Mercedes-Benz GLA Ignition Barrel Replacement Parts

The GLA (both the first-generation X156, 2014–2020, and second-generation H247, 2020 onwards) uses a key-operated ignition switch in the conventional sense on many variants, but the physical ignition barrel that accepts a mechanical key was phased out in favour of a push-button start system on a large proportion of UK-spec cars, particularly from the mid-X156 facelift (2017) onwards and across the H247 range. If your GLA has a push-button start, it does not have a traditional ignition barrel and what you may actually need is the ignition switch, EIS (Electronic Ignition Switch) module, or steering column lock unit instead. Check your dashboard carefully — if there is no physical keyhole to insert and turn, there is no barrel to replace. Confirm with a breaker exactly which starting system your car has by providing your registration so they can identify the correct component.

The first-generation GLA ran as the X156 from 2014 through to 2020, with a facelift arriving in 2017, so a 2015 car is pre-facelift and a 2017 car could be either side of that boundary. Whether the ignition barrel itself changed across the 2017 facelift update is something you should confirm with the breaker against your registration, as Mercedes sometimes revised steering column and ignition components at facelift points even within a generation. If both cars genuinely have a key-operated barrel rather than push-button start, there is a reasonable chance of compatibility within the X156 generation, but never assume fitment without the breaker verifying part numbers.

For fitment purposes, the engine variant and drivetrain layout do not typically affect the ignition barrel, as it sits in the steering column and is not specific to what is under the bonnet. However, the more relevant question for GLA buyers is whether each specific car was built with a key-start barrel at all, since push-button start was available across multiple engine variants including the 200, 220d, and 250 4MATIC. Confirm with the breaker that the donor car shares the same starting system as yours — a barrel from a key-start car will not be a useful replacement in a push-button car regardless of engine.

Trim level does not affect ignition barrel fitment on the GLA; the barrel is part of the steering column assembly and is the same across Sport, AMG Line, Urban, and other trim grades within the same generation. You may find minor cosmetic differences around the surround or trim panel depending on how the interior was finished, but the barrel unit itself is interchangeable regardless of trim. What matters far more is confirming whether the donor and your car both have key-start ignition rather than push-button start, and that both are from the same generation — X156 (2014–2020) or H247 (2020 onwards).

The first-generation X156 GLA (2014–2020) and the second-generation H247 GLA (2020 onwards) are substantially different cars with different steering columns and electrical architectures, so crossing that generation boundary for an ignition barrel is very unlikely to result in a direct fit. The H247 is also more heavily weighted towards push-button start as standard, making a barrel swap even less straightforward. Do not assume cross-generation compatibility — provide your registration to the breaker and ask them to match by part number rather than model name alone.

If your GLA has no physical key slot on the dashboard or steering column, you do not have a traditional ignition barrel, and searching for one will not find what you need. The components most likely to be relevant on a push-button-start GLA are the EIS (Electronic Ignition Switch) unit, the steering column lock module, or the start/stop button assembly itself, depending on what has failed. These are model- and software-specific parts, so give the breaker your full registration and describe the fault symptom — they can then identify the correct unit from the donor vehicle and advise whether coding will be required after fitting.