If your profile is correct, I'm seeing you're U.S.-based?
MBUSA simply couldn't care less. I have a 97 US S420, IR remote + transponder chip. Bought the car with 1 working but fragile remote. Dealer couldn't help. Irvine Classic Center couldn't help. Indy mechanic couldn't help. No remotes OR standard keys (with the transponder).
My indy (who's amazing) suggested I buy one of the empty aftermarket flip key cases online and he could transfer over the circuit board and blade key to the new housing.
Well, the cheapo remote case did not have the space for the transponder, so that was a total waste. He literally showed me in the case where they neglected to include this.
Ended up buying 2 very good condition OEM keys from another car on eBay. He transferred the board and blade key from my broken one into the new one and super glued it, so now I have a fully-functional, nearly brand-new key.
Look on eBay for someone selling a good condition OEM blade key and transfer, until MBUSA gets additional stock of the replacement IR keys. They ARE making them, just for some reason in very small quantities, and very sporadically.
AND, order the new standard key immediately!! Get it while you can so at least you have something to start the car. Need the registration or title, there's special paperwork you have to fill out.
