Misplaced the only key to my 2008 E320 Bluetec
 

Good day all.

I have misplaced the only key to my 2008 E320 Bluetec. Is it possible to buy a new key from the MB dealership and will it automagically work or is there a special procedure to unlock and get the car started?

Regards,
Bjoern

Yeah, you can get a key from the dealer. You'll have to present something like a current title or registration to prove that you own the car.

As far as ways of breaking into the car, I'm not sure how that would be done.

You will have to get it towed to the dealer. They have to physically see the car and you and your documents together.

They will make you a new key (maybe in the workshop or it has to come from Texas?) that will have the flat metal key inside. They know the pattern for this metal key based upon your VIN.

They will use this metal key to gain access to the vehicle. Once they are inside then they will use Xentry to delete the existing keys and program the new key into the DAS (drive authorization system).

There are two parts to the key electronics. An RFID chip (for the DAS) and the IR/RF (convenience lock/unlock/trunk). The DAS module in the car has to be programmed to the serial number of the RFID chip before the car will recognize it. Then they have to program the convenience feature so you can unlock the doors with the remote.

Hold onto your wallet, these keys are not cheap. And I would definitely get 2 while you are at it so this doesn't happen again...

Thanks Jay. I was afraid it would be more complicated than I originally thought. To compound the problem, the car is locked and I never lock it when I park in my garage.:(

Can these cars lock by them selves?

Thanks Mölyapina.
I'm sure the title would suffice, however, Jay below states it's more complicated than simply purchasing another key.

Ok if the car is in your garage then chances are the keys are somewhere on your premises.

By chance do you have small kids? Maybe they found daddy's (or mommy's) keys and pushed the buttons to lock the car. Hopefully the keys are in the bottom of the toy box.

BTDT a long time ago...my kids are almost 18 and 21 now...

I have never had to bring the car in to get a key made. They just need proof of ownership. And the keys do not need to be programmed with the car. They work "out of the box".

This is true for older models that have a metal key. The key used to be able to be ordered from the Classic Center with a scan of the title and owner's drivers license. BTDT. However, the policy I have linked below is dated March 2015, and I did this back in 2012. So I wonder if this is even still possible. I thought I remembered Tom Hanson (Classic Center parts supervisor) posting on MBCA forum that he could not do this anymore.

The policy is here. http://www.startekinfo.com/StarTek/outside/219812/?requestedDocId=219812

It's a locked pdf so I can't snip it, but check paragraph 3. A. i) on page 5.

I had a 98 E300 in the shop not long ago that had an issue with the alarm system. Seems that the car would roll up the windows and lock all the doors all by itself after you shut the drivers door:eek:.

Removed the fuse for the alarm and all is well.

So... The key might be IN the car?

That sounds like soaked PSE pump syndrome.

The 210 PSE is not like on the 124/126 that is a dumb pump. The 210 PSE is the nerve center for the rear end of the car. It manages all interface to the door switches, interior lights, the alarm, and even contains the power relay for the rear window defroster since it's right next to the battery. Most of the interaction with the remainder of the car is via the body CAN bus. Most notably to the overhead control panel, where the IR (96-97) or RF (98+) receivers for the key fob and sunroof controls live, and the door modules that handle the window motors and door IR receivers (98+). The locks themselves are pneumatic.

Anyway, the well under the seat floods from a leak and soaks the printed circuit board on the base of the PSE causing all manner of mayhem.

But this is irrelevant to the OP, he has a W211 with electric locks and a completely different system. Only thing that is common is the key is the same part number.

I don't think so, at least, it's not in the ignition.

Nope, only my wife and I, my kids are also grown and living on their own now.

Thanks for the info Jay.

Except that his reply is wrong.
I have ordered extra keys for a 2007 ML CDI 320 and a 2005 CDI 320.
The keys arrive at the dealership overnight from TX. They are programed and work right out of the box. I pick up the keys at the parts counter, walk out to the car, and drive home using the new key.

You may want to consider getting one of these Which Is Better, Tile or TrackR? | Re/code for your new and expensive PITA keys.

I am not doubting your word, this just runs counter to everything I thought about how this system works.

I thought the system used RFID chips that are pre programmed with a read only serial number and the DAS had to be taught this number to recognize the key.

I had read stories before about the DAS only being able to accept 8 keys over its lifetime. So I wonder if there is a pre programmed list in the DAS, and maybe they are able to look up a vehicle's history, and burn a new key to the next free number on the list.

I also read that if the DAS approves the key then inserting the key in the EIS synchronizes the convenience functions.

Very interesting...

Some info on keys.

I'm basing this on 97 DAS X single button IR remote with a metal flip key and would expect others to be similar enough.

The RFID chip is read / write. A single use code is sent from the key to the DAS box, verified that it is valid, then the DAS box writes a new code to the key for the next cycle.

