[Adnan633]

Hi Guys


Well, you guessed it some SOB stole my S320, parked it at the station then Bammm, gone. The good thing is that it is recovered, the bad news all car keys have gone including the spare which i conveniently kept in the glove box. The car was hot wired so the k's dont show since my odemeter was digital and know the car will not start (no keys). I was wondering if possible is there anyway to start the vehicle and get the odemeter running back up again. I asked a Mercedes Stealership and was quoted 2K which seems a bit steep for a new set of keys and to get the odemeter running again. Wouldn't it be simply a case of reverse engineering the hot wire scenario and replacing the wires or is it more complex than that.

 

[MaximRick]

don't know the situation with fixing the odometer but first off too bad you didn't catch the guy if i were in your situation i would've killed him ...but on a serious note how did he get all your keys? (unless you left them in there which is foolish)

 

[z168]

sorry to hear about your loss.

I would suggest getting another set of keys and cylinders. check out one of the guys here parting their car and get ALL of the keys and cylinders and just do a straight swap

and for extra security, have them ship to a friends or Aunts place

hth

 

[dantefr]

Very sorry to hear about your loss... Can't really help you with your problem but I hope it is resolved!

 

[Nutz 4 Benz]

So he had the keys but hotwired it ? :dunno: Was it stolen from the people who stole it?

 

[MaximRick]

So he had the keys but hotwired it ? :dunno: Was it stolen from the people who stole it?

thats what i don't understand...if he had the keys then why was the car hotwired...something doesn't quite make sense.

 

[kutz]

I thought these were impossible to hotwire, according to gone in 60 sec....

 

[Brett San Diego]

Why don't you call your insurance company?

Brett

 

[Peter Guenther]

The car should have an alarm and a starter disable, I know the 140 car reasonably well but I think it is almost i impossible to hotwire, you need a key to release the steering lock. I would think someone either went to a MB dealer and ordered a key, you left a key, or something else. The story does not click, what would the odometer have to do with it, you can get the car re keyed maybe your insurance will help.

 

[Adnan633]

just some clarification on how the vehicle was stolen, there was a spare key with the black folder where i kept the log books (which they also stole and the manual), i think these Geniuses didnt relise it before they hotwired the vehicle.
One thing i dont understand is doesnt the vehicle have an imobliser i thought this was impossible on these cars and i am certain they wouldnt have got the keys off the dealer, they are pretty good guys where i go to even they charge you an arm and a leg.

Secondly i want to replace the keys so that the car is not stolen again but i dont know why the vehicle will not start. The car has wires loose under the dash board so does the car have to go in for a rewiring. In terms of Insurance i dont know if i can claim because the car was recovered but we will see.

I spole to the dealer and he gave me two options:

-Take back to the shop and get it fixed which will cost $$$$

- Part the car and upgrade to a newer model, dealer advised id get more money if parted the car



Yes, i have lodged an insurance claim for the vehicle (i dont know whats going to happen since the vehicle was recovered). one thing i dont understand as well myself is doesnt this car have an Immobilizer (im sure it does) and how could they have got passed it? I am definetly sure that they didnt get the keys off a dealer, the reason that i belive that the vehicle was hotwired is because there is wires sticking out from under the steering wheel. Also the odometer does not work apprently because the wires were cut, is this going to be amjor issue, i dont want to rewire the whole dash??

I really dont want to part with my W-140 so parting is going to be my last option, The car doesnt start but i am sure it might just be case of replacing the keys and fixing the wire i dont belive it is too complicated.

 

[Adnan633]

Replace the keys i understand, but replace the cylinders in the engine i dont understand, why do i need to replace the cylinders???

 

[Nutz 4 Benz]

Replace the keys i understand, but replace the cylinders in the engine i dont understand, why do i need to replace the cylinders???

Cylinder is what you stick the key in.

 

[Bee]

Strange, that sucks though

 

[Brett San Diego]

Yes, i have lodged an insurance claim for the vehicle (i dont know whats going to happen since the vehicle was recovered). .

They will send out an adjuster to look the vehicle over and make an estimate on repairs. The estimate will invariably be low, and you will have to grovel for more money to do the repairs right. If they deem the cost to repair is more than the cost to replace, they will "total" the car and offer you cash. The cash value they offer will be low, and you will have to fight for more money. The usual stuff.....

