coding a VW key

[tonym911]

We're down to the last original flip ignition key on our Mk 4 Golf, and now the keyring hole on the fob has bust so I'm giving the keyfob about 24 hours before it gets lost in our house. There's a website called keysinthepost.co.uk that will provide a new backup key (with immobiliser) from a photo for about £32, but then I need to get it coded. How hard is that? Does it have to be done by a VW dealer?

[masermartin]

I recently enquired about this - I *think* if I recall correctly that it was going to cost about £120 or so for the key itself and only £30 to get it coded.

Also, if you have a mate^^ or a local independant with VAGCOM software they should be able to do the coding for you.



^^ that is, a mate that you trust not to accidentally delete the current key from the car and leave you stuck instead ...

[Rich_W]

All our IGNITION key coding is done online now. The remote fob part is done just with the computer.

[tonym911]

Rich_W said:

All our IGNITION key coding is done online now. The remote fob part is done just with the computer.

So if I get an uncoded transponder key from keysinthepost, where would I go to get the online coding?

[Rich_W]

Dealer ideally. But be aware we've seen non gen keys that simply aren't compatable. One car had a Japanese spec key which isn't valid in Europe as it uses a NATO frequency (im not even kidding!)

So choose your supplier wisely

[Tyngwndwn]

My local stealers sent my second key to germany to be programmed "apon".

Well thats what they told me.

[tonym911]

Rich_W said:

Dealer ideally. But be aware we've seen non gen keys that simply aren't compatable. One car had a Japanese spec key which isn't valid in Europe as it uses a NATO frequency (im not even kidding!)

So choose your supplier wisely

This keys in the post outfit is UK based, but apart from that I have no way of knowing who's good and who's bad so I guess I'm going to have to pay a fortune to a VW dealer. If only companies in this line of business could try simple honesty instead of trying to fiddle people all the time they might end up with a growing business instead of one that leaves a trail of dissatisified customers behind. Thanks for the advice though.

[MondeoMan1981]

I once spent 3 hours in a VW dealer while they coded a key.......

[redstu]

That looks Like a good price from keys in the post.
A few years ago I bought a second hand vw key off eBay then still needed to get a blank cut from a photo.

I programmed it myself to set the alarm but vw couldn't program it unfortunately, but didn't charge me for trying.

[tonym911]

redstu said:

That looks Like a good price from keys in the post.
A few years ago I bought a second hand vw key off eBay then still needed to get a blank cut from a photo.

I programmed it myself to set the alarm but vw couldn't program it unfortunately, but didn't charge me for trying.

I have zero programming skills unfortunately. I'd be willing to give these keysinthepost folk a shot but I'm not really any clearer on whether I'd then be able to find someone to program the key to fit our car. You'd think the keysinthepost people would offer that as a turnkey package but they don't appear to.

[redstu]

Having just re read my post , it's the alarm that I programmed it for, easy to do as it's written up somewhere in a vw forum.
The bit the vw couldn't do was to program it for the imobiliser.
More of a warning for anyone buying a s/h key fob.
Check with your local vw dealer and see what they charge just for the imobiliser programming.

[RZ1]

masermartin said:

I recently enquired about this - I *think* if I recall correctly that it was going to cost about £120 or so for the key itself and only £30 to get it coded.

Also, if you have a mate^^ or a local independant with VAGCOM software they should be able to do the coding for you.



^^ that is, a mate that you trust not to accidentally delete the current key from the car and leave you stuck instead ...

£120 for a key, thats daylight robbery

[was8v]

I fitted a replacement dashpod (including coding the immobiliser and all the keys to it) to my old Audi TT myself without it seeing a dealer.

You can do it with a £20 wire off ebay and a laptop (which is why I also used a disclock).

[The_Burg]

Did mine with the free Vag.com software and a £9.99 cable from eBAY.
That was a 2000 Passat so the same i would think. Got the 'how too' a forum, though i can't remember how.