Upgrading Key

[gdt858]

Is it possible to buy a key meant for a new generation c-class and program to work on the older w202 mercedes? The range on my keyless entry is terrible!

[xvvvz]

Good question. A call to your dealer would be the best way to find out for sure. The w203's remote range is pretty amazing compared to the w202's.

[taimyshukah]

Does anyone know how much it would be to get the little infrared thing on the driver door replaced? Someone tried to jam my key into it thinking it was a key hole.

[DRM]

I don't think pre updates can be converted to use the smartkey? If you have a smartkey I definitely recommend getting the 2007 chrome smartkey, looks excellent! I got mine from oempartsdirect.com

[xvvvz]

DRM - So did the remote's range increase a great deal compared to your previous smart key? I wondered the increased range with the newer cars might be due to more than just the key fob (e.g. also a better receiver in the car).

How did you get your new key reprogrammed? Dealer? The dealers in the U.S. are so strict about the key replacement policy that I wonder if they would program a key bought elsewhere.

[DRM]

Originally posted by xvvvz
DRM - So did the remote's range increase a great deal compared to your previous smart key? I wondered the increased range with the newer cars might be due to more than just the key fob (e.g. also a better receiver in the car).

How did you get your new key reprogrammed? Dealer? The dealers in the U.S. are so strict about the key replacement policy that I wonder if they would program a key bought elsewhere.

Yes the range did increase by atleast twice the range of the smartkey that came with my car. I ordered my smart key and key from oempartsdirect.com.

They ask for your vin number and the smart key comes pre programmed to your car, and the key blank is pre-cut to fit your locks. You have to show proof of registration and driver's license which you can fax / e-mail them.

check out this thread:

http://mbworld.org/forums/showthread.php?t=176063

Here is a picture of the key we are talking about:

http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com/media/reviews/top10/most.fabulous.key.fobs/mercedes.benz.500.jpg

[davis449]

Originally posted by DRM
Yes the range did increase by atleast twice the range of the smartkey that came with my car. I ordered my smart key and key from oempartsdirect.com.

They ask for your vin number and the smart key comes pre programmed to your car, and the key blank is pre-cut to fit your locks. You have to show proof of registration and driver's license which you can fax / e-mail them.

check out this thread:

http://mbworld.org/forums/showthread.php?t=176063

Here is a picture of the key we are talking about:

http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com/media/reviews/top10/most.fabulous.key.fobs/mercedes.benz.500.jpg

What part #'s did you use at that site? What year is you car? I have a 1999 with Smart Key, so this should work, right? I would love to get more range on my remote, plus I need a backup key anyway.

[audiophile]

yes it will work!!
the dealer broke my original and replaced free of charge, but i had to eat the $25 for the blade key.

[DRM]

Originally posted by davis449
What part #'s did you use at that site? What year is you car? I have a 1999 with Smart Key, so this should work, right? I would love to get more range on my remote, plus I need a backup key anyway.

from what I have been told this key will work with any smart key mercedes so it will most likely work for you. I used 211 766 3606 + 203 766 5006

[97C28O]

Very cool! I think i might get one of these. But 2 questions. Does the window roll down/up feature still work with these keys?

And the most important, does this work on 97 models?

[DRM]

yes it works exactly the same as my old smartkey :D

[97C28O]

How does the blade look like? Can you show me a picture of your key?

[OCKlasse]

Originally posted by 97C28O
Very cool! I think i might get one of these. But 2 questions. Does the window roll down/up feature still work with these keys?

And the most important, does this work on 97 models?

I don't think 97s came with the smart key...

[97C28O]

What is the smartkey? I have the key with one button with a flip out key. On my car it has the green/red sensor on the driver door, rear view mirror and trunk.

Found this on yahoo and this is how my key looks (not my key, but the look)
http://500sec.com/280/images/020807/key%20004.jpg

If the new key doesn't work, why do they order a blade with their key pattern precut for them?

[K1 Motorsport]

07 key will not work with this key.


Originally posted by 97C28O
What is the smartkey? I have the key with one button with a flip out key. On my car it has the green/red sensor on the driver door, rear view mirror and trunk.

Found this on yahoo and this is how my key looks (not my key, but the look)
http://500sec.com/280/images/020807/key%20004.jpg

If the new key doesn't work, why do they order a blade with their key pattern precut for them?

[DRM]

Originally posted by K1 Motorsport
07 key will not work with this key.

Yes what k1 said is correct. 1997 was the year the C Class received the update, so update C Classes from mid to late 1997 will have the smart key.

