, and there will be an additional $75 paid to the service department to program the key. . .


I think the dealer above is full you know what

And what is the cost of living / real estate value where the dealer is located ?

Are you going to open up a dealership and charge less?

Have you gotten remote type key prices for a non MB modern car?

[dieseldiehard]

Originally Posted by 97 SL320

1 And what is the cost of living / real estate value where the dealer is located ?
The last dealer I refer to was in Fairfield CA, a relatively high crime, lower cost of living than San Francisco (almost any place would be lower than SF)

Are you going to open up a dealership and charge less?
1. wasted bandwidth!

2. Have you gotten remote type key prices for a non MB modern car?

no
1. Get a life!
2. I have no need to do so.
would be more wasted time not relevant

[MB140300SD]

Uhhh, the key comes in already programmed as far as I know, so additional charge to program it is fraud.

Originally Posted by dieseldiehard

holy batman the next quote I got is even higher!
quote: " A new key will run $357.20, and there will be an additional $75 paid to the service department to program the key. To order the key you will need to come to the dealership, in person with your driver’s license and proof of ownership. A current registration, or title will both work. If you are not the registered owner, we will need a signed letter from the owner authorizing you to order a key for their vehicle, along with a copy of their driver’s license. Once the key has arrived you will need to schedule the programming with the service department."

last key fob I bought about 2 years ago was $218 and no charge for programming.
I think the dealer above is full you know what

[dieseldiehard]

yup I didn't fall for that.
The key I got for $250 was already programmed, the dealers all use one source in Houston.
I am no dummie, I knew the buyer at a dealership and before he retired I usually got 15% off everything.

I will keep looking and report here.
I may have to stoop so low as to use my local dealer or I should say STEALer, They got caught selling non OEM parts. everyone got a pittance back after a class action lawsuit nailed them on it.. I'd rather not give them a dime, thats why I am willing to drive 30, 50, even 90 miles to get a key.
If I save a buck it will pay for the diesel fuel, if not then at least I won't feel I am supporting my local STEALER!

[rocky raccoon]

Not Mercedes but I purchased an active fob for my 2004 Ford F150 on line and it worked fine after programming. Programming requires TWO good fobs.

[Zulfiqar]

Originally Posted by rocky raccoon

Not Mercedes but I purchased an active fob for my 2004 Ford F150 on line and it worked fine after programming. Programming requires TWO good fobs.

That only works with fords.

[Graham]

Originally Posted by rocky raccoon

Not Mercedes but I purchased an active fob for my 2004 Ford F150 on line and it worked fine after programming. Programming requires TWO good fobs.

Originally Posted by Zulfiqar

That only works with fords.

When one of our 98 E320 FOBs stopped working, I sent it to this small company in Toronto area. He rebuilt it as new for C$50. (No need for our second working FOB to be sent or for programming).

Keys4Cars

Surely there must be a similar service in USA?

BTW : I once bought an MB and owner had lost the spare FOB. He ordered one from dealer. They need car when they program it - they connect to a server in Germany!) Cost him something over $300. Then he found the missing key

[Zulfiqar]

Originally Posted by Graham

Originally Posted by rocky raccoon



When one of our 98 E320 FOBs stopped working, I sent it to this small company in Toronto area. He rebuilt it as new for C$50. (No need for our second working FOB to be sent or for programming).

Keys4Cars

Surely there must be a similar service in USA?

BTW : I once bought an MB and owner had lost the spare FOB. He ordered one from dealer. They need car when they program it - they connect to a server in Germany!) Cost him something over $300. Then he found the missing key

I have used that vendor in canada when I visited some freinds in missisuaga, there was also an EIS repair service - if your EIS had failed. It was a different vendor though.

Its quite difficult to do in USA with advertisements as Mercedes Benz USA will come after the vendor. I know that the vendor has a special keyfob with a cable attached to it - he puts it in, and can pull the key hashes from it and write a key for the car. Its not as simple as it sounds though.

[97 SL320]

My point is that diesel guys are constantly crying about parts pricing for no good reason. These were expensive cars when new and just because they have huge depreciation doesn't mean that the parts should get cheaper too. Be glad that point of entry of these cars is greatly discounted leaving room to pay higher parts cost.

I bought my nice 124 k mile 97 SL320 at then end of 2011 for 6 K then put another 2.5 K in parts into it, Accounting for inflation that is still about what the first owner would have paid in _SALES TAX_. With that kind of deal, I don't complain about a $ 400 radiator.

A remote key for a more mundane car is $ 175 + programming it needed. Don't like parts pricing? Get into the business of making cheaper parts.