Key Replacement

S

spanna2000

Member
Hi,

I have 2009 E89 with comfort access. The original 2nd key was lost (the previous owner has it somewhere I assume). The dealer will provide a new key although I don't have it yet.

What can I do/needs to be done to deregister the old key?

The dealer said they have disabled the original spare key. I think that has to be BS - how can they remote disable a key - this car has no comms options. I can see that a new key might come programmed with a package of instructions to reinitialise the keys but I don't think they are that smart? I think I have to take the car to a dealer and ask them to initialise just the two keys that I have.

Of course the mechanical key will always be a risk but I don't think this is a scam by the previous owner to steal my CD collection so I think I am relaxed about that. Perhaps I should ask my insurer for advice?

I'm a lot of a worrier about these sorts of things...
 
At a guess the dealer will have plugged into the car an removed the previous keys from the ecu, so remote features of the lost keys won't work or start the car, but the key might still work in a door lock
 
They will program the new key along with your current key to a new code so that if the old key is found it will no longer work in opening the car remotely. What they would need to do to be 100% sure would veto change the locks as you can still use a key blade to open the car but this does not disable the alarm.

I only know cause years ago I lost my mini key on a beach and had 3 keys at the time for which I had to get a new one and have the other two reprogrammed.
 
OP how can you say BS when you don't know how it works?

Look at it logically, if they couldn't code keys on and off a car, anyone with a BMW key could open or close your car and vice versa.
 
I didn't say BS, I said I think BS. Hence the question to members here. Of course they can program keys but I was specifically intrigued by the promise that it has been remotely wiped. I said remote disable the key, but I wasn't clear enough, BMW doesn't have access to my car unless I take it to them. I know they can program the key if they have the car and the key together.

I didn't know if the car has any remote access facility but I am pretty sure it does not.

A new key could have the capability of passing a delete all existing keys and add new list of keys payload to the car computer but I haven't heard of the technology to do this either but that doesn't mean it isn't possible. There is to be expected some need for secrecy around how these things work.

I am pretty sure Angie is correct - the scenario she outlines is what I referred to. I have to take the car to them, and either they selectively delete the missing key or they reset all keys and ask the car to accept the two keys that they can bring to the car during its programming mode. They should change the mechanical locks but I don't think I need fuss about that to force them to do it.

I am still think it is BS that they have zapped the old key without seeing the car.

It's possible they zapped the other key before letting me leave with the car but it wasn't mentioned - they expected to send me the key when they found it.

I'm not worried about the service around this - the BMW folk are sorting it out for me and I am happy with their plan - I just think their sales guy might not have the technical facts correct - the car is not a current model and quite long in the tooth for a main dealer - i expect it is tricky keeping up with all the details if you are not obsessed by them. I wanted to check independently for my peace of mind.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom