[StrangeConcept]

Is this a record?

'Yes Sir, here's the keys to your new car! Before we get the actual car, let me explain the keys. One has a remote control for the alarm, one doesn't and the third is a special thin one to keep in your wallet'

'OK, my wife will have one key and I'll have the other. How does the one of us without the remote turn off the alarm?'

'Oh, that's OK sir, you open the door with the key, the alarm goes off, you get in the car and put your key in the ignition, and it clevery turns off the alarm again. Simple.'

'I am sure my neighbours will be delighted with that every morning at 6:30 am, I need another key, the second one is useless to me, and I'm pretty sure my wife won't be too happy about it either.'

'No sir, you can use the other one to open the door manually. You see, you don't really need another key do you?'

'Yes I do, how much are they?'

'Around £70'

'Wonderful.'

So it took about 30 secs to be annoyed with BMW for penny pinching. If they can put in a CD prep at no cost, and paint my roof with metallic paint for no cost why do i have to pay £70 for a key that will open the car without the alarm going off every time?.

Aside from that....The car itself is an absolute dream. I love it. BRG/W with 16" white alloys.

[ianfretwell]

I have to admit that I haven't put this to the test but the way it was explained to me was that you'd have a short amount of time to put the key in the ignition before the alarm went off.

Like I said though, I haven't put it to the test.

Glad you're enjoying the car though!!

[dickhilt]

Totally agree with StrangeConcept.
It's penny pinching by BMW.
I have woken the neighbours up with my Mini Cooper and now I'll still have to do it with the S. There is a time delay, but if you just unlock the doors with the key and then forget to put the key in the ignition, voila! you've woken the neighbours!
Come on BMW, this is the 21st century and a lot of people share their cars with their wives or partners. Give us two remotes, after all you added £70 to the chili pack for a glovebox!

[gjenkins]

I am sure the neighbors will be impressed with your penny pinching and early morning 'forgetfullness'.

[dickhilt]

Not a problem anymore,
I keep the remote and the S, the wife drives the Golf............!!!!

[sjbartnik]

Must be a MINI UK thing, MINI USA is supplying two remote keys with 2003 models plus one small flat spare key for your wallet.

[Logan5]

Yeah, but in America, they raised the MSRP of the vehicle by... gasp... exactly the amount of a new key!

[StrangeConcept]

Well, I've ordered a key now, so problem solved I guess. But you know what they say: 'First impressions...' and all that.

[eltel]

I'm sorry, it's all a matter of choice. Why should I pay for two remotes if I only ever use one. I am the only driver of my car and a second remote would be useless.

Yet the cost of that second key would be included in the basic price of the car.

You can't have it both ways. You should have to pay for the option of a second remote, not me!

I think it makes perfect sense.

Regards, ElTel

[StrangeConcept]

I understand what you are saying, and to a great extent I agree with you.

However, my point is that it should be stated in the brochure as a costed option:

'Second remote key £70. Your car will be supplied with three keys, only one of which will open the car without setting off the alarm. For some owners this will be seen as inconvenient, so we offer a costed option of a second remote key.'

No problems at all. What really ticked me off was that the sales person knew that I would be sharing the car with my wife and no one ever suggested that another key would be useful.

But what is the point of the second large key? I can see the third flat key being useful in emergencies, but they go to the cost of making a second big key that you are supposed to use on a regular basis, but which does not turn off the alarm. Why? ARRRGGGGHHHHHH!

[dickhilt]

Fair Point?

Still agree with StrangeConcept. Why is it that most other manufacturers, many without the same prestige as BMW offer a second remote as standard? I'm talking VW, Saab, Fiat that I've encountered in the recent couple of years. Granted the Saab and Fiat had a separate alarm remote on a key fob, but the Golf I have has two key remotes. Like StrangeConcept says, first impressions count and it should at least be listed as an option or switch the alarm off via the doorlock for those of us who are forced to share the driving of our beloved Minis.

[noahe]

With the non-remote key, you do get a decent amount of time to open, sit in, and place the key in the ignition. If you dawddle excessively, the alarm will go off.

Open door with key.
Get in car.
Place key in igniton.
Ignition ring validates key transponder (even the wallet key has a transponder) and the alarm is switched off.

When you double-lock the car from outside, with the key, then the alarm is re-armed.

So it's certainly possible to use the non-remote key on a regular basis.

That said, there is a completely different reason for actually NEEDING the key. Neither I nor Lady Leadfoot was going to settle for the regular key. It was going to come down to a fist-fight, not a flip of the coin, and I was likely to lose. So I ordered a spare key as soon as I found out. Not cheap. Luckily, the spare arrived a few days befor the car, and the beatings were avoided.

[dickhilt]

Same here noahe!
Guess I'm going to have to bite the bullet and buy another key. After all, women fight dirty!