Mercedes E-Class 2nd (W210) (1996–2002) — Key Programming Reference
- Difficulty
- hard
- Lishi / lockout
- HU64
Key fobs & transponder keys (2 variants)
| Key | Years | FCC ID | P/N | Chip | Freq | Battery | Blade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 315 MHz · IYZ3312 | 2000-2002 NA (facelift; IYZ3312 Marquardt grant 2000-04-26 — the 1998-1999 US W210 carried the earlier Kostal NCZMB1K 315 MHz RF key, and 1996-1997 the infrared key; both still need their own Americas variant) | IYZ3312 | 5WK47283 | Mercedes FBS3 NEC/BGA (IR-read at EIS) | 315 MHz | CR2025 | HU64 |
| infrared · A2107602006 | 1996-2002 RoW (IR door-handle/mirror receiver locking; only IR remote on 1996-1997 W210) | n/a | A2107602006 | Philips/NXP PCF7935 (Mercedes FBS2 / DAS2 master-key transponder) | infrared (no RF carrier) | CR2025 | HU64 |
Programming procedures
What the job needs
- Add a key: 1 existing working key required.
- All keys lost: no existing working key needed.
- PIN / security code: No PIN — IR + tokens.
- Online / server access: required — Cloud token req'd.
- On-board (no tool) sequence: not available — 1996-2002 W210 has no DIY onboard programming. Mercedes XENTRY / DAS dealer relearn requires SCN coding certificate (still available for classic chassis at MB classic-car service centers). Aftermarket Add Key requires VVDI MB Tool + W210 IR adapter + tokens OR Abrites AVDI Mercedes (EU-preferred for pre-2003).
- On site: engine off · 12V+ + charger · Clear EIS + DAS DTCs.
- Bring: Photo ID + vehicle registration. Title strongly recommended for AKL on classic-era Mercedes (W210 is 25+ years old — title chain verification critical).
Tool coverage
Documented for this case on: Autel IM608 Pro II · Autel IM508S · Autel KM100 · Xhorse Key Tool Plus · Xhorse Key Tool Max Pro · Lonsdor K518 Pro / K519 · OBDSTAR X300 DP Plus · AutoProPad G2/G3 · Advanced Diagnostics Smart Pro · Launch X431 IMMO Elite / IMMO Plus. Step-by-step menu paths for each tool are in the app.
Notes & cautions
- This chassis (W210 E-Class, 1996-2002) is Mercedes FBS2 NEC-IR EIS era — the early FBS2 era — predecessor to W211 FBS2/FBS3 transition. FBS2 era uses IR (infrared) read of EIS password via dashboard IR port, not OBD-only like FBS3. Two FBS2 sub-eras within W210: 1996-1999 early (first-gen NEC EIS, IR protocol immature), 1999-2002 facelift (refined IR but still inconsistent vs W203/W220). Verify trim + production date — wrong FCC key will not pair.
- FBS2 IR EIS on this variant (W210 E-Class) requires Xhorse VVDI MB Tool + W210 IR adapter cable (W210-specific SKU). KNOWN ISSUE: IR read on W210 fails ~30% of attempts per multiple locksmith forums — bench EIS removal fallback is more often required on W210 than other FBS2 chassis. OR Abrites AVDI Mercedes (EU-locksmith standard for pre-2003 Mercedes — best IR success rate). Autel IM608 + IMKPA covers W210 FBS2 but IR read is the bottleneck — IM608 password calc itself works once IR data is read. CGDI MB has FBS2 coverage from 2004+ NEC variants (W203 era and later), not pure FBS2 W210.
- W210 AKL is OBD-or-IR — bench EIS removal needed if IR port damaged. IR read success on W210 is poor (~70% — among lowest of FBS2 era). Budget bench EEPROM fallback time when quoting W210 jobs. Verify IR port functional before quoting OBD/IR vs bench pricing. AMG E55 W210 variants share standard EIS architecture — no AMG-specific quirk on FBS2 era.
- AKL on this chassis erases all previously paired FBS2 IR keys. Bring minimum 2 new Mercedes FBS2 NEC IR keys matching trim. Wrong chip family (e.g., FBS3 NEC EIS keys from W203/W204 era) will not work — verify chip generation before ordering.
- W210 AKL has notoriously inconsistent IR read (~70% success) — bench EIS EEPROM read via Autel XP400 PRO or Xhorse VVDI Prog is needed on ~30% of W210 jobs. Budget bench fallback time + EIS removal labor (~1 hour) when quoting W210 AKL. Even when IR read succeeds, allow extra retry attempts vs W210/W203/W220.
- AKL erases EIS-paired remotes. Recovered old keys will not authenticate — customer must be informed. Verify trim before scheduling: E320 / E430 / E55 AMG all share W210 EIS architecture. Classic-era W210 (1996-2002) — title chain verification critical given vehicle age (25+ years).
Lockout
Door pick / decode: Lishi HU64 (CW).
23 verified sources · Last verified: 2026-08-10
Open full case in KeyAssist →Step-by-step tool menu paths, verified source links and video guides for this case are in the KeyAssist app — free to start, works offline.