Hi, I am new here. Got a 1996 C220, my key less remote only works if you are within a few feet of the car and you have to aim it on the rear view mirror to work. I have changed the battery in the remote but didn’t help. Is this very short range normal? Can the signal be boosted?
Thank you in advance,Kam

 

No it is not normal it should work alot further than a few feet away,
1 question I have do you have tinted windows as this can sometimes cause problems with the range of the remote?

 

I have the same problem with my 1997 C230... Is there a transmitter that can be boosted? If so then where would that transmitter be?

Cheers

 

I have the problem with the 1995 SL 500 I just bought. Good to know it is not a battery problem. This might just be one of those things the Japanese just do better than Mercedes.
W

 

Mine has a mind of its own, sometimes it will work from 75 ft away and other not 2 inches with it almost pressed to the car. 06 C230.

 

I AM NOT AN EXPERT of any kind... I experienced that problem with a W220 S class and it started OVERNIGHT. It used to work from a half a block away and from inside the house and then overnight it got to a point that I actually had to aim the remote at each door handle to get them to work from just a few feet away from the car. Some MB remotes (like mine) function in two ways to be more effective: 1) Radio frequency 2)Infrared- like a TV remote. One is radio so it does not require that you are close to the car, the other is LINE OF SIGHT so you have to be close enough to the car and pointing at it to get the beam to hit the receiving sensors on the door handles. MUCH TO MY SURPRISE.... The reason for why I SUDDENLY lost all range on my RADIO remotes is because of the TINTING that I had installed on the windows of the car.... specifically- the upper part of the rear window where 3 or more antennas are built into the glass. The glass is VERY VERY VERY technologically advanced, has special tinting, built in radio antenna, built in sun sensors, built in GPS and phone antennas, and BUILT in remote control antennas for keys. The metal used in the special tint to keep it from turning purple causes SEVERE interference with the antenna painted on the glass. HOPE that this helps !

 

I have a 97 C230 and it has always had a short range, but lately it has a mind of it's own. Sometimes it works othertimes it does not. I changed the batteries and that did not help. Now I have to resort to locking or unlocking using the passenger door or the trunk lock. I hope someone can offer you an answer, it might help many of us.

 

I have a 97 C 280 and it works at the most about 15 feet away. I changed the batteries when I first got it and that didnt help. It has to be pointed at the door or trunk to work,the back of the mirror not as good. Im used to it now.
Rex