Brett

 

[dantefr]

Your insurance WILL cover these damages. Like Brett said above, that will be the chain of events. The best thing to do is take the car to the stealer, or your mechanic and tell the insurance company it is already there. Often times they try to make you use their own sponored shop, (usually a chop shop who don't know what they're doing). TAKE IT TO THE STEALER AND THEN CALL THE INSURANCE COMPANY!

 

[MaximRick]

They will send out an adjuster to look the vehicle over and make an estimate on repairs. The estimate will invariably be low, and you will have to grovel for more money to do the repairs right. If they deem the cost to repair is more than the cost to replace, they will "total" the car and offer you cash. The cash value they offer will be low, and you will have to fight for more money. The usual stuff.....

Brett

the good part you may not know is with most insurance companies once an offer is made on your car it cannot be taken back, and you have the right to say no without losing that amount. So don't be afraid to say that wont be enough to replace my car with one of equal quality at todays market prices or w/e. In a lot of cases you get a significant number higher than the original offer. And remember, they can't take back the low offer anyway so don't be in too much of a rush. g'luck

 

[DarkOneSK]

Damn that sucks man. sorry to hear of your troubles.

 

[NZ Benz]

The car should have an alarm and a starter disable, I know the 140 car reasonably well but I think it is almost i impossible to hotwire, you need a key to release the steering lock. I would think someone either went to a MB dealer and ordered a key, you left a key, or something else. The story does not click, what would the odometer have to do with it, you can get the car re keyed maybe your insurance will help.

They may have even towed it, but you can hotwire a W140, people have managed to steal W220's which means you MUST be able to do teh same to the W140. Also the alarm and immobliser will only work if you use the remote to lock the car. My dealer told me when ordering a spare that I might as well get the remote because say for example I locked the car with the remote and then lost it, a regular key would unlock the car but not allow it to start.

Part I don't understand about this whole thing is that there was a spare key in the car right? So WTF happened to all the other keys that you have more particulary the one you used to drive the car to the station with?

 

[twalton]

There is something too fishy about this story. ALL keys are gone after he parked it himself - where is the key he used to drive the car? Left it in the car? Stupid you.

Dealer quotes him $2k to "get the odometer running again" and presumably to re-key the car. I've never been given a phone quote like that without them seeing the damage first. How on earth could they know what needed repair?

How does he know the car will not start if he has no keys?

He states there are loose wires under the dash and wonders if any "rewiring" will be required. I seriously doubt they were there for no reason to start with, so yeah, some rewiring will be needed if you want it to operate as intended. Doesn't necesdsarily mean the car won't run though.

Why does he keep wondering if the "thieves" "got the keys off a dealer?" Why does he assume they have any keys other than what was left in the car?

Recovered or not, if you have insurance, they pay... something at least. UNLESS you rigged the whole ordeal and they've figured it out.

Just some quick observations. He only has 4 posts, so don't give up too much information. Sounds fishy to me.

trey

 

[MaximRick]

There is something too fishy about this story. ALL keys are gone after he parked it himself - where is the key he used to drive the car? Left it in the car? Stupid you.

Dealer quotes him $2k to "get the odometer running again" and presumably to re-key the car. I've never been given a phone quote like that without them seeing the damage first. How on earth could they know what needed repair?

How does he know the car will not start if he has no keys?

He states there are loose wires under the dash and wonders if any "rewiring" will be required. I seriously doubt they were there for no reason to start with, so yeah, some rewiring will be needed if you want it to operate as intended. Doesn't necesdsarily mean the car won't run though.

Why does he keep wondering if the "thieves" "got the keys off a dealer?" Why does he assume they have any keys other than what was left in the car?

Recovered or not, if you have insurance, they pay... something at least. UNLESS you rigged the whole ordeal and they've figured it out.

Just some quick observations. He only has 4 posts, so don't give up too much information. Sounds fishy to me.

trey

i was actually amused by this paradox and did some thinking while driving, and (and i'm not acusing anyone) but if someone was to steal a W140 lets say and did hotwire it, therefore would not HAVE ANY kEYS!!! and then the theif himself come to a forum to figure out a way to scam keys from a dealer or w/e claiming that it was stolen from him and all keys are gone.

Somehow that just makes a lot more sense to me. cheers