HI,

I just bought a 2008 MINI cooper 2-door for my daughter, it has the comfort entry. I am a bit confused on the key fob It only came with a single key fob. Called the dealership a got a spendy quote for a new one and a large fee for programming it. I saw some fobs on ebay at a reasonable price so I bought one. I read some of the posts here and though that I could pair it with the car or at least save the cost of a new fob.

Quoted from a post on this site: {our cooper fits the description}
"For those MINI hardtops 2006 and earlier and MINI convertibles 2008 and earlier the Car & Key Memory must be programmed by the dealer. Options like daytime running lights, automatically locking as you drive, unlocking doors - both unlock at same time or 1 click for drivers, another click for passenger door, pathway lighting, and daytime running lights.

If you have a newer model than above click on www.aboutyourMINI.com for instructions for programming."

OK, so I looked on the MINI site and found two issues, first, the key fob described in the owner's manual: http://www.miniusa.com/content/dam/m...1107__2008.pdf page 34
Has a removable back panel and back does not look like the one I have. The one I have works great with the comfort open/close but has a solid back.

Second, I could find no programming instructions for the fob pairing at the site mentioned above from the post. And I cannot find any actual instructions for pairing the fob with the 2008 car on this forum, although I did see one cryptic reference to the blinker?

Please help if you can! Love the car.

 

If you want a key fob that can start the car, you'll have to pay up and purchase a new key fob from a dealer -- there is really no way around it.

 

I've noticed some dealers charge more than others for the fob and programming. Here it runs $228 for the fob and programming last time I checked. It bites but its worth having the extra key fob.

 

Yes, new key fob with the comfort access option. It will have a replaceable battery.

Call around on the program fee as it can vary.

 

There's gotta be some way to warn folks away from after market keys.
The number of times this issue arises is a sad testament.
One of my tired 9 year old keys was replaced just this year. The dealer charged $152.00. Not sure if that translates to the Gen 2 family or not but at that price, it does everything it's supposed to over the counter.

 

FYI my local dealer would want about $340 for the fob and programming ($70 of it is programming). I found the issue, the fob I have does have the battery compartment, it is just the same color, and the diagram in the manual was grey, I can't believe I missed it !


Thanks,

Kevin

 

Yea, the key fobs are black and with the comfort acess look like this :

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...rt-access.html