The chip can brick if the writing process is interrupted by low vehicle battery voltage. And of course, jump starting is blamed for "frying" the computer but the damage had already occurred.

The 8 key limit refers to 8 active keys. There are 3 sub keys allowing 24 keys unless the DAS box is reprogrammed by non MB tools. The car would be issued with keys 1A and 2A. If you lose 1A, it can temporarily or permanently locked out and a 1B key issued.

The remote unlock needs to be programmed on the 97 and likely others. This consists of pressing the remote button 2X while it is pointed at the IR receiver then inserting the key in ignition and turning on.

The most direct route to setting keys down and not finding them:

Keep keys in pocket.

When they come out of pocket at end of day they always go in the exact same spot.

When was this?

This is not a new policy. It is being enforced in all of CA, not sure about anywhere else. Any MB with electronic key requires it to be physically present in the dealership or the mechanic shop with a locksmith credential before the dealership will order a new key.

Maybe that was true for the old key not needing to be programmed, but nowadays the new keys come with an orange workshop key that you MUST insert into the EIS to activate a key track to program the new key into the EIS. No orange key, no programming. Orange key job is to activate the key track -- nothing more. After use, the orange key goes straight back to HQ, or the HQ in texas to be reprogrammed for another car and reused.

ML was in July 2014
E320 was in Dec 2015

No one from the dealership ever touched my vehicles.

I ordered the keys via a phone call and an e-mail with a photo of the title and my DL. When the keys arrived, I drove the 200 miles to the dealer with my vehicle, title and DL to pick them up. I cannot remember if they even looked at my title and/or DL when I picked up the keys.

I am a known customer to the parts manager. The few parts I have to get from the dealer, he mails to me. Usually $2 o-rings or bolts or washers. He treats me like I might someday win the lottery and buy people Mercedes Benz's the way Elvis bought people Cadillacs.

OK, here's how the key ordering system really works.....The OWNER of the vehicle needs to go to the dealer with a picture ID and vehicle registration or title. Pre-pay for the new key. When the new key arrives it works right out of the box. MB key policy dictates that a dealership employee MUST verify that the new key works. If the vehicle can't be driven to the dealership, a dealer rep will go to where the vehicle is. At my dealership we use the parts delivery drivers to do this since they're on the road anyway.

There's no need to tow the car or break into it. I hope this clears things up........

jay_bob's solution was right on the money! I had to have the car towed to the dealership, present the title and driver's license and of course $352.

Thanks for all the replies and kudos to jay_bob for providing the correct answer.

Bjoern

If jay-bob's solution/position and your decree that its the "correct" answer includes the assumption that the car had to be towed to the dealership and Xentry/DAS is used to code a replacement key I can say you and he are not correct, at least for newer cars.

I've had multiple first-hand experiences ordering replacement keys that worked out of the box with no programming from Xentry/DAS required.

I believe that may not have been the case in the early 2000's timeframe but I've ordered keys from 2006 vehicle onward that didn't require dealer visits or Xentry programming involvement.

Of course maybe your dealer physically required the car to be on-site so they could verify the replacement key worked? If you had ordered it from ILUVMIL's dealership the parts driver would have dropped it off with no tow required?

On second thought the fact that your car was locked in the garage might be a complicating factor, as I recall the replacement keys have to be inserted into the lock of the car before they are activated....maybe they would not be able to unlock the car until that point but on the other hand you should have been able to use the physical key on the replacement key to gain entry into the car?

Lots of moving parts here....

I based my answers on two things:
The MB policy at this link STAR TekInfo
"Theft-relevant parts info" on the left
This clearly states that the vehicle has to be presented to a dealership representative for key replacement.

And my experience with the Immobilizer system on a Honda. These use a fixed serial number RFID chip and so if a new key is needed, the car controller needs to be programmed to the new key serial number. This also wipes out the existing programming, so it is necessary to have all the keys present at the programming session to retrain the system.

During the infamous Takata airbag recall repair on the Cr-V, they locked the keys in my car. I ended up with a free extra valet key but had to bring the other 2 original (1 operator and 1 valet) keys to the dealer so they could reprogram all the keys in.

I assumed (apparently incorrectly) that the MB system is similar to the Honda RFID system. Apparently MB has the ability to look up the VIN and program a new key to a serial number already in a table factory programmed in the EIS module. This allows a key to be brought to the vehicle in the field and it will work without Xentry.

The security implications of someone misrepresenting their need for a key dictates the MB policy. There is no electrical reason why they cannot mail you a new key to pick up, it is all about the security.

My '98 has the same fancy key as the newer cars (looks anyway). When I lost mine, all I did was take the title to the dealer, plunk down $155 (5 years ago) and then return a few days later to pick up the fully programmed key.

Not sure if this applies in the situation but seems reasonable.