Replacement Key Fob

[btilly]

Hi,

I've had my BMW z4 Coupe from new and have recently lost one of the keys. My local BMW dealer, (Sytner High Wycombe), have quoted me £100 pounds for a replacement. However, I've seen on eBay a 'blank' key-fob for around £18, (see http://tinyurl.com/ygsch2r), and several sites detailing how to 'reprogram' the new key-bob using the old one, (see http://tinyurl.com/ycv4y3jand http://tinyurl.com/7w6b8g)

Does anyone have any experience of this working? Is this the right thing to do, or should I get an original dealer supplied unit?

Thanks,
Ben

[cj10jeeper]

The only key that will work in the car is one supplied by a dealer and they keep a total of about 5 for the car.

Ignore all the rubbish on ebay about recutting and programming scrap keys or blanks - it won't worlk to both open the car and start the engine.

You can of course put your key internals into a new plastic case but that's different.

[btilly]

Thanks cj10jeeper,

This is what suspected.....

[jwa1]

I'm wondering whether somewhere like Timpsons are able to cut a spare (without the fob). Worth asking or can somebody enlighten me?

[daveg]

The only key that will work in the car is one supplied by a dealer and they keep a total of about 5 for the car.

Are these available to all dealers or does it have to be the original one?

Thanks,
Dave

[btilly]

Hi Jward,
Timpson can certainly cut it for you - I have asked them, but not too sure about the coding aspect.... I'll do some more digging and post my findings here...

Hi Dave,
Apparently BMW 'cut' 10 keys for every car they build and each time you request one from your dealer they use this supply - I'm guessing stored some where in Bavaria.

[stirz]

Timpsons cannot recoded BMW keys i know this as my friend works for them

[cj10jeeper]

BMW hold a number of keys cut and matched to the car. I though it was 5, but not certain. Once used then a full set of locks have to be fitted They acan be ordered upon proof of ownership from any dealer.

There are 3 things to consider:
1) Cutting the key blade - I'm sure some locksmiths can do this. that will physically open a door and turn the ignition lock - nothing else
2) matching the transponder - required to start the engine - this can only come from an original key. So if you damaged a key and can do a bit of work you could switch it. Any 'other key is useless
3) syncronising to the alarm - easy and done in the ignition with any valid key and oft posted on ebay and the web

Someone step in and correct me if I'm wrong or missed something

[daveg]

Thanks Btilly - that must be a theif's dream, a whole warehouse of every single BMW's keys?

[btilly]

Hi cj10jeeper,
Si what you are saying certainly corresponds to what I researched online. So are you saying that if you have an original Key, then you can 'reprogram' one of those ebay keys to synchronise the alarm but no the transponder - The transponder is the part that BMW have and if you use up that supply then you have to get all of the electronics replaced??

Sorry - just want to make absolutely sure I can't do this for less than £100.... I have one key, but just want another as a back up in case that goes missing....

[btilly]

Hi daveg,

It does seem like a thief's dream. Perhaps it's not quite a straight forward as a physical stock of keys. Perhaps it's more like software licensing - so if you buy a 10 seat application you can only install that particular serial numbered product on 10 computers. In the same vein, you can only install that transponder serial number on 10 keyfobs.... but that's total speculation......

[cj10jeeper]

Hi cj10jeeper,
Si what you are saying certainly corresponds to what I researched online. So are you saying that if you have an original Key, then you can 'reprogram' one of those ebay keys to synchronise the alarm but no the transponder - The transponder is the part that BMW have and if you use up that supply then you have to get all of the electronics replaced??

Sorry - just want to make absolutely sure I can't do this for less than £100.... I have one key, but just want another as a back up in case that goes missing....

Yes - that's my understanding, except when you say 'get all the electonics replaced' I believe its a case of getting a complete new set of locks installed (doors, boot column and that then gets a new set of keys. I'd take a wild guess that that is a £1,000+ job lot

As an aside if it were as easy as getting a scrap or blank key, cutting the blade then doing the in and out ignition reprogramming then every time you left the car anywhere - indy, dealers, airport parking, hotel then it would be a quick job to copy and later drop by and steal the car months later. I don't read about that happening

[btilly]

That makes a lot of sense.... Thanks cj10jeeper.

[cpatterson117]

I know this is an old thread so apologies for resurrecting this but as it displays in the top 2 results in google I thought it only right to correct this as people stumbling upon this would be misled. Blank E85 & E86 Z4's keys CAN be programmed. You will need a blank key with a virgin transponder & an EWS programming module such as the AK90+ (Others are available). Google on the internet and there are plenty of articles that explain how to do this. EWS programming modules are a lot cheaper than a new key from BMW but It does involve removing the EWS module from your car and is not without risk.

[cj10jeeper]

Good to know. Looks like the world has moved on in the 8 years since this thread