Anyone know where the transponder chip is in a secondary key?

11000 Views 29 Replies 14 Participants Last post by PC S class, Nov 14, 2020

ninefiveone

Discussion Starter · Dec 8, 2016

As per other threads, remote key fob keys are no longer available for later model W140's. Apparently the vendor for radio frequency with an IR transmitter remote flip-key fobs went out of business and MB hasn't seen enough demand to warrant investing in producing a new batch with their new vendor. Valet keys that unlock and start the car, but don't lock/unlock the trunk or glovebox are still available.

I happen to have only one key for my car, which is a fairly beat up flipkey that flops instead of flips. I'm figuring out how to end up with 2 master keys (that unlock/lock everything and start the car). I only need one to be a remote keyfob but 2 would be nice.

My plan hinges on knowing where the transponder chip is in a valet key, and then being able to extricate it without destroying the chip. I could then transplant that chip into another flipkey shell and have a locksmith mechanically copy my master key. I would then have a second master key but have no idea if I can get the remote working with the car. Second master key is the goal. Working second remote would be a bonus.

At the moment the plan is to carefully grind down the "handle" of a valet key until I locate the transponder chip, and the surgically cut/grind it out of the valet key. This will be drastically less risky if someone already knows where the chip is. I assume it's close to the base of the key blade but that's all I have to work with.

I'm going to order 1 or 2 valet keys from the dealer. I've got a pretty good condition used flipkey fob on it's way. Dremel tool is ready to go.

Anyone know exactly where the transponder chip is in a valet key?

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Zaxxon

· #2 · Dec 9, 2016

Great minds think alike! This is what I am planning to do for my '99 CL500 as well, since I only have one remote key for it. I have one other key, and it's not like the valet keys used to be with the oval key head, but has a very tiny black plastic head on it which looks too small to hold one of the chips that is inside of the remote, so there must be a different style chip that's integrated in those keys. But I am sure that too can be cut out and glued into a remote...

--Zax

ninefiveone

Discussion Starter · #3 · Dec 9, 2016

Well, I'll post back here how it all turns out. Planning to order two valet keys today. Not sure if those ship from Germany but I'm assuming a few weeks before they arrive and my experiment can begin.

Nemat

· #4 · Dec 13, 2016

The transponder is a rectangular black thing under the red IR panel of the the Flip key and it's glued in a little port. I got new key housings off of eBay and moved all the electric parts to the aftermarket key assemblies and everything works fine and my key opens like a switchblade now. See the pictures.

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ninefiveone

Discussion Starter · #5 · Dec 13, 2016

Nemat said:
The transponder is a rectangular black thing under the red IR panel of the the Flip key and it's glued in a little port...

Thanks! I was planning and have done that already. That gets you a "new" flip key but doesn't solve for getting another working master key. I'm very happy with my "new" flipkey but still need another working key.

What I'm asking is where the transponder chip is in a secondary key. Those are the valet keys that are just a basic key (no flip remote, etc) but do have a transponder chip in them. They have a molded plastic head and it's my understanding the transponder is molded into that plastic head.

anziani

· #6 · Dec 14, 2016

ninefiveone, the keys are made in Texas. Apparently there is a location for all of the US there.
Anziani

MAVA

· #7 · Dec 14, 2016

ninefiveone said:
Thanks! I was planning and have done that already. That gets you a "new" flip key but doesn't solve for getting another working master key. I'm very happy with my "new" flipkey but still need another working key.

What I'm asking is where the transponder chip is in a secondary key. Those are the valet keys that are just a basic key (no flip remote, etc) but do have a transponder chip in them. They have a molded plastic head and it's my understanding the transponder is molded into that plastic head.

To answer your question, yes on any key that starts the car. Yes, it is molded into the head. it is a black little block. The dealer should be able to get you just the key for under $50. Call different dealers, but like everything in the Bay Area you may pay a premium for it-Call Stockton or Fairfield dealers....

Martin

ninefiveone

Discussion Starter · #8 · Dec 14, 2016

Thanks guys. I had ordered up the secondary keys last week and they arrived at the dealer yesterday. Hoping to have time to go pick them up today or tomorrow.

