Is the main dealer taking the pi** ??

[Gumball]

Recently bought a W211 E63 , downside was it only came with 1 key . Asked the dealers how much for a replacement they said £234 !! for a new smart key.
So goes into the dealer to pay and order the key today , only to be told that because mine has keyless it would be another £60 to programme it ?!?!?
Has anyone else had this ??? I think it is ridiculous they charge you such and amount then want more money because my car has keyless , should it not come from Mercedes all ready to use ?

 

[219]

Have you tried contacting the previous owner ( details on the Reg document ) and see if he still has it ?

Got to be worth a try before you blow £300

 

[Gumball]

Have you tried contacting the previous owner ( details on the Reg document ) and see if he still has it ?

Got to be worth a try before you blow £300

Yes he said he lost it along with the spare for his wifes car when they moved house.

 

[AMGeed]

These guys are cheaper than the dealer if you are close ish to Birmingham.

Mercedes key specialists- Need new Mercedes keys? Replacementmercedeskeys.co.uk

 

[KillerHERTZ]

Been over £200 for nearly 10 years now, same prices for all manufactures

These guys are cheaper than the dealer if you are close ish to Birmingham.

Mercedes key specialists- Need new Mercedes keys? Replacementmercedeskeys.co.uk

Im sure these guys do a good service, but I would be reluctant to hand over my exisiting key to strangers who will then know my address, which in theory they could come around and unlock my car & drive off no issue.

 

[kid-jensen]

Most Auto Locksmiths can create a Fob for you by reading the code from your key (transponder or whatever it's called). They will need access to the dashboard though..

The price is normally not much more than what Mercedes charge, so if you're feeling lucky, you could always chance it, knowing you could get one made if necessary...

I chose to go this way because I was recovering from paying the exorbitant Road Tax (£485!!!!) just after I bought the car, and I'ver been lucky ever since..

 

[whitenemesis]

A good reason for having key insurance. Mine is bundled in with my breakdown cover with the AA

 

[Gumball]

It dont mind paying for the key , but surely it should come ready to go all programmed from Mercedes ? Why is it not dont when the key is made ?

 

[lxi]

If you bought it from an MB dealer I understand they are obliged to provide 2 keys (indeed any dealer worth his salt should do the same)

 

[Dryce]

It dont mind paying for the key , but surely it should come ready to go all programmed from Mercedes ? Why is it not dont when the key is made ?

It has to be coded to the car.

It's a bit like getting the key electronically cut to fit an electronic lock.

The car is programmed to recognise the key.

The pricing is in my view excessive for the key and for the coding - but all the manufacturers and dealers play this game to a lesser or greater extent and MB are not the worst.

 

[Vlad]

Standard price and most other manufacturers are the same or more.

Some of the older keys are slightly cheaper but again they charge you £60 to program it.

 

[Dryce]

If you bought it from an MB dealer I understand they are obliged to provide 2 keys (indeed any dealer worth his salt should do the same)

Implication I took from the posts is that the OP bought privately - and is only talking to the main dealer to acquire the replacement key.

 

[bob6600]

Im sure these guys do a good service, but I would be reluctant to hand over my exisiting key to strangers who will then know my address, which in theory they could come around and unlock my car & drive off no issue.

Well respected sponsors on the other side, should not have any issues with these guys

 

[B-BOY]

My car only came with one key, but I negotiated the spare key as I knew it was going to be expensive.

I bought my car from an independent dealer, so when he ordered the key he asked me to take the car to the dealer where the key was ordered. When I went to collect it I thought he was going to programme it but nope!!! The guy just got the key out of the package pressed unlock and then lock followed by checking the physical back up key and then told me there you go sir .Note, no programming as it came from Germany already programmed!!!!

 

[AMGeed]

My car only came with one key, but I negotiated the spare key as I knew it was going to be expensive.

I bought my car from an independent dealer, so when he ordered the key he asked me to take the car to the dealer where the key was ordered. When I went to collect it I thought he was going to programme it but nope!!! The guy just got the key out of the package pressed unlock and then lock followed by checking the physical back up key and then told me there you go sir .Note, no programming as it came from Germany already programmed!!!!

But does your car have Keyless Go?
That is the point the OP is making.............the dealer wants another £60 to programme to Keyless Go.

 

[AMGeed]

Well respected sponsors on the other side, should not have any issues with these guys

That is my understanding too Bob. I wouldn't have recommended them without reading others experiences.

 

[Gumball]

They said it will open the doors and start the car , but if i wanted it to work the keyless features they said they would have to programme it . I dont understand why it doesnt come form MB like that. They know my car has keyless option as the have the full specs from the chassis number .

 

[Gumball]

But does your car have Keyless Go?
That is the point the OP is making.............the dealer wants another £60 to programme to Keyless Go.

Correct m8 , i dont know why it wouldnt come from MB ready to use.

 

[Dryce]

Correct m8 , i dont know why it wouldnt come from MB ready to use.

That's because the coding involves getting *the car* to recognise the key.

If you recall some manufacturers (BMW were well publicised) had models that could be stolen using a 'blank' key (actually with BMW it was any compatible key) - the thieves would break into the car with a box of tricks that when connected to the car's diagnostic port allowed them to get the car to recognise their supplied key.

 

[AMGeed]

That's a new one on me. I would expect the key to be ready to use when the dealer gets the key from Germany, the same as you.