Help I've lost my keys

[Randall Raines]

I need too speed up on the typing / replies (I have to spell check everything as-well ) .

[billy.batson]

Isn't it a ridiculous price, £80 for a car key then £20 to program it! These people just don't know what to charge.

When I bought my Clubman March 1st (exactly a month ago), there was only one key. They couln't find the 2nd one. Now today they phoned to say they got me the spare, but won't post it on for security reasons. So I will have to make a 56 mile round trip to collect it..

If I had known up front what BMW charge for spares, parts and extras, it might have influenced my choice of car.

[Randall Raines]

I think it actual cost is more than £20 too actually program keys etc... etc... the £20 stated in the posts is just for a simple non-remote key (the remote keys are approx £80). The Main Dealers that I went too, the man in parts said I'll have a word with service and got it programmed all-in for the £80 (but I'm in there quite a lot), so I'm a little unsure of the actual cost of programming (I need another couple doing so I'm hoping they'll sort it for me as cheap as poss ).

Approx £100 is the usual for a remote key these days wherever you go maybe less & it can sometimes be more (some are already programmed 100%, others need some programming, just the remotes like the MINIs, and some need to-be 100% programmed chips & remotes, some programming is included in the prices & some isn't).

So if you're looking for a used car make sure that there is as many keys as poss .

Some of the earlier chipped cars needed whole ECU sets costing thousands £££££ if you lost the keys, before people sussed out how too reprogramme / by-pass them .

I don't think the cost of the keys isn't that bad from BMW & it may even make people take care of them more (once they know how much they cost £££££, which can't be a bad thing) .

The days when it cost you a couple of quid £££££ for a key have long gone and if you lose them on an older car it could even be cheaper too get a replacement car (in some cases) .

Keep us informed of the actual cost "mini-millie-n-dan", also whether the programming is included or not (I for one would be interested as I need some doing).

[billy.batson]

Yes, just checked with the dealer, it's £80 for a new key, they may or may not charge you for programming it. And they officially confirmed that the Wallet Key is no longer supplied, apparently one such is used whilst the car is at the factory and then discarded...but now and then one slips through with a car.

[mini-millie-n-dan]

Quote: Originally Posted by billy.batson (original)

Yes, just checked with the dealer, it's £80 for a new key, they may or may not charge you for programming it. And they officially confirmed that the Wallet Key is no longer supplied, apparently one such is used whilst the car is at the factory and then discarded...but now and then one slips through with a car.

Thanks for checking with BMW, I was going to do so tomorrow if they still have not been found (even gone through our wheelie bins to make sure today, yeuch but had to be done)
As for your long trip to pick up your keys I would be insisting on some form of compo from your dealers (a freebie)? after all, it's not your fault they lost the key. You are being inconvenienced having to collect - petrol/time etc.
I think £80 is a reasonable cost, not that I can really afford, but when my mum lost her keys to her Seat Ibiza 4 years ago, she paid over £70 and that was not a remote key. I was expecting around £200 knowing BMW.
Thanks again

[mini-millie-n-dan]

Quote: Originally Posted by Randall Raines (original)

I think it actual cost is more than £20 too actually program keys etc... etc... the £20 stated in the posts is just for a simple non-remote key (the remote keys are approx £80). The Main Dealers that I went too, the man in parts said I'll have a word with service and got it programmed all-in for the £80 (but I'm in there quite a lot), so I'm a little unsure of the actual cost of programming (I need another couple doing so I'm hoping they'll sort it for me as cheap as poss ).

Approx £100 is the usual for a remote key these days wherever you go maybe less & it can sometimes be more (some are already programmed 100%, others need some programming, just the remotes like the MINIs, and some need to-be 100% programmed chips & remotes, some programming is included in the prices & some isn't).

So if you're looking for a used car make sure that there is as many keys as poss .

Some of the earlier chipped cars needed whole ECU sets costing thousands £££££ if you lost the keys, before people sussed out how too reprogramme / by-pass them .

I don't think the cost of the keys isn't that bad from BMW & it may even make people take care of them more (once they know how much they cost £££££, which can't be a bad thing) .

The days when it cost you a couple of quid £££££ for a key have long gone and if you lose them on an older car it could even be cheaper too get a replacement car (in some cases) .

Keep us informed of the actual cost "mini-millie-n-dan", also whether the programming is included or not (I for one would be interested as I need some doing).

You sound like you are 'in the know'!! Lots of useful info - thanks for all your time!
Will let you know what happens.
Cheers

[Randall Raines]

Quote: Originally Posted by billy.batson (original)

Yes, just checked with the dealer, it's £80 for a new key, they may or may not charge you for programming it. And they officially confirmed that the Wallet Key is no longer supplied, apparently one such is used whilst the car is at the factory and then discarded...but now and then one slips through with a car.

