Hi guys, recently bought a w210 e430 avantgarde. Nice ride except I'm having some electrical problems related to the key. The key itself is a little worn out. The previous owner seems to have had the habit on biting on his key. There are bite marks on the part which goes into the ignition lock. Ok , so the problem is sometimes my horn and the sunroof doesn't work. It will work as soon as I wiggle the key around a little. I can hear some clicking sounds as well when I wiggle the key. Checked fuse#41 it's good.
Do you guys think the issue is with the key or the ignition lock itself.
I only got one key with the car.

Thanks

Pics of the key


Foggy lens

firstly make sure the nose of the key is smooth and clean on the lens. hold the key flap open on the ignition switch and see if there is any lint in there.

Also make sure that you can see the gauge cluster screens light up when you open the door, if it does not then your electronic lock is highly suspect.

If cleaning the key does not work - try the spare key (if you have one) or buy a new key.

Your MB dealer can also test your key - if you are USA based, your Dodge and chrysler dealer can also check it for activity but not sell you a key.

If the car refuses to respond on all the above you are in for an electronic ignition switch replacement which requires a dealer visit - nothing else works because the part is hard coded from Germany and shipped to the dealer at which time it is installed on the car and the old keys are permitted to it. (I think it already has the key information because the dealer keys are also coded from the master build list of the car)

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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)

The gauge cluster lights up and the ignition switch looks clean, but the lens on the nose of the key has a bit of fogging as can be seen in the picture. Do the used ignition switch and keys sets sold on ebay work, in case I have to replace it?

Used from ebay will NOT work. You will have to go to a MB dealership and prove ownership of the car and order a new keyfob and have them authorize it to the car for you. Cost is around ~$250-300. No other way around it...

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
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'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)

as pawoSD said - do not buy the used ebay keys, they cannot be written and neither can the ignition switch. They are coded once only.

If your key is foggy you can try to polish the screen with some toothpaste or baking soda. The good news is that you are seeing the displays light up which means that the switch is not dozing off completely.

good thing about the new keys is that they are pretty to look at and also have longer range of wireless.

the key costs abt USD 300/- while the switch is nearly 1000.

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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)

are there any more tests that i can perform to make sure the EIS is not faulty and the problem is with the key. anyway i was planning to get the new chrome key, but i dont want to get it and then discover that the EIS is broken. in that case i will have to get one more key rite, coz the 1st new key will be programmed with the old EIS. or can we reprogram the key if we install a new EIS?

if you buy a new key and your EIS is bad then dont worry - your EIS will accept the new key. Reason being that the EIS is written to the be the same as your old EIS which was coded for the car when it was assembled.

If your dealer says different ask for it in black and white with ink too.

btw where are you located - your location space in your profile is empty.

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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)

im from dubai.. also i just discovered if the put the key in with logo side up, most of the time when i go over dips, i can hear a click and the horn and sunroof dont work, then i have to wiggle the key a lot to get them to work..
If i put the key in with the button sides facing up then its much better dont have to wiggle the key a lot, only sometimes the horn/sunroof doesnt work.

get a new key and best get it from the dealership - dont go to the "sayyara parts" shops or the little shops that just deal in keys, you will end up spending more than the dealer.

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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)

Thanks for all the help zulfuqar and pawosd. I better get a new key once I get enough funds, coz once one of friend was saying that he ended up paying 5000dhs(1350USD), but I'm not sure if that was for the EIS and a new key or just the key.

i cant see the pictures of the key model you have. depending on what is the
cause, there are occasions in which a used Smartkey can be used and involves
removing the circuit board from your existing key and sliding it into a healthy
housing. would need more info in order to determine if this is a viable option
though

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-- raymond~
47º 34'N 122º 18'W

i have the long type black key, and i cannot find the housing for this on ebay or anywhere else..


upload image online free

the 5000 dhs is about right for the EIS, the key is approximately 1200 dhs. Go to a dealer and have the key tested - they have the tools do test it. btw the key you have is called a motorola key

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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)

you have the 1st gen Smartkey. i see a couple on Ebay geared for US market
but the condition isn't that good. I'd hate to have you pick one of these up
only to find that that you're unable to use it as a organ donor. unfortunately,
the form factor of the 1st gen doesn't lend itself to being used in the 2nd gen
case, as the newer case is smaller and the circuit board differs in how the
buttons are positioned.

one guy in the UK has successfully removed the encoded chip and retrofitted
onto a different board. i understand he does this for a fee. i don't remember
if he is found on ebay, MBWorld, Benzworld, or the UK MB forum

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-- raymond~
47º 34'N 122º 18'W

mine is a facelift w210..do the facelift w210 come with the first gen key as standard? or did the previous owner might have replaced it? mine is a Japanese import BTW.