Ok, so none of us know where in the molded plastic head the transponder chip is except that it's most likely near the base of the key blade. No worries, I bought 2 so worst case scenario I'll damage the chip when I find it in the first key, but will now have an accurate location to guide me on the second key. I know the size of the chip so I've at least know the size of what I'm looking for.

Next question... any better ideas on how to find and extricate the chip from the molded plastic head? My two ideas are 1) grind away carefully like an archaeologist digging for dino bones or 2) heat the key head up with a heat gun and hope that makes the head malleable enough that I can "melt" the chip out. Again, hopefully without cooking the chip.

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Dan Sanchez

· #9 · Mar 24, 2017

Im curious if anyone knows how to take chip outta valet key . How to remove chip without damaging it outta valet key thanks

james sharp

· #10 · Mar 25, 2017

Remote repair

Anziani, where is the guy in Texas who makes keys?
James

allentc

· #11 · Mar 25, 2017

Update: The chairman of the official Mercedes Benz Club in the UK recently wrote in his column that W140 keys are now back in production.

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james sharp

· #12 · Mar 25, 2017

Key

Great! So, where can we buy one?
James

ninefiveone

Discussion Starter · #13 · Mar 27, 2017

I finally got around to extracting a chip from a valet key. Since I didn't know exactly where it was going to be, I just slowly ground down one face of the keyhead until I uncovered a little slot that I assume the factory uses to slide chips into the keyhead. Given where I was on grinding the keyhead I just broke out the chip.

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Dan Sanchez

· #14 · Mar 27, 2017

Thanks ninefiveone Im in the process of doing same you did. Was the chip in little square block on valet key head ?

ninefiveone

Discussion Starter · #15 · Mar 27, 2017

The chip is the little block to the right of the key in the top picture. Like a lot of RFID-style chips, the actual circuitry is encased in some kind of rugged material. You're looking for the block, not circuitry.

Now that we know exactly where the chip is, in the future I would do this differently. I would cut the top of the key head off at the bottom of the keyring hole. No lower than that or you risk cutting the chip itself. Then the chip slot will be exposed and it's a simple matter of removing keyhead material, prying/extracting the chip. etc.

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Dan Sanchez

· #16 · Mar 28, 2017

Thanks ninefiveone great idea worked perfect . Ill look for ya next time i break something thanks a bunch

ninefiveone

Discussion Starter · #17 · Mar 29, 2017

Happy it was useful, Dan.

I've worked on cars a lot but I'm just getting to know W140's. So far Martin has been the most knowledgable person on W140's I've seen on this board. He's probably the person to look for when something on a W140 breaks.

will_c140

· #18 · May 28, 2017

Really?

allentc said:
Update: The chairman of the official Mercedes Benz Club in the UK recently wrote in his column that W140 keys are now back in production.

So who has them? Who to call in the US? The dealer says NLA.

allentc

· #19 · May 29, 2017

There seems to be separate sources for W140 keys depending if you are in Europe or North America.

A few months back keys for the W140 were NLA from dealers. There was a story going around that the original European supplier had gone out of business. The keys are now back in stock and available as usual from dealers in Europe.

At the time that Europe was NLA, posters on here checked with several US dealers and keys were in stock. I seem to remember reading in a thead somewhere that US keys are sourced from a US based supplier hence the difference in availability between the two regions - I'm not sure if this is correct or not.

It looks like the US supplier may have stopped producing them? I would probably wait a few months and see what happens. As with Europe, it appears Mercedes is able to come up with an alternative supply source.

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rymandev

· #20 · Jun 2, 2020

Ok, here's the skinny, from Charles @ MBUSA Classics in Irvine, in a phone call yesterday, 6/1/2020:

The W140 key fob, with chip and blade can be ordered again, BUT ONLY for 1998-1999.

They still dont have the earlier. I'd called about a 1997 😭

TRP item, out of Dallas, Texas.

He said the dealers still didn't believe it, but said to have your dealer to call the Classics line at (866)622-5277, and the MB part # is Q4760025.

He said there's only 219 of them in stock as of yesterday!

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