Getting the keys to the M235 back..

[Jonathanm5550]

Hello Everyone,

Long time lurker, 1st time poster so please be gentle !

Apologies if this is wrong forum per say (can't post in the lounge just yet).

I have an M235i and following a break in next door where they took the keys to my neighbours brand new 3 series I thought best to relocate my spare set of keys in case I might be next.

I gave them to my girlfriends Dad for safe keeping last year.

Fast forward to now and the situation is the girlfriend and I are parting company - the problem being I need my keys back.

I am buying her out and have asked her to ask her dad for the keys, but they haven't materialised. I asked again yesterday and she said - you'll get the car keys once the house paperwork is completed (waiting on Natwest). Now I own and pay for the car - it's nothing to do with the house stuff.

I Facebook messaged him and asked could he put them through letter box (as I don't really want to talk to him). He's read it but still no keys.

Opinions welcome on what I should do next ? Wait and see, man up and go visit him or wait it out till the paperwork is done and get solicitor to mention the keys as condition of buyout ?

[Ikemi]

Personally, as difficult and awkward as it may be, I'd pop round and ask him outright for the keys. Do not get emotional or angry - It's a simple request. If he denies, I'm not sure what else to suggest. IANAL!

[CS Garth]

What a vindictive and spiteful tosspot - sounds like you're well out of there. Personally I'd just get the damn house sorted asap and avoid confrontation.

[berlintaxi]

Smash her back doors in, snake with tits.
Hammer sausages into his lawn.
Throw red bull at his house.

Now all of the cliches are out of the way, as suggested pop round and ask for them, if he is not willing there isn't much you can do, no harm in asking the solicitor to make the return of the keys a condition of the buyout.

[TooMany2cvs]

Man up and, if that doesn't work, shrug and get that key removed from the car's security and replaced, just the same as you would with any other lost key.

[Falsey]

Go round and ask for the keys? If they arent forthcoming get a third party with blue lights involved.

[Grey Ghost]

TooMany2cvs said:

get that key removed from the car's security and replaced, just the same as you would with any other lost key.

This would prevent any contact with the father. Pop into your BMW dealer and ask what the process is. May cost a few pounds but you know the other key can never be used and you can get another coded whenever you want, albeit for more pounds.

[jayemm89]

As others have said. Go round, politely ask for keys. By the sounds of it she has no legal claim to the car or the keys and the car isn't part of a larger agreement between the two of you.

[Butter Face]

I would do the manly thing and knock on his door, unless he's a powerfully built company director he's very likely just to give you the keys back there and then.

Otherwise, hang on until the house is sold, but in the meantime it wouldn't hurt to get the key decoded if BMW can do it.

[RobM77]

Sorry to say this, but to me at least from what you've described it sounds like they're holding access to your car as a bargaining tool should anything go wrong further down the line. I suspect if everything goes through you'll get the keys back and never hear any more of it. However, if it were me then I'd be asking BMW how much it costs to change the key for the car, at least so you know.

ETA: A quick google has revealed that BMW are one of the cheapest companies to get new keys from. An article I found said they were the cheapest, but I'm not sure I believe that. Either way, I'd spend the money and then sleep easy!

Edited by RobM77 on Friday 29th January 15:44

[Busa mav]

Drop him a polite letter requesting them and say that his daughter seems to think its fine to use them to bribe you.

You could also mention that if they are not returned soon ( give a date )then you will have no choice but to obtain new keys for the car and the cost will of course be deducted from the settlement figure that you owe his daughter.

[GroundEffect]

They're completely taking the piss. You go and make sure you get them back.

[Jasandjules]

Go round and ask him politely for the keys. If he refuses, call the police and ask them to attend to prevent a breach of the peace.

[Monkeylegend]

Personally I wouldn't give them the pleasure of holding the keys/you to ransom. I would get them deactivated but wouldn't tell them, don't mention them again, and continue your house negotiations knowing they are no longer a bargaining point.

When assuming they finally offer them back to you, I would politely tell them they can keep them as you no longer have a use for them, and haven't done for some time.

It will cost you the price of a new set, but to me it would be worth it.

[TooMany2cvs]

Jasandjules said:

Go round and ask him politely for the keys. If he refuses, call the police and ask them to attend to prevent a breach of the peace.

I think it only counts if it's somebody else that's about to breach the peace, y'know. Phoning the police and telling them you're about to commit a criminal assault is not the smartest of moves.

[jayemm89]

TooMany2cvs said:

I think it only counts if it's somebody else that's about to breach the peace, y'know. Phoning the police and telling them you're about to commit a criminal assault is not the smartest of moves.

What if he was just planning on going round and blaring out Public Enemy until they handed the keys over

[J4CKO]

Dump the car in front of their house report it stolen and say you have the keys but it still got nicked, my ex girlfriends father has a set though

Actually, dont do that, dont mess the Police around, tell them you are about to do that if the keys dont get handed over.

[Jasandjules]

TooMany2cvs said:

I think it only counts if it's somebody else that's about to breach the peace, y'know. Phoning the police and telling them you're about to commit a criminal assault is not the smartest of moves.

Nope, you are working on the basis that the father would be aggressive and shout and swear at him... Also having a police officer standing there when you ask for stuff back is quite a bit more likely to yield a result...

[Bodged]

just chop the 235i in for an M3.

sorted.

[Guvernator]

Easy, take her car keys and only return them when you get yours back. Playground antics it may be.....but they started it.