Best place to order a new min key for a 07 MCS convertible (1st gen)? Approx $$$

 

Depends what you want from the key.
Im guessing you are in the same boat I was, the rechargeable battery in the key has died so the key physically unlocks the doors and starts the car, but none of the buttons function.

Sadly the only way to get a fully functioning new key again is through Mini/BMW as the key has to be supplied with a chip that your EMS is preprogrammed to expect, so they need the VIN (and proof of ownership) to order it, and its about $300. (This is the opposite to most manufacturers immobilizer systems where the EMS can be programmed to expect whatever unique chip your new key comes with. BMW/Mini chose to preprogram the EMS and then customize the chip in the key!)

Im too cheap to spend that on a 13 year old car. so I just bought a $10-20 key off ebay which was really easy to program so that the buttons open the doors and boot, but which doesnt have the right immobilizer chip to start the motor, so basically I now carry 2 keys to have the functionality of the one OEM key.

There are rumours out there on the net that people with the right hardware and coding skills can reprogram the EMS to accept a different chip, but Ive seen no firm evidence to suggest its actually been done, so your choices as far as I could determine them are:
1. Open the existing key and solder in a new battery, glue it shut, or pay someone like the Mini key hospital to do that. Bare in mind if you damage the RFID chip while doing this, then you cant start the car.
2. Pay Mini for a new OEM key
3. Carry an original and an aftermarket key for the sake of pushbutton locking

Of course, if I lose my keys I dont have a functioning spare, but I guess if that happens I will just have to take the dealer route and pay the stupidity tax.

 

I just ordered a key( full fob), cost me $159 shipped. I will do the programming once I get it. Mini of Seattle-you will need to send proof of ownership

 

 

That is what I was told, but after taxes and shipping to Tucson, Seattle beat Peabody, but only by a couple of $'s

 

 

My EWS immobilizer was bad in the '06 R52 JCW car I bought last year.....I had to send that unit to RPM Motorsports for them to fix it so I could get the car to start....it would crank over, but not fire off.....anyway, after I got my key, ECU, & the immobilizer unit back, I installed everything and the car started up. RPM called me back about a couple weeks later telling me that I did not have to purchase a "coded" key from the dealer for it to work in my car seeing as the EWS unit has been bypassed

On another note, our first MINI, '04 R53, that I bought a couple years ago had a broken key fob, so I went to MINI dealer down here in Fife and they told me a key with buttons would be over $300.....so I opted for the standard key without remote entry & exit for $200......

I think it's still too much money for just a key, but if ya wanna play, ya gotta pay I guess

Bryan

 

I needed a second key when I bought my car in April. Mini of Peabody (MA) had a great price and were easy to work with. We did it all over the phone and by email. The remote key for my 2013 Countryman was $228 shipped.