It never hurts to have an extra key for the car. I was quite surprised when I went to the dealer and was told that they have to send in proof of ownership and the VIN for even the simple non-transmitter key. I checked two of the major locksmiths in the area and heard a similar story. Any other choices for new keys for my 2003 base? Thanks!

 

If your the owner why not just send in the proof of ownership? I think thats the only way to get a programmed key for your MINI

 

I think you are pretty well stuck on this one. I believe part of the issue is security - stolen vehicles....

Donna

 

Uhhhh, ya, I've gotta agree completely! That's a good thing. How hard is it for mini to confirm it's your car, they have your records. Show them your license and VIN # and get your new key?

 

Thanks all. I agree with the comments about security but the Scrooge in me would rather not pay $45 for a "regular" key and $135 for the transmitter key. That's money not spent on toys for the car.

 

At the very least any dealer is going to require a registration with the VIN and your drivers license. Many dealers also require a certificate of Title to prove that you own the car. If you're asking whether there's a way around this policy, that would be no. The keys are laser cut, it's not some home depot key machine .

 

I'm confused. What does proof of ownership have to do with $45 and $135?

 

Proof of ownership has nothing to do with paying the dealer $135 for a key. The point is that there are vendors selling the same or similar items for lower prices. Keys are getting made somewhere, somehow with blanks sold by non-BMW dealers. Thanks

 

I had the same issue. I bought a off lease 2003 Cooper with only one key. Ended paying $75 for a non-transmitter, same deal, proof of ownership...... I justified this way, only had one key and that a locksmith plus the hassle would most likely be much more. In hindsight, that extra key was worthless when my midland transmission went out!
I hope my useless insight is helpful.

 

I thought that to get the Mini to start you needed an imbedded chip and that even the plastic valet key had that. What does your non-transmitter look like as I might be interested in getting one of those as an extra.

Also, I am concerned that the battery in my key may someday simply fail. Has anyone replaced the batteries in their 1st gen transmitter keys or had a transmitter fail to work?

Rich

 

The one transmitter I have for my 2003 has the standard Eveready 2025 (I think that's the number) battery in it. Not rechargeable but cheap to replace.

I have no issue with paying what I need to for a second key. That is common sense cheap insurance. In my household all the drivers have their own keys so that is where the expense jumps.

 

That is correct. The key (whether transmitting or valet) must have a smart chip encoded specifically for your car. I doubt that you can obtain a key outside of BMW/MINI that will start your car. I don't even think the dealer can make one themselves -- they have to order a coded one from MINI

 

its true that all the keys must have the imbedded chip, even the valet. the spare key you can order without the remote doorlock buttons looks exactly the same as the one with them, just without functional buttons. i ordered one thinking it would be smaller than the others, but its the same size.

does anyone else hate these keys? they're so damned big and unsexy!

i dont know what the new gen ones look like, but why the hell cant they go to a vw / volvo / land rover style switchblade??

 

Dealers can indeed make keys. I dropped off an order yesterday (That will be finished today) for a customer of MiniCorsa's. The cost was ~90 for a 2005 (Rechargable battery) key with keyless entry, etc. Shipping is fast, but it'd be tough to get a key from Germany to Southern California in under 24 hours .

 

I bought a key, presumably new since it had not been cut, off of ebay. Seems all they did was remove the metal/cut piece and replace with another. I thought I would take my chances and have the key cut by a good locksmith. It works perfectly in the door and in the ignition. I programmed the key per instructions I found on NAM. It opens/locks the doors and put the top down just fine. It won't start the car. Despite turning the ignition and activating all the lights and whirs just like my other key. It will start the car if I put the original one in, turn a click then remove. I have to do it right away though. Sounds like I'm going to have to go the dealer anyway...hopefully they will help me...

 

I bought a key, presumably new since it had not been cut, off of ebay. Seems all they did was remove the metal/cut piece and replace with another. I thought I would take my chances and have the key cut by a good locksmith. It works perfectly in the door and in the ignition. I programmed the key per instructions I found on NAM. It opens/locks the doors and put the top down just fine. It won't start the car. Despite turning the ignition and activating all the lights and whirs just like my other key. It will start the car if I put the original one in, turn a click then remove. I have to do it right away though. Sounds like I'm going to have to go the dealer anyway...hopefully they will help me...

 

All Dealerships from Audi to Yugo require proof of ownership before cutting a key. Most times they require the vin ( On the Registration ) to get the correct key blank anyways, So what's the Beef ? Just give them the doc's ?

BTW - What happend to the flat black plastic emergency MINI spare key which came with the car ?

 

I had not trouble getting a key cut from my local guy - I drove up in the MINI, they tested the cut key in the MINI...I think he felt comfortable that it was mine and clearly this was a second key.

 

The key is not cut at the dealer. It is cut at the dealers' closest/main PDC, and shipped overnight to the dealer.

 

can I simply get the uncut key fob from Amazon, ($20) place my circuit board inside it, along with the anti-theft little thing that looks like a small magnet....and then take the refurbished blank to a locksmith and ask them to cut the key to match my old key?

 

It's a German car thing. Mercedes requires the same thing for keys and tumblers, and if you have a grey market VIN, forget about it. Since the VIN is visible to anyone on the Mercedes it would be rather easy to get a VIN cut key unless you have to give proof of ownership.

 

Is something wrong with your old key? Here is my how-to on this:

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...rbishment.html

You can also transplant your blade, which will be easier and cheaper than trying to find a locksmith that can do the laser cutting for you.

I would recommend the new shells from eBay seller "artiway"- I have used them before and his shells are of very high quality.

As you can see from my how-to post I have done many of these. If you feel this is out of your expertise, I can do it for you for a small fee. I have shells, switches and batteries all in stock and offer a 1-2 day turnaround.

Let me know if you need assistance.

Val

 

Just pointing this out because I almost missed it myself, but the main part of this thread is from 2008. I was about to respond to something someone wrote when I realized this.

 

I love how this is almost always pointed out when there is a reply to a long-dormant thread in a forum, as if it's relevant. Last I checked the internet is a vast repository of information, stored forever for all of us to share and learn from. The most recent reviver of this thread has all of 11 posts here. There is no reason to poke fun at them for reviving this post- they searched for information (presumably) and found a thread which closely matched, but not quite fully answered, the question they had. Naturally, they posted an additional question in an attempt to clarify what it was they needed to know.

Posting to this thread, instead of starting a new one, actually makes a certain amount of sense- they are telling us, "I've read this and still have questions; can anybody give me some more information other than what I have read in the above posts". JoeGravelle may have responded to the OP and his question from 2008, but I responded to the question from yoda11yoda which was the appropriate thing to do. Perhaps the OP will weigh back in, perhaps they are long gone. If you can help with the question the recent poster asked, then do so. Otherwise move on; there's no reason to dog us for working within a forum thread that spans 5 years. The questions asked and answers given can still be relevant.

Val

 

I am not sure how you took what I said as making fun of the poster. I meant what I said literally. I wrote out a whole response to something someone said earlier in the thread before I realized that the thread was old and decided to just delete it. I responded in the manner I did in an effort to save anyone else that might fall into the same situation as me the time that I wasted.

For future reference, I am not one of those people who goes on forums and makes fun of people, corrects grammatical errors, or otherwise attempts to cause drama where none is needed.