Primary and secondary keys W123

[njpumphrey]

I don't have the primary key for my 230E (1984) (with the square grip) and the secondary key (round grip) doesn't open the boot. Can anyone tell me how the primary differs from the secondary so I can get one cut from the other?

Cheers,

 

[piestore]

keys

Hi Nick

I have never heard of primary and secondary key. the chances are one of the locks has been changed and you have a slave key (different key number to the master), if this is the case and you want to correct it, your dealer can supply a new key and barrel to your chassis No. Takes about 10 working days and not very expensive

good luck

 

[njpumphrey]

Looking in the manual, the primary key (with the rectangular rubber grip) opens all the locks in the car. The secondary key has an oval grip, and opens all the locks apart from the boot lock. This means that the profile of the grooves differs slightly, and I wondered what the difference is. If someone has both keys for their car, could they compare the grooves and see what the difference is for me. I might be able to cut the primary from the secondary by filing down one of the grooves or something. Cheers.

 

[dieselman]

You are correct about the "service" key being for certain locks only.

Why not order a correct primary key from your local MB dealer.

 

[TimN]

Perhaps its just a bit longer so that the primary key would not lift up all the brass slides in the lock. If this is the case then you could easily remove the excess slides youself. The barrels come apart relatively easily.

I might still have a primary and secondary key from an old 114 I used to have. I will have a look.

Regards

TIM

 

[TimN]

Actually, now I come to think of it I recall the last 2 slide holder in the front door key barrels of my w123 series being empty. The key will therefore be the same length. Take the last to brass slides out of the boot lock.

Regards

TIM

PS how are you getting into the boot at the moment?

 

[njpumphrey]

As I have just found out the answer to my own question I thought I would post it in here just to complete the story. The primary and secondary keys are exactly the same length and have the same cut profile. The difference lies in the profile when looking at the key end on. Therefore you can get a primary key cut using the secondary as the template and vice versa by using different blanks. Makes sense really. The people who cut keys should have a reference book of what blanks are used for each car, so it shouldn't be too difficult to get either cut.

 

[Andy]

Hi

I would just drop into your local stealership, with your logbook & they will order it. It should come next day or with a few days. £10 plus the vat.


Regards

Andy @ www.mercedesservicing.com