[suff]

Hi All,

Well as as most of you know, my car was stolen recently, and iroincally returned in pretty much exactly the same condition it was in (needs a good polish as 5 days fo bore water has taken its toll!)

Anyway, the only thing I didnt get back was the key, thinking this would be a $300 cost, I wasnt overly phased (I assumed $300 based on the fact that Subaru charge $150 for a key.. double this to get BMW stealer ship pricing).

Suffice to say I just about fell off my chair when I emailed my BMW SA today and asked for a price for a new key (well, as they described it, Key + Remote + Programming)

Total cost $914!, I understand that everyone needs to make a profit, but JESUS.

To put it in perspective, you can buy a new 320i with comfort access for ~$55k demo of the dealers floor with Comfort access.. if you loose a key, it will cost you nearly 2% of the purchase price to replace it!

Anyone have any ideas or contacts where I can get a replacement key for Less than $900????

(And for those of you that are about to suggest insurance, the excess is $800, and given there is no other damage to the car, it would not be worth making a claim, as whilst I have maximum NCB and protection, I will still get screwed on future policies!)

[Zen]

Didn't want to be a smartass, but how did you come up with '5% of the purchase price'? 10% of 55k = $5500, so 5% would be $2750. So how is $914 is 5% of 55k?

[.dee]

X5 key, for $615. from coast line BMW

[suff]

Originally Posted by Zen

Didn't want to be a smartass, but how did you come up with '5% of the purchase price'? 10% of 55k = $5500, so 5% would be $2750. So how is $914 is 5% of 55k?

Fat fingers OP revised (now 2%)

[TaylorA]

Welcome to boom town where the price is always high. In my beemer experience, ownership is good, but not for the faint hearted! Glad you got the motor back.

[mark325]

Coastline BMW E90 Key Prices,

Blade = $150
Remote = $600

+ Programming / Labor

Glad i had one replaced under warranty lol.

[ansch]

if your car was stolen, wouldn't the insurance cover replacing the key?

[suff]

BMW Germany Price:

Remote + Key (Blank) : $105.97 Euro
Freight from Germany to Perth : $14.00 Euro
Beers to friend in Germany on next visit : Free (Work )
Programming : Free

Total Cost ~$185 AUD

Telling my SA that his price of $914 can go jump (granted this included $130 to program the key) : Priceless!

[WOPALX]

Originally Posted by suff

Telling my SA that his price of $914 can go jump (granted this included $130 to program the key) : Priceless!

Good luck.

They need your VIN to order the key so it's coded correctly. Your dealer will then need to tell your car to forget the earlier key and recognize the new one.

My wife washed my keys last year and yes the cost of a replacement key is ridiculous and I tried every way possible to save some $.

[suff]

Originally Posted by WOPALX

Good luck.

They need your VIN to order the key so it's coded correctly. Your dealer will then need to tell your car to forget the earlier key and recognize the new one.

My wife washed my keys last year and yes the cost of a replacement key is ridiculous and I tried every way possible to save some $.

The keys come "blank", as the dealer codes them in-situ (told this by the SA), given that there is only one variant for an E9X vehicle, I see no reason why a VIN would be required (other than the usual Dealership dribble of ensuring correct part numbers etc (had this argument MANY times with my various Subaru's in the past))

Further reinforcement of the fact that you can "image/reimage" a key is the fact that there is quite a market for second hand remotes in Europe (have to wonder where said remotes have come from though (write off's hopefully!)) If you could not re-image these they would be of no value what so ever!

[suff]

Originally Posted by WOPALX

Good luck.

They need your VIN to order the key so it's coded correctly. Your dealer will then need to tell your car to forget the earlier key and recognize the new one.

My wife washed my keys last year and yes the cost of a replacement key is ridiculous and I tried every way possible to save some $.

