Key lead time

[Deleted member 11979]

Is this a normal lead time in the experience of others?

We ordered a spare key for our GL from Mercedes Exeter, a most useless bunch in my experience, 2 and a half weeks ago.

I wondered where it had got to, so chased it yesterday.

‘Oh yes, it’s here, came in on Friday’ excellent said I naively, can I come and get it then?,

‘no, you need to book it into the workshop to have it coded to the car, takes an hour’,

ok, I’ll pop down later today then?

‘no, first time we have is Friday 6th March’

really?

‘yes, they are fully booked’ (as if they are a separate entity to the person responsible for taking the bookings

 

[Teego]

It doesn't take an hour but that's their minimum hourly rate.

 

[LXA]

I got one from a key specialist in Penryn, Falmouth. Checked if they did them on Friday, popped over Monday 1030, done, dusted and gone by midday. Half the price of MB and they've now got the info on file so if I need another it's half price they charged me for the first one.

 

[LXA]

(Probably be quicker and significantly cheaper to pop down to Penryn ...... but probably one closer to you )

 

[Wolfie1]

Yes 2 separate entities within the branch, parts will have ordered your key, but its service that will need to code your key and there will be a 3rd entity there too sales. There will be other entities in their too but you will never see them being a customer

 

[Deleted member 11979]

I have no choice but to deal with Mercedes main dealer sadly as it is the cars supplying dealer who is footing the bill, very kind of them.

I think if I ran the dealership I would make it a thing that when a key is ordered the car is booked in to have it coded at the point at which the key arrives.

Makes me wonder what they thought I was going to do with the key

 

[Deleted member 37751]

I haven’t bought a Mercedes car key for a few year now but I’m certain I remember the key coming already coded to the car via the VIN?

 

[Deleted member 11979]

I haven’t bought a Mercedes car key for a few year now but I’m certain I remember the key coming already coded to the car via the VIN?

It does make you wonder, the key took almost 2 weeks to arrive from Germany so I would have thought at least part of it is bespoke, I wonder if that is the blade part of it?

 

[55AMGCLK]

I ordered a new key a couple of months ago from the dealer. They did not take the car in for any coding. They did do something to get the key to work with the car but this was done in the car park whilst I was speaking to the chap. If I recall correctly, they just needed to keep the car key in the ignition for a period of time and all was good.

 

[Deleted member 11979]

Thanks for all the replies, I’m going to give them a call, all in all this will have taken 6 weeks if I wait til March