Mercedes Dealer/Indy/Parts questions
 

I'm new to MB, so just seeing if anyone can answer some questions:

1) Some parts I can only get at a dealer. Does anyone know of any discount program or club that will get me a discount over their MSRP?
edit: Some dealers participate in this: http://www.mbca.org/benefit/discount...ce-accessories

2) I need a second key for a 2003 SL500, i'm assuming the dealer is the only place for this? they said $350 and 1 week for delivery..
edit: Talked to some MB guys, they said that as far as they know, only MB can reissue keys.

3) Some discussions on mbworld say that if you buy the cables for a few hundred bucks, you can install the Mercedes Star Diagnostic System (SDS) on a laptop running XP. Anyone have an SDS system of their own?

4) Where do you usually get parts from online?

I can't really answer your question
But if you are not planning to do any of your own maintenance, just find that "one" mechanic eh. Once you find him/she, they are usually fair and honest.

oh, reference the key, I'm 99% you have to get it from a dealership, because they go through a very strict process. I tried getting my friend to order me one from the dealership (I was out of town) they told my friend no.....

I went through the same policy when I ordered a spare key from BMW for the M3. Was no way around it.

^
Ya Sucks eh. Can't even use pre used keys since it can only be coded once.....
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Yeah, it was pretty dumb. What happened was the car came with two original keys. One was worn to hell beyond belief to the point where if you got unlucky, it would just spin the tumbler so I switched to the unused spare.

I bought a blank off of eBay, got it cut and swapped over the chip and it worked but to be safe, I ordered a new master spare from BMW just in case. They really milked me on that one.

replacement key, or new key complete?

there may be programming involved, such as blocking key tracks and or adding new key to one of the key tracks.

should come in 2 parts, key and keyblade, i think they changed the style to the chrome trim style so the old key blade wont fit in the new key/remote.

they are coded to the vin, so thats why only mb.