Replacement Master Key FOB for R129

[Mia Beach SL500 2002]

Hello there,

Many owners of late R129 SLs have only one master key left and apparently they are not longer available - or at least not for me - I have been looking since August 2020 without any success or luck.

If anyone has been able to successfully replicate a key or know where to get a new one - they have to be paired with the car somehow which is one of the obstacles about replacements. As far as I understood the key responds to the car's locking system / alarm and generates every time a checksum to match or temporary one time key to unlock.

Thank you very much!

 

[r129co]

I was successful mid last year in getting one from Mercedes.
It came out of the blue after 2 weeks

 

[Mia Beach SL500 2002]

Thanks for the info. Here in the US it’s still unavailable for the last MOPF of R129. May I ask where you got it and how much did they charge? Here in Miami they have PO# / order code and it s listed for 350 USD plus 200 for pairing with vehicle. But can’t get ordered Or on back order..

thanks again!

 

[r129co]

You have to provide log book details and proof of identity here so i couldn't get one for you i am afraid.
However the pairing charge is rubbish. You are paying for a remote fob that is coded to your VIN when it arrives

 

[Mia Beach SL500 2002]

Thanks a lot for detailed info and implied offer. And of course I am the legitimate owner able providing all paper work. Will try to order myself again. Have been driving to MB of Miami without luck so far...

 

[r129co]

The dealership don't even know even they become available. They leave them on order and one day it happens.
They cant even chase Germany

 

[Mia Beach SL500 2002]

I went only to two dealers one in Leonberg Germany close to headquarters and Miami MB USA. They had no interest in ordering rather selling a new car. My impression was driving a merc is a fashion life style and vintage is definitely out apparently. Well I keep trying. To have an order kept open wasn’t an option at both places.
If you are not Raymond Reddington it’s not easy to convince them IMHO...

 

[Shadychris]

You have to provide log book details and proof of identity here so i couldn't get one for you i am afraid.
However the pairing charge is rubbish. You are paying for a remote fob that is coded to your VIN when it arrives

Key fobs are currently available, at least for my '95 which is one of the single button varieties - I'm picking one up next week from MB Southwest at Exeter.
It seems that availability info at main dealers is far from consistent - MB Truro just told me flat out not available. Exeter initially told me same then called me back 20 minutes later to say they could get them.
After ordering I waited a month for them to then come back to me and say MB Germany had told them they are on back order until mid 22.... They suggested they refund my money and pointed me in the direction of a local locksmith ffs.... Quite amazed that a regional MB dealer would offer such advice when everyone knows the fobs can only be supplied by MB in Germany as they are coded to the cars N54 security module. As I was also aware of someone else having received one just a week before I replied back to them rather robustly and also opened a complaint with MB UK customer service. Exeter then came back to me asking me to provide clear photos of my current fob..... a bit weird since they had my VIN so should surely know what PN it was.. Anyway duly provided photos and about 6 weeks later I had a call to say they have it ready for me to collect.

On the programming cost of £45 - they have also told me they think my fob will 'just work'. And you are right that the fob's eprom chip is already coded to match the cars security module, however I've looked at the MB technical manual, and whilst it might work with the door locks, I believe the key 'issue' number found next to the button cell battery does need to be added to the cars security module for it to de-activate the immobiliser. At the same time they can also remeove the issue numbers of any lost or stolen keys as per last line of the attached code explanation which describes disabling and enabling of keys. My current key issue number is 5 so hopefully the new one will be 6, which it appears they will need to add to the N54...

I still think though that having spent £220 for the fob - they could include the cost of 10 mins work to get the damn thing to work...

 

[DickiePhitt]

After nearly 4 months from ordering and paying up front for a 3 button key for my '98 SL320 my local MB dealer has now told me it will be mid 2022 before there are any keys. 2 months ago it was about to be released by MB Germany.

Think I'll try the complaint to MB Customer Services route.


Sent from my LYA-L09 using Tapatalk

 

[Shadychris]

After nearly 4 months from ordering and paying up front for a 3 button key for my '98 SL320 my local MB dealer has now told me it will be mid 2022 before there are any keys. 2 months ago it was about to be released by MB Germany.

Think I'll try the complaint to MB Customer Services route.


Sent from my LYA-L09 using Tapatalk

Exactly the same response I had:

My parts department have chased your key order with Mercedes Benz this morning and they have come back to us advised it is on back order until mid 2022! I would personally advise to refund your transaction and see if you are able to source a key elsewhere. It may be worth trying the below company:

I sent them the below email and at the same time opened a complaint at cs.uk@cac.mercedes-benz.com pretty much re-iterating the message below sent to Gemma in the service team..

Hi Gemma,
I’m surprised to hear this as I’m personally aware of around 8 people who have recently ordered these keys for the same model\year car I have, and received them within 4 - 5 weeks, one person actually having received his this Saturday after ordering at around the same time as I did….

