Chrome plug in keys
The chrome edged key that slides into a dashboard switch is the style many owners picture. On many FBS3 era cars it talks to the ignition switch partly by infrared, and it hides a small emergency blade for the door lock.
Mercedes-Benz cars and vans · Available 24 hours, 7 days
Mercedes-Benz Auto Locksmith for Keys, Ignition and Steering Lock Faults in Hampshire
A key that slides into the dashboard but will not turn, a chrome key that has stopped unlocking the doors, or a Sprinter whose only key has vanished on site: these are the common Mercedes key and lock faults. I am Shane, a mobile Mercedes-Benz auto locksmith based in Eastleigh, and I work on the C-Class, E-Class, Sprinter and other models wherever they are parked in Hampshire, around the clock.
- Keys programmed at the ignition switch
- FBS3 cars and Mercedes vans
- 12 month warranty
5.0 on Google100+ reviews
Mercedes call outsDay or night, on site
- EIS and DAS workKeys added at the ignition switch
- ESL steering locksFaults diagnosed at the car
- Sprinter and VitoVan keys and ignition faults
- 12 month warrantyOn keys I supply
Mercedes security explained
The Mercedes Ignition Switch, Key and Steering Lock
Mercedes-Benz does not rely on a simple chip in the head of a key in the way many makes do. From the late 1990s onwards, many models have used a Drive Authorisation System, known as DAS, or FBS in Mercedes’ own German terminology, built around an electronic ignition switch called the EIS or EZS. On many cars from the 2000s and early 2010s the key is not turned in a conventional lock barrel at all. It slides into the switch, the switch and the key exchange coded signals, and only when the switch is satisfied does it allow the engine to start. Depending on the model, the engine control unit and an electronic steering lock, known as the ESL or ELV, also take part in that check.
That is why a Mercedes key cannot simply be cut and copied. On cars with the FBS3 system, a new key is prepared using data held in the car’s own ignition switch, then introduced to the car so the switch accepts it. I carry professional key programming and diagnostic equipment, plus battery support, because reading an ignition switch while the voltage sags is asking for trouble. As an independent auto locksmith working on my own, I talk you through each stage as it happens.
Where FBS4 changes the picture
Later Mercedes models moved to a newer system, FBS4, which reached many ranges around the middle of the 2010s, with the exact changeover depending on the model and build date. Keys for FBS4 cars are generally produced through Mercedes-Benz against the vehicle identification number, and independent locksmiths are not usually able to make them. I check your car’s system from the registration before anything else, and if it is FBS4 I will tell you plainly, so you do not pay for a wasted visit.
Mercedes key styles
Which Mercedes Key Do You Have?
Mercedes has changed the look and the electronics of its keys several times. The shape gives a clue, but only the car itself confirms which system it runs.
Older flip keys
Some earlier Mercedes models used a folding key rather than the plug in style. What can be done with these depends on the model and its immobiliser generation, which I confirm first.
KEYLESS-GO fobs
KEYLESS-GO lets the car unlock and start while the fob stays in a pocket or bag. On many models a start button sits where the key would otherwise go, and the fob still carries an emergency blade.
Emergency blades
Mercedes smart keys conceal a metal blade for the driver’s door, for the day the fob battery or the car battery is flat. The blade is cut to your locks separately from the electronics.
FBS4 keys
Later Mercedes keys belong to the FBS4 system. These are generally ordered through Mercedes-Benz against the VIN, so for most FBS4 cars I will point you to that route rather than promise work I cannot deliver.
Steering lock emulators
On some models, including the W204 C-Class and the W212 E-Class, the electronic steering lock can fail and stop the car starting. Where it suits the car, I fit a Mercedes ESL emulator, an electronic unit that stands in for the failed lock so the car starts again.
Mercedes models
Mercedes Models I Work On
Every Mercedes range has moved through several generations, and the key system can even change within one generation. Treat this as a rough guide, because your registration tells me the exact generation and system.
Driving a CLA, CLS, S-Class or SLK? Send the registration and I will check it in the same way.
| Model | Usual key types | What I can do |
|---|---|---|
| A-Class | Plug in smart key on earlier generations, KEYLESS-GO on some later cars, FBS4 on many recent ones | Keys on supported systems, lockouts and blade cutting |
| B-Class | Plug in smart key or KEYLESS-GO depending on year and trim | Key programming where supported, lockouts and spares |
| C-Class | Chrome plug in key on the W204, with FBS4 on many later C-Class cars | ESL fault diagnosis, emulator fitting, FBS3 keys and lockouts |
| E-Class | Chrome plug in key or KEYLESS-GO on the W212, FBS4 on many later cars | Steering lock repairs, FBS3 key programming and spares |
| GLA and GLC | Smart key or KEYLESS-GO, with many cars on FBS4 | System check, lockouts, blade cutting and honest advice on the dealer route |
| ML and GLE | Plug in smart key on earlier ML models, KEYLESS-GO on many GLE cars | FBS3 keys, lockouts and ignition switch checks |
| Sprinter | Plug in key on earlier generations, with newer vans varying by build | Van keys, spares and ignition faults on supported vans |
| Vito | Plug in key on many, with the system depending on generation | Van keys, lockouts and spares where supported |
Mercedes services
Services I Carry Out at the Car
Each service here is done where the vehicle is parked. My services pages explain every one in more detail.
Car Key Replacement
A replacement Mercedes key prepared from your ignition switch data and programmed on site, on models with a supported system.
Car key replacementLost Car Keys
Every Mercedes key gone. Where the car’s system allows it, I get inside, read what is needed and program a new key at the vehicle.
All keys lostCar Lockout
Keys shut inside, or a KEYLESS-GO car that refuses to open. I get you back in without harming the doors or trim.
