Why are car keys so expensive?
Discussion
Well I like to see nearly dead threads come back from the abyss.
The answer is if you're lucky they aren't because an automotive locksmith can almost certainly do the same job as a dealer and do it quicker.
Renault quoted me about 260 quid for a Clio key along with a wait of weeks and some major inconvenience leaving it with them.
Automotive locksmith 70 quid all in, done in half an hour including a cup of tea.
I don't normally promote businesses but this bloke had me up and running in time to take my sick Grandparent to the hospital. He's like the 9th emergency service or something.
http://www.remotekeyfobrepairs.co.uk/
The answer is if you're lucky they aren't because an automotive locksmith can almost certainly do the same job as a dealer and do it quicker.
Renault quoted me about 260 quid for a Clio key along with a wait of weeks and some major inconvenience leaving it with them.
Automotive locksmith 70 quid all in, done in half an hour including a cup of tea.
I don't normally promote businesses but this bloke had me up and running in time to take my sick Grandparent to the hospital. He's like the 9th emergency service or something.
http://www.remotekeyfobrepairs.co.uk/
Motorrad said:
Well I like to see nearly dead threads come back from the abyss.
The answer is if you're lucky they aren't because an automotive locksmith can almost certainly do the same job as a dealer and do it quicker.
Renault quoted me about 260 quid for a Clio key along with a wait of weeks and some major inconvenience leaving it with them.
Automotive locksmith 70 quid all in, done in half an hour including a cup of tea.
I don't normally promote businesses but this bloke had me up and running in time to take my sick Grandparent to the hospital. He's like the 9th emergency service or something.
http://www.remotekeyfobrepairs.co.uk/
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.The answer is if you're lucky they aren't because an automotive locksmith can almost certainly do the same job as a dealer and do it quicker.
Renault quoted me about 260 quid for a Clio key along with a wait of weeks and some major inconvenience leaving it with them.
Automotive locksmith 70 quid all in, done in half an hour including a cup of tea.
I don't normally promote businesses but this bloke had me up and running in time to take my sick Grandparent to the hospital. He's like the 9th emergency service or something.
http://www.remotekeyfobrepairs.co.uk/
I've seen some of the 20 quid ebay VAG switchblade blanks and they are utter garbage compared to the real thing.
It's at times like these I am thankful Lotus are tight-wads and still use the old Ford/Volvo/Aston/Bloodyeverything key on the Evora.
I don't know what a replacement costs but doubt its much.
I was surprised when a brand new key for my E46 M3 was only £120 - was preparing for much, much worse.
I don't know what a replacement costs but doubt its much.
I was surprised when a brand new key for my E46 M3 was only £120 - was preparing for much, much worse.
Being in the motor trade I don't think half the key costs are that bad.
I just put a new one in my van, cost me £16 for a cheap 2 button fob online.
Now I have the code which I bought for £25 I can do it as many times as I like in no time at all.
Last time I lost a key on a VW T5 the locksmith came out and charged £140 for a new key. I don't think that's too bad. The key cost him £60 and he's charged £80 on his way home for 15 mins of his time to decode, cut and program the key and finish his cup of tea.
He was saying that sometimes he takes his time as customers moan about prices when he's in and out in 15 min.
Personally I pay his prices because he is quick and he just does his job correctly every time.
What people don't realize is the thousands of pounds of equipment on his van, his diesel etc.
Don't get me wrong he probably takes home £250-300 a day and bloody fair play to him.
I just put a new one in my van, cost me £16 for a cheap 2 button fob online.
Now I have the code which I bought for £25 I can do it as many times as I like in no time at all.
Last time I lost a key on a VW T5 the locksmith came out and charged £140 for a new key. I don't think that's too bad. The key cost him £60 and he's charged £80 on his way home for 15 mins of his time to decode, cut and program the key and finish his cup of tea.
He was saying that sometimes he takes his time as customers moan about prices when he's in and out in 15 min.
Personally I pay his prices because he is quick and he just does his job correctly every time.
What people don't realize is the thousands of pounds of equipment on his van, his diesel etc.
Don't get me wrong he probably takes home £250-300 a day and bloody fair play to him.
From experience with my time at Saab, new keys cost a lot in labour because (in the case of Saabs) the immobiliser unit has to be completely reprogrammed with all the keys at the same time. Coding a new key to the car results in all other keys s being wiped off. The whole operation taking between 35-50 minutes or so. The keyfobs themselves, i was told, can only be mated to one immobiliser unit, they can't be coded to another vehicle. In the case of lost keys, we would supply and code a new immobiliser module and 2 fobs and 2 blades.The full key itself comes in 2 parts, the bit with the buttons, and the key blade, though only the fob is needed to start the car. Can't remember the costs to replace and program, pretty sure the key blade was about £15-20 plus vat, and the fob about £45-50 plus vat.Think it comes to something around £170-180 including programming.
After Saab went bust, it was difficult to get replacement keyfobs for a while, then someone started selling non genuine replacements on eBay, and they were cheap nasty plastic crap with very little feel to the buttons, compared to the nice rubbery feel of the original.
After Saab went bust, it was difficult to get replacement keyfobs for a while, then someone started selling non genuine replacements on eBay, and they were cheap nasty plastic crap with very little feel to the buttons, compared to the nice rubbery feel of the original.
The cheapest I could get a programmed and working remote locking key for my wife Fiat Bravo was £340 and that was through an owner's club with a guy who worked in parts at a fiat dealer using his discount.
Timpsons wanted £460 for the same key even with the guy offering me OAP discount to soften the blow.
Needless to say, the wife still only has a non remote key...
Timpsons wanted £460 for the same key even with the guy offering me OAP discount to soften the blow.
Needless to say, the wife still only has a non remote key...
Got pushed into a swimming pool with keys to a W202 in my pocket. Didn't work so had to order a new one from mercedes for about £180 if I recall correctly, a real wounder. Then read manual and saw that the key needed to be re-synced and the b
d worked fine! Said mercedes was worth all of £350 at the time
d worked fine! Said mercedes was worth all of £350 at the time mcford said:
People don't give a second thought to the security systems within the key that give you a lower insurance premium and make the car insurable.
No one believed that when you said it 4 years ago2012mcford said:
There's alot of technology in a key these days, bet you didn't give it a thought at how much the expensive key saves you your insurance premium each year.
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
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
AA, RAC will charge a £10 premium to insure against loss of car keys.
Not that I would do it but I'm sure a few people that have lost their key and have a spare join up wait a few weeks then.......
Also worth looking to see if it's covered under household insurance. A lot of my Motorcycle kit was damaged in an accident, turns out it was all covered under household.
Not that I would do it but I'm sure a few people that have lost their key and have a spare join up wait a few weeks then.......
Also worth looking to see if it's covered under household insurance. A lot of my Motorcycle kit was damaged in an accident, turns out it was all covered under household.
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