2006 Mercedes GLE/ML Key Replacement

The 2006–2019 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.

2006 Mercedes-Benz GLE (incl. ML/M-Class): key facts

Key type: Smart / proximity key
Push-to-start: No
Transponder chip: DAS3/FBS3 (infrared rolling-code SmartKey)
Programming: EEPROM
All keys lost: We can originate new keys on site

ML (W164) FBS3: the W164/X164 appear in Abrites' and VVDI MB's supported lists, including all-keys-lost via EZS password calculation.

What kind of key does a 2006 GLE (ML/M-Class) use?

Mercedes sold this SUV in 2006 as the ML-Class, and the badge later became GLE. Our verified data for this model year shows a SmartKey that talks to the car with an infrared, rolling-code signal. The chip family is listed as DAS3/FBS3. It is not a push-to-start car, so you are not dealing with a keyless-entry fob that lives in your pocket and starts the engine by proximity alone.

For an owner, that matters in a few practical ways. The key is a coded electronic part, so a hardware-store blank will not start the vehicle. The key also has a mechanical backup key, which means that if the fob side fails, there is still a physical way to open the door. And because the code is rolling, a new key has to be properly introduced to the car's electronics, not just cut and tried.

The problems we hear about on this generation are consistent with the age of the car:

A worn or failed EIS/EZS electronic ignition, where the key is not recognized or will not turn
Aging SmartKey electronics that stop syncing with the car
A dead key-fob battery, where the remote buttons are the first thing to quit
Cracked Chrome-key shells and worn buttons

Can you copy a 2006 ML key, or only replace it if all keys are lost?

Both are possible. Our data says an original key is not needed to make a new one, and that an all-keys-lost situation can be handled. That is good news if you have just one key that is failing, and it is also good news if you have none.

If you still have a working key, we can use it as a reference point and add a new one, which is usually the smoother job. If every key is gone, the work goes through the car's ignition module. Programming on this setup is done at the EEPROM level, and the W164 ML is listed in the supported lists of professional tools from Abrites and VVDI MB, including all-keys-lost through EZS password calculation. We do not need NASTF SDRM access for this year, according to the data we work from.

Still, having a spare made before the last key disappears is nearly always the calmer path. Losing every key is solvable here, but it is a bigger job than adding a second key.

What affects the cost of a 2006 Mercedes ML key?

We do not quote numbers on a web page, because the real answer depends on your car in front of us. These are the things that move the cost:

Whether you have a working key or all keys are lost, since all-keys-lost involves more steps on the ignition module
Whether the problem is only the key, such as a dead battery or cracked shell, or the EIS/EZS ignition unit itself
Whether the existing key can be repaired, for example a new shell or battery, instead of replaced
How many keys you want made at once
Where the car is, whether it comes to our Westwood storefront or we drive a mobile van to you

Locked out or need a locksmith now?

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

Call (213) 577-1366

What we confirm by VIN before we start

The key data for this year is verified, and the sources behind it are professional programming suppliers. Even so, 2006 is a transition-era year for Mercedes, and the DAS3 and FBS3 labels describe closely related systems. We do not guess which one your SUV has. The note on file specifically refers to the ML (W164) as FBS3. We confirm the exact system by VIN and by looking at the car in person before we order or program anything.

That way you are not paying for the wrong part, and we are not promising something the car cannot do. If anything turns up that does not match the data, such as a previously replaced ignition module, we will say so plainly.

You call (213) 577-1366 and give us the VIN and tell us how many keys work, if any.
We confirm the key system and whether the job is a duplicate or all-keys-lost.
We check the ignition, the key condition and the fob battery, since the problem is sometimes there and not in the key itself.
We cut and program the new key, and test the remote, the door and the ignition.
We hand you the keys and mention any weak points, like a worn ignition, that may come back later.

Why call Wilshire Lock & Key for this

We have been in business since 1987, with a storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd in Westwood and mobile vans that serve 140 cities across Los Angeles and Ventura counties. It is one company, not a call center that passes your job to whoever answers a dispatch. David, the owner and lead technician, oversees the work.

California requires locksmith companies to hold a BSIS LCO license, and you should ask any locksmith for that number before they touch your car. Our phone is answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at (213) 577-1366. You can also browse more on Mercedes-Benz key service, see the wider GLE and ML page, or use our contact page to send the details.

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2006 GLE the same vehicle as the ML-Class?

For this page, yes. The vehicle was sold as the ML or M-Class in 2006, and the GLE name came later. The key information here applies to the 2006 ML-era SUV, which our data lists as the W164 platform.

Is the 2006 ML push-to-start?

No. Our data shows no push-to-start for this year. It uses an infrared SmartKey with a rolling code, plus a mechanical backup key.

Do you need my original key to make a new one?

No. An original key is not required, and an all-keys-lost job is possible. A working key can still make the job simpler.

What if my car does not recognize the key or the key will not turn?

That can point to a failed or worn EIS/EZS electronic ignition and not only the key. We check the ignition and the key before deciding whether the key or the module needs work.

My remote buttons stopped working but the car still starts. What is wrong?

A dead fob battery is the usual first suspect, since the remote buttons fail first. If a new battery does not help, the SmartKey electronics may be aging and no longer syncing with the car.

Will you tell me the cost before you start?

Yes. The cost depends on your situation, such as whether you have a working key, whether the ignition needs attention, and where the car is. We explain that before work begins.

Do you come to me?

Yes, our mobile vans serve 140 cities in Los Angeles and Ventura counties, and you can also come to our Westwood storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd. Call (213) 577-1366 and we will work out the best arrangement. For a general overview, see our car key services.

We cover all these cities

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

Last updated 2026-10-11.