just bought 1997 e320 used had only one key the one that comes with the auto transponder. was told only mb can cut new keys of vin. got a new key from them it worked fine but now old key does every thing but finally start car. dealer told me that was not thier problem engine turns over but no start im stuck with one key again. any ideas?

Dom
I would have to say that it's a coincidence that the first key went bad.
There is a transponder inside the key that can go bad and keep the car from starting. The locking/unlocking is sort of a seperate issue. I have seen this happen like you are describing where a key will still unlock the car but not allow the engine to start.
My advice is to buy yet another key if you want to have 2 working keys.

Gilly

If it works like my Saab and VW do, they needed to program the car for both keys at the same time for you. It's probably one of those "of course" things, but thought I'd mention it just in case.

__________________
Craig Bethune

'97 SL500, 40th anniversary edition

'04 Olds Bravada (SWMBO's)
'06 Lexus ES330
'89 560SL (sold)


SL--Anything else is just a Mercedes.
(Kudos to whoever said it first)

On this thing, the key would only need to be "learned" or synchronized, for the remote unlocking, not to start the car.
Plus, if you read the post you'll see it is the key he originally had for the car that has failed, not the one that he just bought.

Gilly

Thanks for the clarification, Gilly. On my cars, when I got an extra key, ALL had to be programmed together; any one that wasn't included was no longer able to start the car, even if it was previously OK. Glad to see MB isn't quite as obsessive on this one.

__________________
Craig Bethune

'97 SL500, 40th anniversary edition

'04 Olds Bravada (SWMBO's)
'06 Lexus ES330
'89 560SL (sold)


SL--Anything else is just a Mercedes.
(Kudos to whoever said it first)