[C WILD]

Originally posted by DRM
I don't think pre updates can be converted to use the smartkey? If you have a smartkey I definitely recommend getting the 2007 chrome smartkey, looks excellent! I got mine from oempartsdirect.com

how much did the 2007 smart key cost?

i tried searching the website but had no luck finding it

[DRM]

Originally posted by C WILD
how much did the 2007 smart key cost?

i tried searching the website but had no luck finding it

Hey man, it is $61 US, on that website you have to input the part number and then select the manafacturer mercedes and it will find it for you, add it to your cart and then search and add the other part number.

[xvvvz]

Since it sounds like a few people might have ordered these already, I hope they will post some side-by-side comparison figures for the effective/useful transmitting distance for the old key vs. the new one.

Thanks!

[Abuimad]

61 dollars only, i asked the dealership a while back about a new key for my 98 230, and they told me it costs 325 dollars.....and it wasnt even that chrome one...damn...huuge difference in prices between countries

[C WILD]

Originally posted by DRM
Hey man, it is $61 US, on that website you have to input the part number and then select the manafacturer mercedes and it will find it for you, add it to your cart and then search and add the other part number.

ok thanks mate i figured it out

thats gonna end up being round the $100 ozzie mark so i just gotta figure out now if its worth it !!!

[xvvvz]

Price jump! They must have been flooded with orders. The transmitter alone has gone up to $114.80. Blade is $3.20.

[Abuimad]

Originally posted by xvvvz
Price jump! They must have been flooded with orders. The transmitter alone has gone up to $114.80. Blade is $3.20.

still cheaper than 325 dollars...i asked about the key again today..its 315 dolalrs now, and it takes 14 days to get...over here they take the car check the chasis number, check it with interpool and then order the key....

[DRM]

Originally posted by Abuimad
still cheaper than 325 dollars...i asked about the key again today..its 315 dolalrs now, and it takes 14 days to get...over here they take the car check the chasis number, check it with interpool and then order the key....

You can order it from oempartsdirect.com, they ship worldwide. Sucks about it costing $115 us now though but still cheaper than your $325 us.

[smartkey]

I just got my smartkey from OEMdirect.com 2/20/2007 it works just fine.

I am glad that I finally was able to get a second key for my car after having it for 5 years with only one key.


I remember when I had accidentally locked my key in my trunk.

I tried to get a key from several dealers but none would accomodate my situation eventhough I could show proof of ownership. One of the largest factors was that the closest Mercedes dealer to me was in Puerto Rico and Miami Eventually I had to destroy one of my taillights to get access to the trunk and get my key out. To replace the taillight lense and the reflector it cost me about $245.00 which was about the same amount of money I was quoted for a key.

I don't own a 202 anymore but it is still in the family since my brother now owns it. I still visit the site regularly and I was very happy to come across this thread two weeks ago.

[benzofanatic]

So from what i have read, this key will work no problem with my 99 C280 Sport and currently cost $140 (no longer $48 due to high demand). All you need to provide them with is VIN and owners info and you will receive a working key?

I to could not find the page. would some one mind posting a link to the page showing the key info and how to order - thanks

[mgill3]

Would i be able to get the flip-out key for m 95? Right now i have the stock regular key, nothing fancy... i dont know if there are any infrared parts in there?

Here's what mine looks like:
http://idisk.mac.com/mgill3/Public/Car/key.jpg

[Abuimad]

Originally posted by DRM
You can order it from oempartsdirect.com, they ship worldwide. Sucks about it costing $115 us now though but still cheaper than your $325 us.

what made me go mad was, i asked the mercedes dealership here in lebanon about the new chrome key, and they told me it would not work on my car...apparently they dont know shit...and the problem is, i ordered it, and it should be here this week...whata bummer, i pay 315 bucks for an older key....im pissed...

[Abuimad]

just got the key..god it feels so good looking at it lol...

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a19/abuimad/DSC00011.jpg

[ricerokets4life]

Originally posted by benzofanatic
So from what i have read, this key will work no problem with my 99 C280 Sport and currently cost $140 (no longer $48 due to high demand). All you need to provide them with is VIN and owners info and you will receive a working key?

I to could not find the page. would some one mind posting a link to the page showing the key info and how to order - thanks

Same question here. My key just died, and it's not the batteries so I'm going to need a replacement key. How does this new key work exactly? Is it ready-to-go out of the box?

[mike mac]

Yes the key is ready to go out of the box.


EBAY KEYS: I worked at the dealer once and they said they cant program keys like the ones you get from Ebay.

[ricerokets4life]

I tried ordering the keys through OEMpartsdirect.com and I received an e-mail a day later stating that they cancelled my order since it wasn't the right part number for my vehicle/VIN#. Anyone have this problem?

I used these P/N's:
Remote part# 211 766 36 06
Blade part #203 766 50 06

[Ashkan's C280]

so there is no real way to change if you have the flip key? I mean even if a lot of components were changed, if all of it could be done for 300 or 400 I would say it'd be worth it....

