Mercedes keyless start replacement key...

[ToMeToYou]

Does anyone know the process in getting a key when yours has been lost?

Its a little vague but, I know I can go through parts and order a key with my V5, password and driving license for ID.

But apparently they still don't give you the key until you've taken the car to them so they can charge you 1 hour labour to check the vin on the car? and apparently the keys come pre programmed? And I heard they charge a further 1 hour labour to delete old keys off the onboard computer, which apparently takes 2 mins.

Any advise guys?

Anyone done this before?

[Matt_E_Mulsion]

Personally I'd get a mobile key specialist round to make you a new key or two. I wouldn't entertain going via the dealer.

[ToMeToYou]

Matt_E_Mulsion said:

Personally I'd get a mobile key specialist round to make you a new key or two. I wouldn't entertain going via the dealer.

I've called about 15 big and small locksmith companies including the aa and every single one of them said that it's a dealer only job. From 2014 on wards merc clamped down on this and therefore only pre 2014 can be done by Indies.

[Tall_Blk]

How old is the car as when I bought mine from the dealer it came with key insurance

[ToMeToYou]

Tall_Blk said:

How old is the car as when I bought mine from the dealer it came with key insurance

Its 6 years old, theres no key insurance.

[Ron240]

Yes of course this is a dealer only job...because it would be pretty poor from a security aspect if anybody could do it.
Naturally of course this means that the cost to the consumer will be over inflated.

Regarding key insurance...these things are never/extremely rarely provided for free. It's like all the extras that can be added when buying a car, sometimes dealers do not make it clear that these things are optional and do not need to be taken.
When I buy a car it is simply the car I pay for - no add ons!

[daveenty]

Just as an addition to the previous replies, it's dealer only as they are the only ones with the facilities to activate the key to the car which, unfortunately, is a chargeable service.

The good news however is that they will de-activate the lost key, rendering it unusable just in case.

[oldagepensioner]

ToMeToYou said:

Does anyone know the process in getting a key when yours has been lost?

Its a little vague but, I know I can go through parts and order a key with my V5, password and driving license for ID.

But apparently they still don't give you the key until you've taken the car to them so they can charge you 1 hour labour to check the vin on the car? and apparently the keys come pre programmed? And I heard they charge a further 1 hour labour to delete old keys off the onboard computer, which apparently takes 2 mins.

Any advise guys?

Anyone done this before?

I used to work for a Mercedes dealer so have some idea about this.The process comes under TRP or theft related parts.
you need to prove a few things.#
A) that the vehicle is legally registered hence the V5.
B) that you really are who you say you are hence the photo ID.Pretty much any photo ID should do,i once had someone use a shotgun licence.They should take the details of your ID but they are not allowed to photocopy it.Also if the vehicle is not yours then you will need a covering letter or purchase order from the owner explaining that you are entitled to that key.
C)That the vehicle really exists so either you should provide a photo of the vin plate (not the registration plate as some people think) or they will take a picture of it when they have the car.
The programming is a fixed fee normally either half an hour or an hour i can,t remember which but that is because it can take that long depending on how the internet is behaving on any given day.They need all the working keys because under DAS 3 at least they wipe the control unit (wsp) of all keys and then reprogram in the keys you want to work.Nearly forgot to mention they will take a copy of your V5
but not your photo ID remember and are obliged to keep it on file for 7 years in case the vehicle is ether stolen or involved in a crime.
There is also a quite long winded form to fill out.DAS 4 is a similar process but whereas with DAS 3 the key comes prepogrammed
with DAS 4 all the programming is done by the dealer and with these they shouldn,t even order the key until you have a workshop appointment booked as they have to book a slot with MB Germany to be able to do the programming.
This process may have changed lately but thats how it was in 2021.

[thecremeegg]

I had a new key on my 2019 at the start of the year.
It was £500+....£350 for the key and then £150 later on to program it. They didn't charge to look at a VIN or anything.
They needed to see ID and the V5, that was about it.

[oldagepensioner]

thecremeegg said:

I had a new key on my 2019 at the start of the year.
It was £500+....£350 for the key and then £150 later on to program it. They didn't charge to look at a VIN or anything.
They needed to see ID and the V5, that was about it.

I would say your dealer took a fairly relaxed approach to the procedure.They should have a TRP specialist either someone at managerial level
or someone appointed by the manager which was me.Also Mercedes will do a quarterly audit if i remember correctly to check that the dealer is following procedure correctly and threatening to remove the facility to order keys if they are not.In all fairness i worked for a commercial dealer but that did include vans which use the same keys as cars.One last thing purely because i am on a roll and that is that even though some vans and cars use the same keys you cannot take a car to a commercial dealer or visa versa as MB Germany will reject the chassis number as being at the wrong type of dealer.