Key fob repair/upgrade.

[drkknght]

Seems like a solution for many of us.

Mercedes Benz Smart Key FOB Remote Repair/Upgrade - eBay (item 170640436090 end time Jun-11-11 08:50:13 PDT)

 

[EDZ649]

I bought a good secondhand key on ebay over here for less than £10 and swapped the insides over myself.

 

[drkknght]

Awesome! So the inside of both key styles are interchangeable?

 

[EDZ649]

The keys are not re-programmable so I'm guessing that all they have done is swap the insides over.

 

[Howard]

Awesome! So the inside of both key styles are interchangeable?

No.

The insides of the black one won't fit into the chrome one , you have to unsolder the chip from the black one and put it into the chrome one.

You need a micro soldering gun , and balls of steel , or you'll cost yourself £225 for a new key.

 

[drkknght]

No.

The insides of the black one won't fit into the chrome one , you have to unsolder the chip from the black one and put it into the chrome one.

You need a micro soldering gun , and balls of steel , or you'll cost yourself £225 for a new key.

Thanks, I did some research and found the same answer, the 2 PCBs are not the same.
So, this sound like a good deal!

 

[Howard]

So you are going to send a key to your car to a man off Ebay who has zero feedback ?

He then may ( or may not ) clone your existing key , and send it back to your address ( where the car lives ) for you ?

Got bad news written all over it.

If the car was nicked and the insurance found out what you had done , i very much doubt if they would pay out ...

Worth it ?

 

[drkknght]

So you are going to send a key to your car to a man off Ebay who has zero feedback ?

He then may ( or may not ) clone your existing key , and send it back to your address ( where the car lives ) for you ?

Got bad news written all over it.

If the car was nicked and the insurance found out what you had done , i very much doubt if they would pay out ...

Worth it ?

I just realized that his phone number is local, only 30 miles from me. I called and found that he does exactly what you said, swapping the chips. I'll meet him this weekend and see how it goes. And cost is only $100 cash

 

[Howard]

What guarantee does he offer if he messes up your old key ? will he buy you a new one ?

Not trying to put a downer on it , but just be cautious.

 

[Rob77]

But if the fob doesn't work anyway, even if he totally ruins it, is anything lost?

Incidentally, does anyone repair the older W124 fobs?

 

[Howard]

But it's rare that the chip fails , it's mostly the coil , transponder thing or the buttons ...

So , if he cooks your chip , then you are most definately up sh** creek.

 

[rascalmaster]

But it's rare that the chip fails , it's mostly the coil , transponder thing or the buttons ...

So , if he cooks your chip , then you are most definately up sh** creek.

take a paddle along m8, just in case...

 

[drkknght]

Awesome ! I got a new key. :bannana: :bannana: :bannana:

I made an arrangement and met with this guy on Sunday at his home. He has a microscope and solder iron set up in his study. Took him 10 minutes to do the swap while I watched.

My old key has an ugly big crack. New key now works just like the original did: lock, unlock, trunk, panic and open/close windows.

Happy day !

 

[Druk]

So as I understand it, he supplies the chrome part which has new (?) innards inside and all he does is transplant the original chip from your old fob to the new one?

 

[drkknght]

Correct, just bring your old key either working or not, he supplies the new chrome keys (not brand new, but unused, the blade is already cut).
Just as Howard mentioned; while everything else may fail, the chip doesn't. He just swap the chip and just like magic, everything works.