Hi out there,
I just joined on here because I just bought a Mini and I've learned some good stuff from NAM.com and thought I'd share an interesting tidbit that I found out.
I work at an Infiniti dealership in NH and we had a couple of Minis for sale so I bought one of the '05s. The other 05's keys stopped operating so we tried the method posted here. Didn't take. So we did the logical thing and took it to the nearby(?) dealer. Turns out the key is charged by proximity to the interior mirror and the charger in the mirror had died. $250 for a new mirror. The keys work fine. I'm hoping the key I have that doesn't work is just a re-program and not the mirror. At least they work manually as an override. Just an FYI.

 

Infiniti of Nashua? I noticed they had a few on the lot when I passed by, and now there is one less...

 

And I just sold the Clubman so there will only be one left.

 

I bought my MINI at Tulley. Big time scumbags every time I have to deal with them

I tried tracking down the upstream o2 sensor I needed, but they were 100% unable to help It's weird because they offered me a service plan when I bought the car…why would they do that when they can't get the parts .

It's also weird how they didn't tell me that the car already had a 100k bumper-bumper plan already on it

Like I said. Scumbags.

 

Hm....it been posted that the charger for the 05+ gen1 key is the loop by where you insert the key to start the car....charged. Inductivly...which does not need contact, but does need to be close..like within 1/4 of an inch.
I think you got something mixed up...the batterys do get weak if not used regularly...
The mirror is a 100% seperate issue....
Reprogramming the key is 2 seperate issues...and 2 differnt methods depending on which style key/year.
The keyless entry programming can be reprogramed, as can the engine imoblizer, which is also in the key....
Like I said...the mirror has nothing to do with the keys...
Sounds a bit like advertising too...trying to get folks to respond...trolling...
I'll give you the benifit of the doubt...I am local too.

 

PS Mini recommends rotating the 2 remote keys (useing one then the other every few weeks) or simply using the spare for a long drive...
You guys also got the plastic wallet key that came with the car too right!?
That is for a total of 3 keys on 05+ cars, 2 remote keys, and one plastic emergency wallet key.

At one point mini said 15 minutes of driving was good for a couple clicks...

 

Which Tullley?
The BMW/VW in Nausha or one of the others?!
They seem to have a bit of a checkered reputation...and some crazy prices to match...they wanted to charge me $75 to unmount a single runflat...they said it is the standard BMW fee!!!
Went to TownFair Tire...they did it for the regular mounting price...cheaper than GoodYear..they advertise they do runflats, but charge extra!!

 

My dealership gave me some **** about not being able to make a new plastic emergency key because my used car did not come with one. Are they being dumb?

- Andrew

 

Yeah, the one in Nashua. I got a great deal on it, but I had to dodge bullets every two feet. It was my first car buying experience, and they tried to screw me more than once.

My friends parents went in there to test drive a 3-series. I guess they didn't "look rich" so they didn't even get the time of day from the dealer. So they left and bought their 328 at another dealership

 

Seems that if one key is working and one does not then reprogramming is the key. However, if they both stop working then the charging antenna in the interior mirror has stopped working and the mirror must be replaced. Or so says our nearby(?) Mini dealer. Hey, it ain't my car, it was the last one we have in our inventory so it didn't cost me a dime. After reading all the posts about the reprogramming and then trying it and having the resolution being something entirely different I thought it might be good to share the results with the good folks here on NAM. It wasn't my diagnosis, but the results worked for $258. Not bad.

 

I worked at Tulley VW/Mazda for a while. The whole place is predicated on disaster. If an issue hasn't reached critical mass then they don't know what to do and do nothing until it is a total meltdown. It is amazing to watch.

 

I have to make a long trip tomorrow and wil take both keys. One for the drive up and one for the drive back. Each leg should be about 3 hours so that should juice them up enough. Thanks for the insight.

 

If you just want a key cut so you can open a door (to get to a spare you left in the car or dropped) many places (some locksmiths, but not the big box stores) can cut one...then just remove the upper portion....the plastic key does have an imoblizer chip in the tiny end..let's you start the car too...
The key is so small it is easy to loose or even break...so it is not surprising it is missing!! The machine that cuts the key is like a router...
But like I said, any key cut right, even if not programmed will open the door.
I have seen blanks foe sale on eBay...and I heard a rumor that the VW metal part is the same...

 

Ah i see...well i might just get a key cut to open the door. Trying not to jinx myself....

Thanks.

 

It is possible that the reciever for the keyless entry is located up by the mirror...but it It is tough to get mini to look at one of thses cars nevermind buy and install anything but a lightbulb for less tha $300!!
If you find the battery in the key does not recharge, you could keep it as a manual key, but somebody did find a replacemnt scource for the 05+ batterys for when they nolonger hold a charge. The key is not supposed to be opened, but it is possible...just must be done carefully.
Enjoy you new car!!!

 

I can tell and you can tell what a rookie I am at all this Mini stuff, but, damn, it is a fun critter to drive.
The pricing may have been a respect thing as dealer to dealer or maybe just honor among thieves.
Good to know all this experience is out there to lend an assist and alternative when needed.
Thanks guys. I will be in and out of this site as I need to find out the real skinny on these cars.

 

Hey Zippster, can you elaborate on the engine immobilizer thing? I'd feel more comfortable if I could change the computer key code deal to keep my car from driving away if the old owner has another key...

 

The imoblizer is a coded micro chip on the keys...it is "read" by the car...if matches the ones in the cars memory, then the car is allowed to start.
If you bring all current keys to a dealer, they can blank out the list of old keys, and reenter the current keys into the car. All this takes money, and if you were going to go down this route, I'd get an extra key since I think many dealers will add the new key (all keys must be present..any keys not present will no longer start the car) for free or a smaller fee than just synicing up the current keys cause they just made a buck off ya.
The old lost key will still open the door, but will no longer start the car.
I know that this info is good on the 05+ cars, the older cars used a different, and slightly simpler system.

 

The keyless entry portion of the key, I think, can be reprogrammed by the user...I have heard of, and vaugley remember a few threads on it, but I am unsure. The OP might still know the threads he read and might be able to provide the info!!