Lots of people have had a SMART key go bad. But no one has posted that two SMART keys have gone bad at the same time (OP's original post).

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Good luck.






1998 E320 Wagon

If there is no sound at all then I suspect the key(s) are no longer authorized to the car. Might need to re-program them.

The zip sound when inserting or removing the fob is the steering lock solenoid.

__________________
-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

You should be able to unlock the car with the mechanical key in the door and that should start the engine also....the "failsafe" function.

__________________
-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

The electronic ignition cars dont have a receptacle for the metal key blade. They only have a big socket to accept the nub on the fob which is sort of shaped like a big key (fisher price shape)

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2012 BMW X5 (Beef + Granite suspension model)

1995 E300D - The original humming machine (consumed by Flood 2017)
2000 E320 - The evolution (consumed by flood 2017)

As most of these cars have a giant relay junction like our W210 have a unit called K40, can it be that the source of power is from there ergo no activity in the key switch.

__________________
2012 BMW X5 (Beef + Granite suspension model)

1995 E300D - The original humming machine (consumed by Flood 2017)
2000 E320 - The evolution (consumed by flood 2017)

Good idea Zulfiqar, I electronically Checked the 7 fuses in the K40 module and all are good, have not check the relay in the module.
guess I need to find a wiring diagram to find out what circuit powers the EIS that energizes the chip in the key to authenticate it.
anybody have any clues to find a diagram on line?

I had the same problem in the same car. In my case it was a bad EIS. That is about a $1500 job at the dealer since you have to get new keys also. I think I had a thread on here about that.

Another person said they fixed theirs with new keys and that thread is around also. That will still cost you about $300 per key, and the computers can only accept so many new keys then you have to buy a new one.

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1998 C230 330,000 miles (currently dead of second failed EIS, yours will fail too, turning you into the dealer's personal human cash machine)
1988 F150 144,000 miles (leaks all the colors of the rainbow)
Previous stars: 1981 Brava 210,000 miles, 1978 128 150,000 miles, 1977 B200 Van 175,000 miles, 1972 Vega (great, if rusty, car), 1972 Celica, 1986.5 Supra

That is a tough one surely, the EIS can only be bought brand new from MB and is then married to the car, I think its sort of a CAN BUS junction.

It only takes 8 keys at max.

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2012 BMW X5 (Beef + Granite suspension model)

1995 E300D - The original humming machine (consumed by Flood 2017)
2000 E320 - The evolution (consumed by flood 2017)

clarification: i believe it is 8 active keys at the same time. 24 keys over the
life of the car/drive authorization system, then the system must be completely
replaced.

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-- raymond~
47º 34'N 122º 18'W

I don't think it is 24. Maybe that is a more recent improvement.

__________________
1998 C230 330,000 miles (currently dead of second failed EIS, yours will fail too, turning you into the dealer's personal human cash machine)
1988 F150 144,000 miles (leaks all the colors of the rainbow)
Previous stars: 1981 Brava 210,000 miles, 1978 128 150,000 miles, 1977 B200 Van 175,000 miles, 1972 Vega (great, if rusty, car), 1972 Celica, 1986.5 Supra

OOOOK..... looks like ill be grabbing a long extension cord and the Hair dryer this weekend.

I'll let you know what happens.
But I'll know not to have both keys in the car at the same when trying to start, due to RFI issues.

Thanks Raymond, for the PDF. it helps put to rest the rumor that the Transmission lock is also part of the DAS-3 system, as I have heard that it needs to be coded to match the ESL and the EIS and the ECU.

That I believe is on the S class and similar cars. Not the E and C class cars.

__________________
2012 BMW X5 (Beef + Granite suspension model)

1995 E300D - The original humming machine (consumed by Flood 2017)
2000 E320 - The evolution (consumed by flood 2017)