What do you guys that surf do with your mini key. I was reading the manual and it says that if I walk up to the car the doors automatically unlock and that I can start the car with out ever taking the key out of my pocket. The dealer tells me that if i seperate the key from the electronics I still cant leave that part in the car as the doors will not stay locked. The mini book says that you can put it in the secreat hideing place on the car but if I have the one that unlocks the doors by walking up to the car thats not going to work.
I really dont like the idea of leaving it in a bag on the beach because if someone steals it then i have no way of getting into my car.

 

Try putting the FOB in a metal box if you want to leave it in the car.

 

Thanks for the idea I wonder if one of those foil bags they use for easy pass would work too?

 

Try it out. That's the best way to see if it works. Don't forget to report back with results.

 

Results: Metal box dosent work, foil bag dosent work.

If you leave the fob in the car (hidden compartment) and lock the doors with a key they stay locked, how ever if some one were to break in they can start the car. If you leave the fob in the boot the car will not start.

 

Wrap it securely in a baggie and duct tape it to your chest...

 

Duct tape it to your body, underneath your swim trunks. You'll certainly feel it if someone trys to take it.

 

I don't surf but when canoeing I put my keys and a couple of other small items in a small waterproof belt pack. I couldn't find the one I have online but there are several possible solutions on this page:

http://www.thewaterproofstore.com/softcases.html

 

get an extra one w/o the remote unlock maybe?

 

try to build a small faraday cage...that should do the trick

 

as insane as this looks...this is the idea that Howie was driving at....

http://howto.wired.com/wiki/Make_a_Faraday_Cage_Wallet

seems cheap enough, might be worth trying.

 

You can always do what the divers do. leave your key on back wheel well.

how about one of those magnetic hide a key boxes for under the car? maybe the steel is enough to jam the fob signal, or wrap the key in that static bag you can put your easy pass in.

Oh I got it. Those real estate key boxes would have to work. They are super heavy and thick, and can lock around things (like door ***** or a nearby pole), so you can secure it. you open it with a mechanically, with a numeric code.

 

I asked the dealer if I could do this and was told that no, they do not sell just the metal-key-part, you have to buy the whole electronic fob, about ~ $150 a pop.

I'm getting really disappointed by how expensive everything with this car is.

 

Yes they do sell the metal key part $27.00 ( on the 07-09) but you can't start the car with out the fob. Hideing the fob in the tire well works fine.)

 

AquaPac (under wetsuit) surfers choice

 

I crack the sunroof and pop the key in there and when I get back I squeeze my hand in there and grab it..... car hasn"t been stolen yet... when I had an R53 I used to just put the key in the hood scoop...

 

There's a special exterior hiding place....

On the underside of the body, in front of the rear driverside wheel. Behind the black plastic bottom trim is a flat shelf. Great place to put the keys.

But wait! I have Convienence access! If the fob's there, you can still press the button and the car unlocks. So here's what you do. Separate the key from the fob. Put the fob under the back seat floor mat. Lock the door with the real key (yes those things still work in this age of high tech). Put the real key (still on your key ring) on the secret exterior shelf.

Checked on our '06 and the shelf is there, just a little different shape than on our '08.

 

Thanks! Hmm, I'm taking my car in Wednesday for some service, so I'll ask the Service guys and maybe get a different answer. $27 is still outrageous for a key, but I'd be more inclined to pay that than the $150 for another fob.

My problem is a little different than than the original poster here... Not too much surfing in Minnapolis , but I do distance running, and run with my club a few times a week. We meet at various spots around the parklands around our lakes and Mississippi River banks. Problem is that the thieves also congregate there. Car break-ins are epidemic. The lazy thieves just watch who puts their wallets/purses/laptops/whatever in their trunks or backseats, wait 10 or 15 minutes and then clean out the car while you're out running. I'm sure that if they saw you hiding the key, they'd have an even easier time, because they'd not even have to break the window to get at your stuff. And if they have your key, odds are your car will be gone too. It's sad, but true -- it happens a lot here.

So, the solution is to hide your stuff totally out of sight before you arrive at the park, and then run with your key. Easy with a small metal key. Not so easy with a giant round plastic pendant.

My idea is to run with the regular door key, leaving the rest of the fob out of sight inside the car (I don't have convenience access, so I can do that...)
So if I can get a copy of just the door key part, I can put it on my running neck chain and be good to go.

Anyway, I'll ask the dealer on Wednesday.