Travis,

I believe you are on the right tract, the transponder 'chip' has the code burnt into it, it can't be re-programed and it's only for your car's serial number. A virgin chip can be programed for you car with the right equipment but I believe that would have to be done by a Mercedes dealership. I'm not sure about the door locks, it would seem to me that they would be separate. Your idea of permanently planting the chip next to the tumbler assembly sounds good to me, I'm not sure how 'needed' that theft determent is, heck, none of my vintage cars have it. But that chip looks like a piece of black plastic, like a plastic tab that broke off something, it would be easy to lose if not secured well. I don't know if you would want to glue it, maybe if you put in in a clear plastic container and secured it, it might work, or attach your old pod near the tumbler assembly?

Dave