Replacement keys: huge price increase

[Roger Jones]

On 31 May 2006 I bought two spare keys for my W124 at £9.50 each (plus VAT). Yesterday I bought two keys (with a replacement ignition barrel) for my W126 at £26.00 each (plus VAT). No explanation other than MB's annual price increases.

 

[renault12ts]

On 31 May 2006 I bought two spare keys for my W124 at £9.50 each (plus VAT). Yesterday I bought two keys (with a replacement ignition barrel) for my W126 at £26.00 each (plus VAT). No explanation other than MB's annual price increases.

Cheaper than the £215 for the key on the other thread!!!

 

[Shude]

Cheaper than the £215 for the key on the other thread!!!

Yes! I bought the same type of key back in 2003 for £37 and now it's £215. Bargain eh? I should have stocked up I suppose.

 

[MD5]

According to my local parts guy, DC (when it was DC) actually took the view that they were too cheap compared to other manufacturers, so hoiked the prices up.

 

[peterg1965]

I have a spare key for my CLK55, it is in a clear MB parts bag but is not programmed. How much will I be fleeced to have it programmed by a dealer? Would the price differ from dealer to dealer or is it fixed?

 

[Shude]

I have a spare key for my CLK55, it is in a clear MB parts bag but is not programmed. How much will I be fleeced to have it programmed by a dealer? Would the price differ from dealer to dealer or is it fixed?

AFAIK it is not possible to buy "not programmed" keys! The stealership will not program the key for your car they will insist on you buying a new one.

You may be able to find someone in the aftermarket that can do this for you however, it was mentioned on another recent thread.

 

[andy27168]

I have a spare key for my CLK55, it is in a clear MB parts bag but is not programmed. How much will I be fleeced to have it programmed by a dealer? Would the price differ from dealer to dealer or is it fixed?

Hi,
Where on earth did you buy/get an unprogrammed electronic key? Are you sure it is unprogrammed?

 

[peterg1965]

I am no longer sure! The key came with the key when I bought it. I tried it once to unlock the car remotely (not to start the engine) and it didn't work, so i assumed it was unprogrammed. I have just called an MB dealer and the parts department tell me that they don't code keys and that it is probably just the battery that is dead.... doh! Will try it this afternoon in the ignition.

 

[Spinal]

I am no longer sure! The key came with the key when I bought it. I tried it once to unlock the car remotely (not to start the engine) and it didn't work, so i assumed it was unprogrammed. I have just called an MB dealer and the parts department tell me that they don't code keys and that it is probably just the battery that is dead.... doh! Will try it this afternoon in the ignition.

If the key's been unpowered for a long time, you may need to repair the key with the car... there are instructions floating around somewhere... (but I'm thinking of a W202 - so things may have changed since then...)

 

[Shude]

If the key's been unpowered for a long time, you may need to repair the key with the car... there are instructions floating around somewhere... (but I'm thinking of a W202 - so things may have changed since then...)

Pre-facelift only! Facelift W202s come with the new-style key (up to present day) which are pre-coded and functioning from the factory.

 

[crockers]

Doesn't the battery recharge itself once in the ignition??

 

[peterg1965]

OK, mystery continues...I tried the 'new' key in the ignition, it wouldn't even turn. I have attached pictures, the key is in the bag with a part number A203 766 40 06.

It is otherwise identical in shape to the current key that I use daily.

It may be the case that the key is not for my car? When I bought the car in Jan I didn't even think about trying it. The trader just said that the spare key was new and was in the glovebox with the books.

 

[renault12ts]

If it will not turn, then it's not for your car. The batteries are not needed to start the car, just to open it. Now go back to the dealer. It sounds like a porky!!

 

[renault12ts]

doesn't the battery recharge itself once in the ignition??

no.

 

[219]

On 31 May 2006 I bought two spare keys for my W124 at £9.50 each (plus VAT). Yesterday I bought two keys (with a replacement ignition barrel) for my W126 at £26.00 each (plus VAT). No explanation other than MB's annual price increases.

I had EXACTLY the same experience when I ordered two keys for my W126 earlier this year ( bought the car with 1 key late last year ) and was charged the same amount ; I had also bought keys for one of my W201's only a few months previously and was charged roughly a tenner a key , which has been the price more or less for the last 30 years .

I never queried it but thought to myself - either there has been a massive price increase or W126 owners are expected to pay more than owners of lesser cars .

The latter explaination would not surprise me , as I know MB sometimes price similar items differently according to which model it is intended for ( W107 parts also can be disproportionately expensive compared to other models ) .

I can't think of an example right now , but certain parts for commercial vehicles are the same as those used on cars only priced cheaper .

One of my friends pointed this out after his friendly parts man tipped him off to it .

 

[peterg1965]

Obviously keys are a good money spinner for MB! I have just been quoted £215 for a replacement key for my CLK55. That is including VAT and is the coded chrome key (they don't stock the old style black ones anymore) and the key blade cut (the one that slides hidden into the fob!).

 

[Robbie T]

Maybe a little cynical of me, but what better item to increase the price of annually than something which can't be bought anywhere else?

 

[Roger Jones]

I've told my excellent parts man at MB Milton Keynes:

"Sadly, it's exactly this sort of price gouging that alienates customers and sways them towards third-party suppliers for things other than keys. Worries about quality compromises are less and less prevalent, as the quality of MBs since the mid-1990s ain't what it used to be and even prominent journalists (e.g. Honest John of the Daily Telegraph) are now declaring MBs to be nothing special. I offer this as grist to your customer-feedback mill, should you have any channels for it."

 

[MD5]

OK, mystery continues...I tried the 'new' key in the ignition, it wouldn't even turn. I have attached pictures, the key is in the bag with a part number A203 766 40 06.

It is otherwise identical in shape to the current key that I use daily.

It may be the case that the key is not for my car? When I bought the car in Jan I didn't even think about trying it. The trader just said that the spare key was new and was in the glovebox with the books.

Are these newer (to me) type keys universal to other models? If not, would the number on your key, starting 220, be indicative of the S class? Just a thought, but it's easy enough to buy keys off ebay (if the trader didn't have a spare). I'm probably completely wrong.

 

[renault12ts]

Ebay keys are cheap in one sense; £50, for instance, is cheap. But dear in another sense: THEY DONT WORK !!