GEorge:Hie thee hence to your local MB dealer and order a new key. Should be around $20, and will come from the factory in nice new steel. This is the ONLY safe way to get a key. A good MB independent mechanic can also order one for the same price (or less).
Please do not use brass keys, they shed crap in the tumbler (it's hardened to resist picking), and it will gum up and fail.
A new tumbler was $60 a couple years ago when I got the one for the 220D.
Peter
