So after avoiding getting a working key for about a year I finally ordered both a standard key (that has not been initialized *grumble*) and a spare valet key.

on the valet key envelope it says:
PERCHLORATE MATERIAL
SPECIAL HANDLING MAY APPLY
See:www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/perchlorate"

so i go to the site where i learn that perchlorate is an ingredient in "solid fuel for rockets and missiles. In addition, perchlorate-based chemicals are also used in the construction of highway safety flares, fireworks, pyrotechnics, explosives, common batteries, and automobile restraint systems"

seriously?!

 

Right: "common batteries"!

 

thanks for the info. I missed that one. there are so many types of perchlorate all of which seem like an odd thing to make a key out of.
most seem to be water soluble I wrote to Mini perhaps they will have more information

 

This made me remember a James Bond movie (don't remember which one exactly). Bond's car has a security system sticker in the window; somebody messes with it - and it explodes!

 

Remember...
Shipping items with batteries by air can have certain limits....both on the total by weight and it may be a cargo only aircraft or may be allowed as extra belly cargo on a passenger plane(very common).
Many chemicals have multiple uses.....older chlorinated brake cleaners also happen to be the same chemicals used in older dry cleaning processes......

 

Yup, pretty common.
Our keyfobs have lithium ion batteries. Lithium perchlorate is used as an electrolyte in these batteries. If you have a cellphone, laptop, ipod, etc. you have one of these "common batteries"....

Yes, in larger amounts, lithium perchlorate can cause harmful fires or explosions, but not in the amounts in our fob batteries are so small the fire/explosion would be almost insignificant.

 

It's not the key fob battery. it's the tiny valet key itself. it's looks like it's made of hard black plastic



the only reason i was even worried is because i specifically bought the thing to hide inside the car in case i am on some sort of trip and get mugged or lose my keys. (don't want to be stuck somewhere while i wait 2+ days for mini to get me a new key)
i'm just paranoid enough to imagine it getting super hot inside the car and then FWOOSH! giant gaping hole where the key was

oddly this same label did not come on the standard key, which actually has a battery (mine has the buttons on the key itself rather than a separate fob)