Car key

[Mike6]

Called in to timpsons today to get house key cut and saw an advert about car keys so asked about my 2005 z4. They put in the registration and said they could get a bank from BMW which they would then cut and programme and cost would be 450 pounds. I nearly hit the floor.
They said they could simply replace the battery but in BMW wisdom the casing could be properly reassembled and it wouldn't last long.it seems it isn't the most expensive car key they have cut
What is going on !

 

[Fred Smith]

Called in to timpsons today to get house key cut and saw an advert about car keys so asked about my 2005 z4. They put in the registration and said they could get a bank from BMW which they would then cut and programme and cost would be 450 pounds. I nearly hit the floor.
They said they could simply replace the battery but in BMW wisdom the casing could be properly reassembled and it wouldn't last long.it seems it isn't the most expensive car key they have cut
What is going on !

I would try to find a small local company that specializes in autolocksmithery... I am fairly sure you can get a decent job done for a lot less.

 

[Gebbly]

450 pounds

Good grief. At that price would it be cheaper to go to a BMW dealer and ask for a replacement key pre-cut and programmed? I think I read somewhere that BMW keep spare keys for every car they manufacture?

 

[enuff_zed]

They said they could simply replace the battery but in BMW wisdom the casing could be properly reassembled and it wouldn't last long.

If all you need is a new battery then contact The Master Locksmith, in London. I sent them a key with a dead battery and it came bck with a new one, and no sign that the case had even been opened. They charged just under £30, which included return by recorded delivery. I sent it to them the same way to be on the safe side (as they recommend).

 

[Mike6]

I will bear that in mind. I only asked as my key is now 20 years old and probably doesn't have much life left in it

 

[Gebbly]

probably doesn't have much life left in it

Depends which sort of key you have. Some have a small coil inside and do wireless charging every time the key is in the ignition with the engine running. So shouldnt ever need to have the battery replaced. This means that if you have multiple keys you need to use each of them every now and then. The key looks like :

 

[CliveN]

You can buy a brand new key cut and supplied by BMW for around £160. You can then programme it to work by following instructions here on Z4-forum. I had a new key (with invoice) supplied with my car on purchase. It didn’t work but doing the process meant that it was fine 5 mins later. Timpson don’t know what they are doing

 

[enuff_zed]

probably doesn't have much life left in it

Depends which sort of key you have. Some have a small coil inside and do wireless charging every time the key is in the ignition with the engine running. So shouldnt ever need to have the battery replaced. This means that if you have multiple keys you need to use each of them every now and then. The key looks like :
e86Key.jpg

The battery will still eventually die

 

[slocar]

I ordered a key from FasterAutoKeys.com (I am in the US, but they ship international for $16) ... it was around 40 dollars at the time (49 now) and cut from a photo of my existing key (they take the pattern and input into their system and cut like a new one; it does not replicate the worn pattern).

I programmed it myself using AK90+ (about 15-20 dollars on ebay). It has worked flawlessly for near 3 years now, though I did have to put a new battery in the fob recently - which is replaceable easily by un-snapping the two halves.

A bit fiddly because you have to get the EWS module out of the car to read with the AK90+ the first time (subsequent keys you can program with the saved data from the EWS; no need to repeat in the future) ... but hey, you're talking the equivalent of about 70 pounds all in vs 450 ...

 

[Zedebee]

The master locksmith will supply a new key, cut it and programme it. They offer a very good and inexpensive service by post in my experience.

 

[Special Kay]

I had a fantastic service from bm keys in east london. I drove down to him and he supplied the key and programmed it to the car for £70 around 6 years ago. I wouldn't hesitate in calling him again. He did the whole programming and key cutting in 10mins.

 

[RMB]

Timpsons basically take a fair price and double it. Never use them. House key cutting or whatever.
BMW charge £192 for the diamond key and £51 for the emergency key. Dealers won’t really do anything on these prices even Cotswolds.
It’ll come cut coded and ready to go.