Spare key - would you?

[E38Ross]

I only have the 1 master key for my car. if i open the boot and accidentally shut it with the keys in, i'm stuffed. if it packs up or i lose it, i'm stuffed.

quote for a new master key is £138 from the dealer......worth getting one cut?

what do you guys reckon?

cheers

[kambites]

One hundred and forty quid for a key?! That is taking the piss rather, they can't cost more than a couple of quid to make.

I guess you can't buy cheap Chinese knock-offs that do the job?

[Watchman]

Do you need another *master* key? Can't you just get a normal key cut, which has no blipper etc but would allow you to get into the boot and at your master key?

[E38Ross]

kambites said:

One hundred and forty quid for a key?! That is taking the piss rather, they can't cost more than about a quid to make.

i know apparently they get done up in Germany and shipped over here, before having to be coded for the car. they're all at it. it could be worse.....a friend needed a new key for their renault laguna which was nearer £200!!!!!!

[Alfanatic]

I think it would be cheaper to have your keys rescued from the boot. The spare is only useful if it happens to be in the same area where you locked yourself out anyway. Otherwise, you're either waiting for someone to deliver the key to you, or a locksmith to break into your car for you.

[pembo]

I only have the one key at the moment and would be happy with that (I have a seperate 'drinking house key' so that I don't lose the car one).

But I am getting another so that the OH has har own when she is insured on it next month.

From your name I guess it's for a BMW so I'll be looking at the same cost! She's getting it in a box as her birthday present then

[E38Ross]

kambites said:

One hundred and forty quid for a key?! That is taking the piss rather, they can't cost more than a couple of quid to make.

I guess you can't buy cheap Chinese knock-offs that do the job?

the cheap chinese knock offs are fine, but they don't contain all the "innerds" and obviously still need cutting. by the time you buy the rest you're certainly better off but still need to get it coded and no idea how much that costs (can't imagine it's that much, mind)

[MissChief]

I remember old Fiat's having a master key that apparently cost nearly £1k to get a replacement?!

[rallycross]

I need one for an audi, its one of those keys with a button that flips the metal key out of the remote, is there a cheaper way than going to Audi?

[kambites]

I wonder how many cars get written off because a replacement key is worth more than the car.

[Terminator X]

I've seen a YouTube video indicating how to rescue your BMW keys from the boot, pretty easy from memory + there are people out there remember that can remove the car completely without a key

TX.

[Codswallop]

rallycross said:

I need one for an audi, its one of those keys with a button that flips the metal key out of the remote, is there a cheaper way than going to Audi?

Yes. Buy the blank key from ebay (the best source for cheap generic VAG bits and pieces), get the blade cut at a locksmith and the key coded with VAG-COM.

[E38Ross]

Terminator X said:

I've seen a YouTube video indicating how to rescue your BMW keys from the boot, pretty easy from memory + there are people out there remember that can remove the car completely without a key

TX.

that's the issue with the later key. mine is the older "diamond" shaped key which doesn't have the issues the new ones are facing as it's a typical key in a lock barrel.

[TrevorH]

I saw a sign on our local Timpson's at the weekend offering reduced prices on electronic car keys.
Has anybody got any experience of these?

[Snowboy]

You can probably shop around a get one cheaper – I guess it depends on the age of the car and the seriousness of the security/immobiliser.
If it were me, I’d get one and keep it in a safe place in the house.

Nice idea from someone about getting a generic key cut so you can open the doors even if you can’t do the immobiliser.

I know that some (American) cars come with a Valet key option – so you can give a valet a key to park the car, but they can’t steal it. (Not sure exactly how that works though)

[hyperblue]

Snowboy said:

I know that some (American) cars come with a Valet key option – so you can give a valet a key to park the car, but they can’t steal it. (Not sure exactly how that works though)

Normally the valet key limits the top speed to 15mph or so.

[rohrl]

I also only own one key for my car.

I too am fked if I lose it. Better not lose it.

[iSore]

We're talking E38? In that case, you don't need the big expensive key but the smaller one. It will still unlock the car and start the engine - about 25 quid from BMW with the EWS chip inside. I have one in a sealed plastic bag tie wrapped to a very annoying, hard to get to place under the car. But if I lost the main key, I can still grovel under the back and get the spare.

[djfaulkner]

E38Ross said:

I only have the 1 master key for my car. if i open the boot and accidentally shut it with the keys in, i'm stuffed. .

I did that to my mum's focus - she wasnt best pleased.

Have you tried an auto locksmiths? They might be able to clone the chip onto another key.

[Jasandjules]

E38Ross said:

I only have the 1 master key for my car. if i open the boot and accidentally shut it with the keys in, i'm stuffed. if it packs up or i lose it, i'm stuffed.

quote for a new master key is £138 from the dealer......worth getting one cut?

what do you guys reckon?

cheers

A VW by any chance? Make sure that includes the coding costs as well!!

I guess only you can decide if it's worth the risk.