Will find out soon enough anyway.. (Out of interest I thought the key had a water resistant membrane to prevent it from dying after going for a swim (even Ford remotes have this to some extent!).. you must have a heck of a washing machine

[WOPALX]

Originally Posted by suff

Will find out soon enough anyway.. (Out of interest I thought the key had a water resistant membrane to prevent it from dying after going for a swim (even Ford remotes have this to some extent!).. you must have a heck of a washing machine

Issue was more to do with the fact she left the trousers in the ironing pile for a month, so we had no idea where it was until she ironed them.

Key still works (opens the doors) but wont start the car as you can only have 2 keys coded to start/work with the car at a time.

[MFKN3]

I ordered a new key and remote from Col Crawford about 6 months ago.

This is rubbish. The total cost was about $560 and $170 of that was for the metal key part. Mine doesn't have comfort access, so this may cost a bit more?

There is no programming required. You give them your VIN and they order the key from Malaysia I think it was and it arrives pre-programmed and ready to go.

The quote I got from the Brisbane dealership was around $600-700, so shop around.

[Drew335]

Originally Posted by suff

Will find out soon enough anyway.. (Out of interest I thought the key had a water resistant membrane to prevent it from dying after going for a swim (even Ford remotes have this to some extent!).. you must have a heck of a washing machine

I unintentionally tested the water resistance a few weeks back and can report the key worked fine. I expected I would be getting a cab home to get the spare key, but after a quick wipe dry it opened the car and then started without any probs. Big tick for the membrane from me

[MR_TJ]

I had just bought a 2nd hand 320I E90. But this seller has only given me 1 remote + 1 key? It is approriate? May i know usually it is comes with 2 remote and 2 key? I want to know just because what if i had lost my only key here? Will it be better for me get another one before it lost as i had experience b4 to my TOYOTA celica, the salesman advise me to get another one before you lost your last key. As this may have to send all ur engine code to JAPAN ( Manafacturer to restore your entire security system.
It work for clone another set of key cost $400, otherwise to reset the security system will cost $2000.




It is my BeemEer work that way as well. If so i will be better clone one for in case.

[MR_TJ]

yOU MALAYSIAN?

[suff]

well. much time later.. I can confirm that you can order a standard FOB & Manual Key from any international BMW dealership, they will require proof of ownership (I ended up including a copy of the sale documentation, registration & Passport)..

5 days after ordering, I received my new FOB & laser cut key.. took <2minutes to reprogram int he car and all set to go.. total cost ended up being a tad over $300 (as I had to order from the US, rather than Europe)

thought you might find this info useful.. happy to provide P/N if needed

[NBTBRV8]

Or you can get them from www.bmminiparts.com but you need the appropriate ownership paperwork too.

[MFKN3]

So when you ordered, they took your VIN so it was programmed and cut correctly or did the dealer have to do something?

Damn, that would have saved you a mint compared to buying here. I always assumed that overseas keys would be "blank".

This is very helpful for people in the future - I would definately hit up bmminiparts

[suff]

Originally Posted by xsboost

So when you ordered, they took your VIN so it was programmed and cut correctly or did the dealer have to do something?

Damn, that would have saved you a mint compared to buying here. I always assumed that overseas keys would be "blank".

This is very helpful for people in the future - I would definately hit up bmminiparts

Not to bag out bmminiparts, but they where substantially more expensive, and do not have the P/N listed in their standard DB. (obviously this may change, but at the time of order they where ~$160 more expensive than ECS Tuning

The Remote Fob comes "blank" and learns the codes from your car directly.. takes about 30 second, simply take a working key turn the iginition on, insert the "blank key" waitfor the key symbol to flash on the dash and your done! The manual part of the key comes precut.

So in short, no need for ANY involvement from BMW Australia..

Saved over $600 by going down this path!

[MFKN3]

Originally Posted by suff

The Remote Fob comes "blank" and learns the codes from your car directly.. takes about 30 second, simply take a working key turn the iginition on, insert the "blank key" waitfor the key symbol to flash on the dash and your done!

I've heard that, but didn't know if it was true, so great to get confirmation! Obviously they must still cut the key based on VIN.

To be honest, 99% of the time ECS is way dearer, so glad it worked out

[zenderm3]

So is there a maximum of 2 keys that can be associated with a car at any one time?