Thanks! for the info on the price £££££, I can't ask my Main Dealers for prices all the time as they get ****ed off, and I'd rather ask only when I need too know .

It may just depend on what mood they're in or what they think they can get away with £££££ .

On the Wallet key issue I actually got one of those the last time I ordered a key, approx £10 - £15 (it was a few months ago though ) as that was the cheapest option and it was for a damaged MINI (spares only) and I needed too check that the engine was OK (start the MINI, and they do start the MINIs).

[airbusA346]

Quote: Originally Posted by billy.batson (original)

Yes, just checked with the dealer, it's £80 for a new key, they may or may not charge you for programming it. And they officially confirmed that the Wallet Key is no longer supplied, apparently one such is used whilst the car is at the factory and then discarded...but now and then one slips through with a car.

As far as I am aware, you don't get a wallet key with a R56, because you would only be able to get in the car. The only form of "key" I know with the R56 are the ones in the ends of the fobs.

May be wrong though about the wallet key and starting the car.

[NeuroBeaker]

Quote: Originally Posted by Joolsmini (original)

awww poor you. Maybe leave it a couple more days, keys have a habit of turning up in the oddest of places (I found mine in the fridge once )

good luck, hope you find them

The fridge?!

I once lost my keys... I spent about 2 hours turning the house upside down trying to find them and just simply could not locate them anywhere. By now, the supermarket had shut and I was going to have to do without Kit-Kat Chunkies that particular Sunday night. Oh well, best sit down with a beer and catch the news...

Ouch! Oh - they were here in the back pocket of my jeans the whole time.

All the best,
Andrew.

[RooniusMaximus]

Depends on the age of the car. Ours only came supplied with one key and we were told that older cars DO cost £250 for a new key. Luckily for us, ours was the slightly more modern shape and is (IIIC) £70.

[Randall Raines]

Quote: Originally Posted by airbusA346 (original)

As far as I am aware, you don't get a wallet key with a R56, because you would only be able to get in the car. The only form of "key" I know with the R56 are the ones in the ends of the fobs.

May be wrong though about the wallet key and starting the car.

Definitely does on the 1st Gen (have seen many discussions on it though), the black plastic Wallet key has a chip in it to enable it to start (Unless the MINI has lost it's memory or the MINI has been in for reprogramming and absent keys removed from the memory by mistake (the spares in the draw at home ))

I have seen sets of keys for the 2nd Gen R56s consisting off 2 fobs & a white plastic Wallet key (whether that gets passed on or not is a different matter, if it starts the car it definitely should) but I have never had an R56 yet (I'm sticking with the R50s, R52s & R53s a bit longer), so I'm not sure what it actually does apart from open them up (It could be possible too put the Wallet key in & them start up , but I don't know myself).

My keys have been through the wash before now , a mate of mine lost his had his van reprogrammed new keys etc... etc... and then his other ½ found his lost keys in the washer,
I've also changed clothes etc... etc... and then found lost keys, wallets & money in pockets of clothes that I've hung back up in the wardrobe (days later) .

My worst case has been with keys being next too magnets & the chip data being erased / damaged .

[Randall Raines]

Quote: Originally Posted by mini-millie-n-dan (original)

You sound like you are 'in the know'!! Lots of useful info - thanks for all your time!
Will let you know what happens.
Cheers

I buy cars / MINIs from insurance companies & auctions etc... etc... Many arrive without keys .

[RooniusMaximus]

AFAIK, the plastic wallet keys are meant to be valet keys. So they'll allow a third party to open your car to gain access to the interior (for valeting) but not to start it. They're also there so that if you do keep it in your wallet and accidentally lock your master key in the car, then you can open it back up to retrieve the key that will start the car.

Ours is a 54 plate (we bought it SH) and came with the master key and the black plastic valet/wallet key. The previous owner couldn't find the other key.

[RooniusMaximus]

Quote: Originally Posted by Randall Raines (original)

On the Wallet key issue I actually got one of those the last time I ordered a key, approx £10 - £15 (it was a few months ago though ) as that was the cheapest option and it was for a damaged MINI (spares only) and I needed too check that the engine was OK (start the MINI, and they do start the MINIs).

OOPS. Just read this.

Seems my post above is wrong.

[mini-millie-n-dan]

Sorry to be a bit dumb, but what is the wallet key????
Mine is a first gen. will this make a difference to the new key / price?
Thanks
Emma