Why are car keys so expensive?

[PhantomPH]

turboslippers said:

When I bought our 996 Porker it came with a second key but I never properly checked and it was a blank and the fob was empty of electronics so, useless.

I think the local Porsche specialist wanted about £380 all in for cutting the key and programming but then I found a guy online (and recommended off a porsche forum) that could cut the key from just an iphone photo for £25. I was skeptical but, sure enough, with just a decent overhead iphone picture he made a key. I then got the electronics off ebay and gave to my specialist for programming so total bill in end was 'only' about £200

Obviously your time doesn't have much of a cost. I think for the sake of £180, I would have just paid for the 'official' job to be done. Especially when you consider that if one person can cut your key from a photograph, that you have now have no control over what happens to said photo next....

[scorcher]

SuperchargedVR6 said:

I've seen some of the 20 quid ebay VAG switchblade blanks and they are utter garbage compared to the real thing.

I bought one for about £40 and took it to a VAG specialist. He did say when I gave it to him it all looked a bit out but he'd give it a whirl. He worked some magic on his key cutting equipment and done a bit of grinding and reshaping and it works fine. Said it programmed straight away with no problems too. He charged me £55 to cut and programme it, so about £95 all in.

[LLR270]

It's £10 for the key and then £100 because you are an idiot for loosing it. Will teach you not to loose it again.

[Packrat]

Scared to look how much a i8 key would be

[Cold]

PositronicRay said:

CoolHands said:

Why is everyone losing their keys? I don't think I've ever lost a car key.

To polarise opinion.

PHer 1: Look how powerfully built I am, and how much I can afford on keys.
PHer 2: What...my car didn't cost that much! I'd just whittle one from a twig.

I replaced mine as the unlock button started to become unresponsive. You know how you PRRRRESSSSS the tv remote when the batteries are dying? Well similar action was required just regain entry to the car and I thought I'd preempt the inevitable failure of the thing and replace it before being stranded at the supermarket.
£230.

[BuzzBravado]

Packrat said:

Scared to look how much a i8 key would be

Is it the same as the new 7 series key with the built in screen?

[Osinjak]

LLR270 said:

It's £10 for the key and then £100 because you are an idiot for loosing it. Will teach you not to loose it again.

Christ on a bike. It's fecking LOSE not bloody LOOSE!

[Packrat]

BuzzBravado said:

Is it the same as the new 7 series key with the built in screen?

Don't know.but looks like a smart phone

[kayzee]

Osinjak said:

LLR270 said:

It's £10 for the key and then £100 because you are an idiot for loosing it. Will teach you not to loose it again.

Christ on a bike. It's fecking LOSE not bloody LOOSE!

Maybe it was loose on his key ring and fell off

[Itsallicanafford]

Chris Type R said:

260ish for an Alfa GT. Not one that can be done on the cheap either. Rip-off and reflects badly on the brand imho.

Ooh, that make me feel bad, I sold my GT but still have one of the spare keys...

Any advice on how to get a 1998 peugeot 106 key on the cheap and I only have one for the Rallye...

[anonymous-user]

Packrat said:

Don't know.but looks like a smart phone

Had a new 7 series as a courtesy car recently, with one of those keys, inquired as I'd recently been quoted £380 for a new 6GC key.

£700.

Clever key mind.

[Monkeylegend]

It's basically an idiot tax. Moral of the story is look after your keys, don't lose them.

Wish I had heeded my own advice, £237 for a replacement Mercedes key 2 years ago.

[jamoor]

had ham said:

Had a new 7 series as a courtesy car recently, with one of those keys, inquired as I'd recently been quoted £380 for a new 6GC key.

£700.

Clever key mind.

I'm sure the iphone 7 that has alot more features is alot less.

[Motorrad]

SuperchargedVR6 said:

Well that's fine if the key and fob are OEM quality and they can definitely retrieve and reprogram the SKC from the ECU/instruments to do the immobilizer side of things properly.

I've seen some of the 20 quid ebay VAG switchblade blanks and they are utter garbage compared to the real thing.

The fob is of original Renault 'kwality'. The VAG keyfobs the fellah had looked OEM to me as well.

I'm worrying I'm in danger of sounding like I'm advertising this business though.

[SteveSteveson]

Monkeylegend said:

It's basically an idiot tax. Moral of the story is look after your keys, don't lose them.

Hardly. They are small, light items you carry everywhere but don't pay much though to. No wonder people misplace them.

[Monkeylegend]

SteveSteveson said:

Monkeylegend said:

It's basically an idiot tax. Moral of the story is look after your keys, don't lose them.

Hardly. They are small, light items you carry everywhere but don't pay much though to. No wonder people misplace them.

It was for me, I stupidly lost one

[Shnozz]

Matt UK said:

ryanjohnstott said:

Maserati quoted me around £6500 for a replacement red service key. Apparently I would need the red service key, two new normal keys, two door locks and a new alarm/Imobilizer system plus labour etc

The car in question was a cheap 3200, I then realised why it was going cheap!

£6,500?

£6,500?!?!?

Flasher on here had the red key missing on his 3200. I seem to recall he was quoted about £800 to replace it.

[ac3t1ne]

Itsallicanafford said:

Any advice on how to get a 1998 peugeot 106 key on the cheap and I only have one for the Rallye...

If it helps I know that a 1997 Saxo Vts key had no chip inside and I got a fully functioning key cut for less than a tenner last year. Is the pug not the same?

[sebhaque]

Monkeylegend said:

SteveSteveson said:

Monkeylegend said:

It's basically an idiot tax. Moral of the story is look after your keys, don't lose them.

Hardly. They are small, light items you carry everywhere but don't pay much though to. No wonder people misplace them.

It was for me, I stupidly lost one

A year or so ago a friend spilt a pint all over my suit jacket in the pub. He gave me £20 to get it dry cleaned , but my keys were in the top pocket and got quite a soaking. Thankfully I only carry one car key on my house key fob, but the key was goosed and even though it's for a 13 year old C-class, Merc wanted £280 for a replacement. You can get fobs on the internet for barely double-digit £s and I can't imagine programming it would cost an awful lot. I've been using the spare since and haven't got round to replacing the other fob yet.

Little bit of trivia though, I learned from Merc that the original electronic fobs are supplied with different coloured master (physical) keys. The black key is the master key, and the grey key is the slave. Rather amusingly on my C63, the slave key has the AMG decal on it whereas the master is your boggo C180 key.

[edited for spelling]

[Ilovejapcrap]

had ham said:

Ask your R35 dealer why they are taking the piss. I did, and cancelled.

Not sure what the price is for one of these, but I promise you it aint £850.



After a long time with Nissan, it's why I'm going elsewhere next year for my next car.

That looks a hell of a lot like my Suzuki key hmmmmmm