Getting a new key made

[cosmos675]

Curious if anyone has ever used the website below for new keys? I have contacted the local stealership and they are wanting $185 for a new key. Im just curious if everything will actually work and work correctly.

http://unitedautosecurity.net/BMW-Z3...aspx?sid=13867


Any cheaper alternatives?

[slocar]

That's only to get the key cut. It wont have the necessary chip/electronics inside it ... so in other words, only good for unlocking the door. I have a local locksmith that cuts/makes copies of them for 21 dollars, but they wont start a car with EWS (95 and on).

You can get a key for 70 dollars at the dealer: it will be just a master key without the remote fob.

[cosmos675]

That's only to get the key cut. It wont have the necessary chip/electronics inside it ... so in other words, only good for unlocking the door. I have a local locksmith that cuts/makes copies of them for 21 dollars, but they wont start a car with EWS (95 and on).

You can get a key for 70 dollars at the dealer: it will be just a master key without the remote fob.

No actually you can buy the necessary key from them with the EWS for $80, then its another $30 to have it cut. They also have a full EWS package, but it gets confusing because that is almost $250. So things get a bit confusing.

[cheech1]

No actually you can buy the necessary key from them with the EWS for $80, then its another $30 to have it cut. They also have a full EWS package, but it gets confusing because that is almost $250. So things get a bit confusing.

Who is "them"? I always thought that you had to go to a dealer with your drivers license & registration to get replacement keys.

[ptarditi]

So let me get this right, you have this prized vehicle that is worth a pile of ducats and you're too cheap to buy a key coded by the manufacturer to work with its anti-theft system that is designed to protect your vehicle from being stolen and this incredibly cheap key is now going to cost at least $250... wow I admire your ability to make sound financial decisions. Oh yeah the "stealership" key which is at this moment $70 less then your bargain key actually has a brick & mortar location that will actually guarantee your purchase. Knock yourself out. Mess with your EWS and sooner or later you will be paying a lot more for a factory trained tech to straighten out the mess and re-program it.

[cosmos675]

Who is "them"? I always thought that you had to go to a dealer with your drivers license & registration to get replacement keys.

Them would be the link I posted in the OP.

So let me get this right, you have this prized vehicle that is worth a pile of ducats and you're too cheap to buy a key coded by the manufacturer to work with its anti-theft system that is designed to protect your vehicle from being stolen and this incredibly cheap key is now going to cost at least $250... wow I admire your ability to make sound financial decisions. Oh yeah the "stealership" key which is at this moment $70 less then your bargain key actually has a brick & mortar location that will actually guarantee your purchase. Knock yourself out. Mess with your EWS and sooner or later you will be paying a lot more for a factory trained tech to straighten out the mess and re-program it.

You must not be reading things correctly. The whole thought of being able to buy a cheaper key that simply unlocks the doors and starts the car is all I need. If I have one key that already does all the EWS stuff, then it doesnt matter to me. Why wouldnt I try and save $70 if possible? Again in my original post I stated $80 + $30 is all that it cost vs. $185 for a dealer key.

Please read and view the link I listed and think about the question I originally stated rather than assume things. Thanks

...Also you are looking at the wrong Ducati's if my cars are worth more than a pile of them

[ptarditi]

I'm not assuming anything I was referencing post #3 about the EWS package, where you started quoting additional costs etc, just curious who is going to perform the EWS-DME alignment.Check post #2 when he mentions a valet key for $70. DUCAT not Ducati.

[montaillou]

DUCAT not Ducati.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ducat

[BimmerBreaker]

To answer your question, no, it appears that nobody here went with the ghetto cheap solution you linked to in your first post.

You will save MAYBE $50 or so after all is said and done, and you will have to remove your EWS for a period of time to mail it to them, and you dont have the security of having had the dealer done it to know its done properly and with a warranty behind it.

Ever heard the term: "Penny wise, dollar stupid"?

[CMG]

Penny wise, dollar stupid? That makes no sense.

[montaillou]

Penny wise, dollar stupid? That makes no sense.

[speedyguy95]

Lol

[modular93fox]

Ever heard a poor man buys it twice... Go the cheap key route and post your total investment in your key when your done

[Critter7r]

From the link ...


"...Did you loose your key and want to cancel it?o Did the dealer tell you that your car will need to get new locks, keys, EWS, because you used all 10 keys?
o You cannot start your car using the existing key.

United Auto Security offers several packages that will help you get more keys, unlock your EWS so that you can add more keys, and save you the hassle and cost.
If your BMW is built in 1995-on, your key will most likely have a chip in it. "

So much fail in one paragraph.

My key is not loose. And there is no "most likely" about it, after '95, there is a chip in it. They also go on to tell how some of the keys don't have a battery and are powered by the antenna ring. ::triple facepalm::

OP: Spend the extra $50 and get a key from the dealer. it'll take less time, you won't have to remove your EWS module and the key will show up the next day.

[Das Omen]

I havent personally bought the replacement key, but the previous owner did. I have the basic key that just unlocks and starts the car. It works fine for me. I dont need any flashy keys lol. As for security alarm systems and what not, i just use a killswitch that will be hard as hell to find, and my steering wheel is detachable.