d.delano,
Last summer, I went thru the same problem when a car-wash lost my key ring with all my keys on it. I went to the dealer, gave him the VIN, my licence and registration, and he ordered one from afar. Only, when I got it, the key didn't work. Either the locks had been changed, (which I doubt) or the VIN-key-code-ordering process was messed up. At which point the stealership offered to replace all the locks at $110 apiece! Instead, I went to a locksmith, one of only 2 in town who could, (or would) make a door/trunk/glovebox key from scratch. It took over an hour to do it, and with 3 keys, cost me $135. I felt the most important thing about having the locksmith do it was he gave me the key 'code', for my own future reference. The MB 300SD keys are HIGH-security, with multiple-level cuts on all 4 edges. Really sophisticated, mechanically. After seeing him try to make one, and he knew MB's, I realize no one has a 'master key' to open my car. And, the idea of having a different key for the ignition just makes it that much more unlikely someone could 'borrow' your car if they found one or the other of the keys. I also removed the black plastic from the keys, and had a friend solder my ignition key between two gold Sacajawea dollars, and my door key between two silver SB Anthony dollars. They look and feel different even in the dark, are ergonomically superior, should last as long as the keys, and make nice pieces of 'jewelry' on my keyring.

SteveKaa
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1982 300SD 348k miles