Hey Guys, Once Happy Mercedes Owner/ Who's Now Turned OFF... You see, My key is not working... and when I tried to order replacement keys, (Where can you get used or blank keys toML 320), theshop says there are no more keys and my ML needs to be re-keyed and will cost over $5,000 another shop told me there's a place in New Jersey that charges $2500, but... I have to come up with a couple more blank or discarded keys? ANY SUGGESTIONS? What gets me, is that, NO ONE at the dealership told me about this 8 key reprogramming thing before I purchased it and apparently the two keys I have were the last two... I feel totally screwed[sm=bangbang.gif]... any advice ???

 

The 8 key limit is true nowadays for a lot of car manufacturers. I am not sure about Mercedes but on the bimmer there are tricks that people play to go beyond 8 key limit. I used to know a guy who ran into exactly the issue you are having with a bimmer and one good locksmith for german cars made it happen. Do a good search, ask body shops, as they could of dealt with such issues recently. Good luck.

 

Hey Guys, Once Happy Mercedes Owner/ Who's Now Turned OFF... You see, My key is not working... and when I tried to order replacement keys, (Where can you get used or blank keys toML 320), theshop says there are no more keys and my ML needs to be re-keyed and will cost over $5,000 another shop told me there's a place in New Jersey that charges $2500, but... I have to come up with a couple more blank or discarded keys? ANY SUGGESTIONS? What gets me, is that, NO ONE at the dealership told me about this 8 key reprogramming thing before I purchased it and apparently the two keys I have were the last two... I feel totally screwed[sm=bangbang.gif]... any advice ???

 

This seems to be true. I live in Honolulu and using #8 key on 1998ml320. Mercedes-Benz of Honolulu Parts Invoice ='s $4,416.02 + labor! Part #163-760-24-06 AAM Control ($2,280.60) Part #112-153-04-79 Control UN ($1,936.70) +sales tax ($198.72)+ labor (?)I also believe that this is a crock! Am searching for alternate route and have found an ND that can reprogram system but you need all the keys! duh! The problem with this system unlike other supposed eight key systems is that the keys wear out from use (literally rub away) and also that they lose their programming at the drop of a hat or key, or battery or rattle or too much weight in ignition, the list goes on. Apparently a major issue but nothing really doneby MBUSA. MBUSA certainly should honor some kind of repair policy. ie parts at cost and partial labor. I am the third owner of this car. Was sold to me with #6 which was in need of replacing. Went to the dealer a little over a year ago and found out the bad news when I ordered #7 and #8. Lost #7 jet skiing about a month ago. Now realizing how crazy this situation is. The car is practically worthless. Can't sell it with a clear mind and can't use it without thinking about the situation. Still have a loan on it, too! Just crazy. Will probably have to go back to my credit union and refi the loan to get the money needed to fix it when the time comes. Unless we can figure out another way. All the best!

 

FALSE! My friend in New York was able to get the dealer to reprogram the AAM (50 bucks) to accept 8 more keys.
it cost him a less than $200 for 3 working keys. I think you can find his writeup in the benzworld forum.

Jim in Phoenix