New Key / Fob needed
Discussion
red997 said:
cseven said:
My wife had one of her keys stolen:
Replacement key was approx £250
Replacement ECU to recode new key and fit new locks all round was £1100
Not a cheap experience
That is just bonkers !Replacement key was approx £250
Replacement ECU to recode new key and fit new locks all round was £1100
Not a cheap experience
Its only a key FFS - I'll be on the phone to BMW tomorrow to see what they say
The days of them being: "only a key" are long gone!
(Always funny though, to see people ranting about BMW's being expensive to put right when something has gone wrong, as though it's some sort of secret! Show me a time when BMW's were cheap cars to repair!
)helix402 said:
red997 said:
How do I do this - through the dealer ? Anyone with dealer software can do it. (Probably possible with Autologic too)
If its blocked, and i find it again, can it be 'unblocked'?
YesIf its blocked, and i find it again, can it be 'unblocked'?
Once it's blocked I don't think it can be unblocked - it's dead forever. There may be some techniques for virginising the key, but you're talking very specialist now. (Not even BMW can do that)
You should be able to programme the keys through "pass through" though not many people will have that yet.
4rephill said:
Actually, it's a highly sophisticated part of your vehicle's security system that has to be custom made, and custom programmed to suit your vehicle only.
The days of them being: "only a key" are long gone!
(Always funny though, to see people ranting about BMW's being expensive to put right when something has gone wrong, as though it's some sort of secret! Show me a time when BMW's were cheap cars to repair! )
its the new ECU at £1100 thats bonkers.The days of them being: "only a key" are long gone!
(Always funny though, to see people ranting about BMW's being expensive to put right when something has gone wrong, as though it's some sort of secret! Show me a time when BMW's were cheap cars to repair!
)mind you, so is the key at that price !
I've worked in electronics design for over 20 years - no way is there £250 worth of electronics in a key - and if it needs a new ECU to be recoded then thats just insane !
I've no experience of "F" coded models, but when I bought my E86 it only had 1 key. It has the older style key where you need to insert the blade into the steering lock, unlike the later ones where you just put the key in the slot on the dash (like my old E87 and current E91).
Anyway there is a guy on the z4forum in Cheshire who does quite a few jobs primarily on Z4s, and when I had some work done on mine he cut and coded a "Flip-Style" key for me for less than £100 as well as deleting 2 "missing" keys from the EWS.
Photo isn't great, but you get the idea! So as far as the older ones are concerned it has been done!
Anyway there is a guy on the z4forum in Cheshire who does quite a few jobs primarily on Z4s, and when I had some work done on mine he cut and coded a "Flip-Style" key for me for less than £100 as well as deleting 2 "missing" keys from the EWS.
Photo isn't great, but you get the idea! So as far as the older ones are concerned it has been done!
Mr Tidy said:
I've no experience of "F" coded models, but when I bought my E86 it only had 1 key. It has the older style key where you need to insert the blade into the steering lock, unlike the later ones where you just put the key in the slot on the dash (like my old E87 and current E91).
Anyway there is a guy on the z4forum in Cheshire who does quite a few jobs primarily on Z4s, and when I had some work done on mine he cut and coded a "Flip-Style" key for me for less than £100 as well as deleting 2 "missing" keys from the EWS.
Photo isn't great, but you get the idea! So as far as the older ones are concerned it has been done!
Yeah, but the later metal clad shiny key with no blade is a different story (Aftermarket manufacture and coding don't seem to be up to speed on it yet) - I cut 4 of the above type last week for a range of earlier BM's for similar kind of price with no undue issue. Anyway there is a guy on the z4forum in Cheshire who does quite a few jobs primarily on Z4s, and when I had some work done on mine he cut and coded a "Flip-Style" key for me for less than £100 as well as deleting 2 "missing" keys from the EWS.
Photo isn't great, but you get the idea! So as far as the older ones are concerned it has been done!
There's prob other ways to code them, but I code them via removal of the EWS system under the steering wheel. We are auto sparks though, so it's not a home job by any stretch. I like cutting / making keys, it's interesting. 
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