[ricerokets4life]

I have no idea about using the new key instead of the flip key. But assuming it does work, the site apparently won't sell it if the key doesn't match your VIN#.

[Logic]

The key looks cool and all, but from what i have read here is you go to oemparts , enter a vin and license etc for the key you need via fax, and from what i see is there going to the dealership and getting these keys done. the other thing i see also is this place is getting your address, vin etc from you to get these keys done....In my eyes this is a very good scam for this company to know where you live and have another key made and off they go with your car :confused: this might be a legit thing but i m maybe reading threw the lines here....

[ricerokets4life]

I don't know if anyone has had luck with this company, but they seemed to have stopped selling keys for non-W203 cars?

Anyone know how much one usually goes for from a dealership?

[jayvee]

This thread might be a year old... but here's my feedback regarding my new smart key (pardon to everyone as this will be a bit long)...

Some history: I purchased my used 2000 MB C230K in April 2007 (just several months after the chrome key offering from OEMPartsDirect.com began to leak out, then at less than $50; and a couple of months after OPD increased their prices to about over $100). Like most used MB cars that are a bit old, I only got one smart key (short black one). I tried ordering from OPD, despite the steep price, but was told that they no longer sell smart keys over the internet -- MB USA policy.

To tide things over, as the plastic housing on the smart key is already brittle and beginning to crack, I ordered a pair off of Ebay and took out my key's guts (electronic board) to put them inside the new key housing (other one would be a spare housing). This worked for a while.

Unfortunately, the key itself has been acting funky lately... sometimes not being recognized by the EIS (no clicking sound when inserted). This was because the IR diode has become loose. To fix, I needed to take apart the key and wiggle the black square facing the EIS to make the terminals connect. I didn't want to solder it back without an additional key in my hand, in case something goes wrong.

Present: I had no choice but to order an additional smart key from an MB dealer. After calling several SOCAL dealers, cheapest quote I got was $171.60 for the smart key and insert, plus $75 to program the key to the car (dang the stealership!). Placed the order over the phone and told them I got the egg-type (vs. long type, IMHO circa 1997-1998) key. Worse is that I have to drive over to San Diego (living in LA) to get this cheap deal and just to get the key programmed (person over the phone said they will not mail me the key because it needs to be programmed to the car).

So I drove down to SD, went to the dealer, and looked for my contact. She brought me to the Parts Counter as they have the key. After showing proof of ownership and completing parts delivery paperwork, the partsman followed me to the car, clicked the remote (doors open), and handed me the key to try the ignition. I got in the car and started it without any problems. Thumbs up and the partsman went back to his counter.

Yipee! Got away without paying the $75 programming fee! $171.60 is not bad for the security of having an additional working key to a car that is very hard to steal.

New year; new smart key! (Oh, forgot to mention that they gave me the cool new chrome smart key... without having to specifically tell them the part number.)

All in all, the chrome smart key looks very very nice! Remote range is farther than my old black smart key (about 20 meters). Also opens and closes the windows/moonroof.

Downside, it was programmed to open all door locks with just one click (I can live with this since this will be my spare after I fix/re-solder the old key). The old one opens only the driver's door on first click, then another click to open other doors. Didn't complain anymore to the partsman or might be charged the $75 to change the key's programming.

[xvvvz]

>>Downside, it was programmed to open all door locks with just one click (I can live with this since this will be my spare after I fix/re-solder the old key). The old one opens only the driver's door on first click, then another click to open other doors. Didn't complain anymore to the partsman or might be charged the $75 to change the key's programming.<<

You can change this yourself by pressing a combination on the key fob buttons. It is discussed in your manual.

[jayvee]

hey, thanks a lot for the info. Didn't know that (time to go through that manual I got from Ebay... :D) I'll try changing the settings tomorrow.

[!!!!!NJ Drive]

So what are the part numbers for this key that works for the 202 ?

[jayvee]

I didn't get to see the packaging because the partsman pulled the smart key and blade out of the bags before giving them to me. I'll check the receipt tomorrow if the part numbers are listed there.

[smartkey]

Jayvee

I know I should not be saying this but.

I beleive the Parts section of the dealership have been trained to tell folks that the smartkeys have to be programmed. The older folding keys had to be mated to the car but the new infrared keys don't that is why they are so protective of these keys because once the key is ordered and programmed to work with your VIN # or what ever access code. They work.


I ordered one from OPD and it worked from the time it came out of the envelope.

When I realized that I understood why they are so protective of these keys.

[jayvee]

just an update... I know it took me a while to get back to this thread. I always forget to look at the receipt for my new smart key whenever I get into the car.

Here are the part numbers:

Smart key -- 211-766-77-06-9999
Key blade -- 203-766-50-06