Hi NAM'ers-
I recently bought my first Mini. It is a used 2006 MCS with 58k on the clock. The problem is that even though the car is loaded with a ton of options (I particularly like the Heated Seats here in Mn) I only received one master key for the car. I checked with my local BMW/Mini dealership and found that they wanted $187.00 for a new Master key, and they also wanted a standard "shop hour" to program the key. Is this typical? $300 bucks for a Key?!? Is it possible to buy a new master key "blank" on Ebay, then have it programmed? Do the "Non-Dealership" shops have the ability to program a new key? What are your experiences with this issue? Do we have other options as Mini owners, or are we all going to have to "bend over" for the Dealerships? Just wondering...

 

Yes, it's typical.

A really really good MINI or BMW specialist might be able to program the car for the replacement key (or the key for a new car?). But most key-cutters won't be able to help at all.

Call the specialists and ask, or pony up for the dealer to do it...

 

You can get a blank key cut to open a door....no programming needed...that way if you forget your keys in the car, you are ok....
but to get a key that starts the car, just swallow, and pay the dealer, it is your best option.

 

an hour to program the key?!?!?! one of my keys failed two months from delivery. they ordered me another one with nothing but the service guy just checking to make sure it truly didnt work. once the fob arrived the service desk PARTS CLERK mind you, just handed me the new key and it worked right away without having to do anything.

 

My key didn't need any programming from the dealer, only the button-pressing voodoo you can find instructions for here on NAM. Buy the key for $200, try to get the tech to do it for free (mine did) and if not, then program it yourself. No biggie, I did it myself after the old owner gave me his extra keys.

 

My 2006 MINI only came with one "fancy" key. I asked what my options were and I had 3. The one I chose is one for my wallet. flat and Polycarb I think. seems I payed my MINI dealer about $30.00 for it. Have never used it, but cheaper than a locksmith at 3am

 

Hawk, let me add that I bought that MINI used so I may have come with two keys but I only got one. It will unlock the door and start the engine and it was cheap to boot. cheers, Doug

 

To the op...
Your car is an 06, refered to as a gen1 car...different system than nwer cars from most of tge posters....heck even our gen1 cars have two different anti thefet systems....so electronically 2 different keys....the pre 2005, and the post "refresh" 2005+ to the end of the gen1 production...2006, and up to 2008 for the ragtops....
Your car came from tge factory with two remote keys, and one plastic emergency key.
many things have been tried...and there is actually 2 programming steps needed for the remote keys....one allows the remote to open the doors...user dooable, but the second one, matching the key to the antitheft start system requires all keys,be present, and be done at the dealer...an specialist in bmw/mini might have the system....mini doesn't...just too $$...so like i said, get a few from the dealer...be done with it.
blanks can be had on ebay..cut by some places, and even programmed to open the door....but NOT START THE CAR. Simple on gen1 cars.
The key is shipped to the dealer, precut in most cases....they check you id...ownership, etc.
Some places may charge 1/2 hr....depending on how they bill the min time for shop/reprogramming.

 

Would love to help out here, but I think you have the second style of keys for the Gen 1 cars, which are kind of flat at the top. For one of my early R50's (with the clamshell type of key) we only got the "button" key. We bought a second, non button type at the dealer for only $49 or something like that. We had to prove ownership and they had to order it from the super secret key depot in New Jersey so it took a few days to get here. It was cut and had the transponder thing inside, no programming needed.

Even with the second style key they should be able to order you a new one with no programming needed. I heard they shipped 10 keys with each vehicle, two plus the slim plastic key came with the car so there should be 8 more (in some combination of button and non button) left, ready to go. Not sure where I heard that, would love some confirmation or denial of that.

Val