Vehicle entrySpare Car Keys
A second key for a Mercedes that has only one, made while the working key is still here to help.
Spare keysKey Fob Programming
Buttons that no longer lock the doors, or a key the ignition switch has stopped accepting, checked and put right.
Fob programmingIgnition Barrel Repair
A Mercedes with an electronic switch has no traditional barrel to wear, so a key that will not turn is traced at the switch and steering lock instead.
Ignition repairsVan Key Replacement
Sprinter and Vito keys for traders and fleets, handled at the van so it can get back to work.
Van keysMercedes ESL Emulator
Steering lock failure on models such as the W204 C-Class and W212 E-Class, diagnosed and resolved at the car.
Steering lockEarly warnings
Signs Your Mercedes Key or Lock Is Struggling
A Mercedes often hints at trouble before a key or steering lock gives up completely. Spotting the hints early means the repair happens on your terms, not at the side of the road.
Key will not turn in the switch
The key goes into the ignition switch but refuses to turn. On cars with an electronic steering lock this can point to the lock rather than the key, so both need testing.
Silence from the steering column
On many models you can hear a faint whirr as the steering lock releases. If that sound disappears and the car will not start, the lock may be failing.
Buttons working on and off
The doors lock one day and not the next. A fresh battery is the first thing to try, but a key that keeps failing afterwards needs a proper check.
KEYLESS-GO cannot find the key
The dashboard reports that no key is detected, even though it is in the car. The fob, its battery or its programming could all be responsible.
Worn or split key casing
A chrome key is handled thousands of times. A cracked casing, or a key that needs a wiggle before the switch accepts it, is worth sorting before it fails outright.
The visit
From Your First Message to Driving Away
Here is how a Mercedes job runs from start to finish.
Check the system first
Your registration tells me the model, the year and, most importantly, whether the car is on a system I can work with. You can confirm the basic details yourself through the DVLA vehicle enquiry on GOV.UK.
Show the car is yours
I ask for the V5C and photo ID before any key is made. If the logbook has gone missing, you can order a new V5C from GOV.UK.
Read and program
With battery support connected, I read the data I need from the ignition switch, prepare the new key and introduce it to the car.
Test everything
Starting, locking, the steering lock release and the emergency blade are all checked before I pack the tools away.
Pricing
Pricing a Mercedes Key Job
No two Mercedes jobs are quite alike, so you will not find a single price on this page. Tell me about the car and I will give you a fixed figure before I travel.
Get a fixed quoteGeneration and system
Whether the car runs FBS3 or a later system decides what can be done at the roadside at all.
Keys still in hand
Having one working key generally makes the visit shorter than starting with none.
Plug in key or KEYLESS-GO
A KEYLESS-GO fob involves more electronics than a standard plug in key.
Steering lock condition
If the steering lock is also at fault, that repair is priced alongside the key.
Car or van
Sprinter and Vito work can differ from a car of the same age.
Where I work
Where I Travel From Eastleigh
From my base in Eastleigh I reach Mercedes owners in Southampton, Winchester, Portsmouth, the New Forest, Salisbury and the villages and towns in between, whether the car is at home, at work or stranded at the roadside.
- Southampton
- Eastleigh
- Chandler’s Ford
- Hedge End
- Winchester
- Portsmouth
- Fareham
- Gosport
- New Forest
- Salisbury
Other makes
More Makes I Work On
Mercedes-Benz sits among the 30 makes I cover. Owners of other premium brands can find their page below, or see the full list.
Customer reviews
Reviews From Hampshire Drivers
I hold a 5.0 rating on Google from more than 100 reviews. You can read what customers wrote, and see examples of the work on my recent jobs page.
5.0
From 100+ Google reviews
Questions
Mercedes-Benz Key and Lock Questions
Still unsure? Get in touch with your registration and I will check your Mercedes for you.
Can you make a Mercedes key if I have lost every key?
On many FBS3 era cars, yes. I open the car without damage, read the data held in the ignition switch and produce a new key from it. This takes longer than copying a working key, and on FBS4 cars it is generally a job for Mercedes-Benz, which I will tell you before booking.
Why use a locksmith instead of the Mercedes dealer?
For cars on a supported system, I come to you, so the car does not need recovering to a workshop, and you get a fixed quote first. For FBS4 cars the dealer is usually the right route, and I will say so rather than waste your time.
My key goes in but will not turn. Is it the key or the car?
It can be either. On the W204 C-Class, the W207 E-Class coupe and cabriolet and the W212 E-Class, a failing electronic steering lock can cause exactly this. I test the key, the ignition switch and the steering lock before recommending anything, and where the lock is to blame an emulator can be a lasting answer.
How can I tell whether my Mercedes has FBS3 or FBS4?
The appearance of the key is only a rough clue, because styles overlap between systems. The reliable way is to check the vehicle itself, which I do from your registration and VIN before quoting.
Do you replace Sprinter and Vito keys?
Yes, on vans with a supported system. A Sprinter or Vito is usually a working vehicle, so I aim to get it running again with the least lost time. You can read more about van key replacement on its own page.
Can you program a KEYLESS-GO key?
On many FBS3 era cars with KEYLESS-GO, yes. The fob is introduced to the car much like a plug in key, and I check that keyless entry, locking and starting all behave before I leave.
What should I have ready when you arrive?
The V5C in your name and photo ID, plus any keys you still have, even a damaged one. A healthy car battery helps too, although I bring battery support for the programming.
Is there a warranty on the keys?
Keys I supply carry a 12 month warranty. Payment is by card, bank transfer or cash, whichever suits you.
Mercedes Key Trouble? Message Me Now
Send the registration and a photo of the key, or ring me. You get an honest answer on whether I can help, a fixed price and an arrival time, at any hour.