2000 Mercedes GLE/ML Key Replacement

The 2000–2005 GLE (incl. ML/M-Class) uses the same key setup, so everything on this page applies to those years too. The full picture is on the Mercedes-Benz GLE (incl. ML/M-Class) key guide.

2000 Mercedes-Benz GLE (incl. ML/M-Class): key facts

Key type: Smart / proximity key
Push-to-start: No
Transponder chip: DAS2b/DAS3 (infrared rolling-code SmartKey)
Programming: EEPROM
All keys lost: We can originate new keys on site

M-Class (W163) lineage covered under the GLE slug. Black-plastic infrared SmartKey — industry catalogs date it 1998-2006 on the ML — though some catalogs class the early W163 under the older DAS2b scheme rather than DAS3. Either way it is specialist EIS work, not a hardware-store key, and all-keys-lost is possible without the dealer.

What kind of key does a 2000 GLE (ML/M-Class) use?

Mercedes-Benz sold this truck in 2000 as the ML, the W163 M-Class. We list it under the GLE page because that is the name the line carries today. The key is the black-plastic infrared SmartKey with a metal Chrome-key blade tucked inside. It is not a push-button start system. You still insert the key into the ignition, and the car reads it through the electronic ignition switch, called the EIS or EZS.

The chip family in our verified data is DAS2b/DAS3, an infrared rolling-code scheme. That means the key cannot be cut at a hardware store and made to start the car. The blade opens the door in a pinch, but the engine will not run until the electronics in the key and the EIS agree with each other.

The mechanical backup key matters here. If the remote side of the key dies, the blade still works in the door lock, so a dead key does not have to mean a stranded truck.

Key type: infrared SmartKey with a mechanical backup blade
Chip family: DAS2b/DAS3 rolling-code system
Start method: key in the ignition, not push-to-start

Duplicate key or all keys lost: what changes?

With this setup, an original key is not required to make a new one. If you have a working key, we can add a spare. If you have none at all, an all-keys-lost job is also possible without going through the dealer.

The programming method is EEPROM-level work. That means we work with the data stored in the ignition system rather than plugging into a simple on-board menu. It is specialist work, but it does not require NASTF SDRM credentials for this year, so it stays with us instead of being forced to a dealer.

Having a spare made while one key still works is almost always the calmer, lighter-cost route. All-keys-lost takes more steps and more bench time.

How do we handle a 2000 ML key job?

Here is the usual order of work, whether we come to you in a mobile van or you bring the truck to our Westwood storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd.

Confirm the vehicle by VIN and look at which key and ignition you actually have.
Check the symptoms. A key that will not turn, a key that is not recognized, and a dead remote point to different causes.
Test the EIS and the key electronics to see whether the problem is the key, the ignition switch, or the battery.
Cut the blade and program the new SmartKey to the car, or repair or replace the failing component.
Test the door, the ignition and the remote functions before we hand the keys over.

Locked out or need a locksmith now?

We answer around the clock, every day of the year.

Call (213) 577-1366

What affects the price of a 2000 GLE key?

We do not quote numbers on a web page, because the truck in front of us decides the cost. These are the things that move it:

Duplicate versus all keys lost. Adding a spare to a working setup is usually the more economical route.
Whether the problem is the key or the EIS. A worn or failed ignition switch adds parts and labor that a new key alone does not.
Condition of the existing key. A cracked Chrome-key shell or worn buttons may be fixed with a new shell, while dead electronics call for a new key.
How many keys you want made in one visit.
Where the truck is. A mobile call to your location differs from you coming to the shop.

What do we still confirm by VIN?

One point is not settled across the industry. Most catalogs date this infrared SmartKey from 1998 to 2006 on the ML, but some class the earliest W163 under the older DAS2b scheme rather than DAS3. We do not guess. Either way the job is EIS specialist work, and either way all-keys-lost is possible without the dealer. We confirm which version your truck has by VIN and in person before ordering a key.

Common problems on these trucks are a failed EIS that will not recognize or turn the key, aging SmartKey electronics that stop syncing, a dead fob battery, and cracked shells. If your truck shows any of these, see our Mercedes-Benz key page or the wider GLE and M-Class overview. Other makes are under car keys, and you can reach us anytime through the contact page.

Wilshire Lock & Key has served drivers since 1987. David oversees the work, and it is one company with a storefront and mobile vans, with no dispatch middleman between you and the person at your car. California requires locksmith companies to hold a BSIS LCO license, and you should ask any locksmith for it before they start.

Frequently asked questions

Can you make a key for a 2000 ML if I lost every key?

Yes. All-keys-lost is possible for this setup without going to the dealer. We confirm the VIN first, then work through the EIS and program a new SmartKey.

Do I need my original key to get a copy?

No. An original key is not required for this year, though having one working key usually makes the job simpler.

Is a 2000 GLE (ML/M-Class) a push-to-start car?

No. It uses an infrared SmartKey that goes into the ignition. It is not a push-button system.

Why will my key not turn or start the truck?

A failed or worn EIS is a common cause. The key may also have aging electronics that no longer sync with the car. We test both before replacing anything.

My remote buttons stopped working. Is the key dead?

Not necessarily. A dead fob battery is a common first failure, and the mechanical backup blade still opens the door. We check the battery before suggesting a new key.

Can a hardware store cut this key?

No. A blade alone will not start the truck. The infrared chip has to be programmed to the car's ignition system.

Do you come to me, or do I bring the truck in?

Both work. We have a storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd in Westwood and mobile vans. Call (213) 577-1366 and we will tell you which suits your situation.

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Reviewed by David, Owner & Lead Technician, Wilshire Lock & Key — in the locksmith trade since 1987.

Last updated 2026-10-11.