From many reports I read on forums there seems to be quite some confusion on MB dealers side concerning these keys. Some dealers simply say they are impossible to get, others seem to be aware that they are available and order them for customers with delivery times of between 4 – 8 weeks depending on geographic location.

I’m afraid your suggestion of Guardian Security would only possibly be useful for getting a metal ‘blade’ only key cut – they would not be able to supply me with a working InfraRed key fob as only MB themselves have the relevant security code info required to be programmed into the chip.
In fact as an approved MB main dealer I’m surprised that you would even make such a suggestion, as it is common knowledge that these key fobs can only be obtained from MB themselves.

I would appreciate it if you could leave this on order please and continue to chase it up. I only have one working key fob for my car, and should that fail I will have a very expensive paperweight sat on my drive, as the fob is required to disarm the immobiliser.

To which I received back from their Parts Supervisor

There are a few different key part numbers for the SL129 depending on the Chassis break point and spec of the vehicle EG burglary alarm ETC, I have contacted MB and they assure me that the key for this specific vehicle is not available.
Sorry.

But then a week later had the further update below

I have just heard from Jon in our parts department who has said if your able to send us very clear photos of each side of the key as well as inside the key we can forward this to Mercedes for them to try and help us. There’s no guarantee it would work but may be worth a try?
Regards
Gemma Vincent
Service Team Manager

Photos duly supplied and about 5 weeks later a call to tell me my key has now arrived - even though previously it was categorically not available until mid '22....

I feel a bit sorry for the local dealers in a way, as it seems they are actually being given either no info or the wrong info from the main office in Germany. Pretty poor really and I get the impression that they are not really interested in helping customers with older models but would simply rather sell you a nice new one....
You just have to keep pestering them and hope that they continue to pester the parent company on your behalf..

 

[Mia Beach SL500 2002]

It would be desirable if at least a waiting list for serious orders would be offered. The chase now going on in my case since august 2020 s a waste of my time and also a lot of overhead to all the dealers involved. but why should they care?

 

[mioba]

Whats a serious order. A customer has paid his hard earned cash and awaits a product end of.

As above send a complaint to your dealer head in the US, raise a complaint with MB US.

The remotes are clearly available and sadly the customer has to hammer this in the head of thier dealer who hammer this to the Vaterland.

As a side there is something behind this thats no so clear reading the threads above (mixed, innacurate messages from
dealers). I think the dealers have to do alot of paperwork behind the scenes to order a fob and key for security and just dont want to bothered.

 

[Mia Beach SL500 2002]

Thanks for your response.
The dealers actually showed me their screen with the correct part number entered, even tried both original number and manufacture (
key FOB R129 2001 Part No BQ4760025

Source: Huelsbeck & Fuerst GMBH Velbert DE)

the listing showed the locations in the US where parts will be distributed from and all showed 0. Mercedes Classic Center told me ones at Forth Worth most likely to appear but not when dealers tried. I m afraid if my already worn key fails I gave to create a youtube video how a otherwise pristine R129 will go to the press.

 

[Shadychris]

This might be helpful. It seems US dealers have no clue... The key fobs will not be available for distrubution anywhere in the US. They are assembled in Germany by MB's supplier with the Eprom chip programmed with your cars specific security code. I do not believe MB has a specific US operation setup to manufacture and program these key fobs - they have to be manually ordered from MB in Germany. Attached a photo of my new key with MB invoice which may be useful ammo to wave in front of recalcitrant dealers..

 

[kalana]

This might be helpful. It seems US dealers have no clue... The key fobs will not be available for distrubution anywhere in the US. They are assembled in Germany by MB's supplier with the Eprom chip programmed with your cars specific security code. I do not believe MB has a specific US operation setup to manufacture and program these key fobs - they have to be manually ordered from MB in Germany. Attached a photo of my new key with MB invoice which may be useful ammo to wave in front of recalcitrant dealers..

This might be helpful. It seems US dealers have no clue... The key fobs will not be available for distrubution anywhere in the US. They are assembled in Germany by MB's supplier with the Eprom chip programmed with your cars specific security code. I do not believe MB has a specific US operation setup to manufacture and program these key fobs - they have to be manually ordered from MB in Germany. Attached a photo of my new key with MB invoice which may be useful ammo to wave in front of recalcitrant dealers..

Hi

Is it possible to know the contact details for the Mercedes dealer who supply the new remote key?
my car key stuck in ignition lock due to worn out key barrel.
I need to order the new remote key and ignition key barrel .

Thanks

 

[brandwooddixon]

Hi @kalana ,
The last few posters haven't been back on the forum since 2021.
It might be worth starting a new thread.
Where are you based? A member might be able to recommend someone local to you.