I have a 2007 Mini (base cooper No comfort access) original owner - 99% of the time I have used the same key fob and kept the spare Hidden inside the car and the metal key Hidden outside the car - well last week I used the spare again and this time I lost it? (Male brain


Got on the internet and then on here - only to get a little 'flamed' and told, subject has been beat to death.


For those of you new to this - Seems ONLY Mini can get you a NEW fob - you can not re-program an old one and the ones you might find on ebay - Empty shells..


I called my local dealers and found two different prices
Pleasanton Mini (Great CS) fob $219 and metal key $70 + tax
Sacramento (not so good CS) $182 and metal key $54 + $3 shipping + tax and Sacramento INSISTED I ONLY pickup at dealer.


As suggested on here - I contacted Peabody Mini in MA
$128 for fob and $58 for metal key + $18 shipping
I ONLY ordered the Fob - I still have the metal key


I talked to Tim and his CS was 100% - 978-826-6121


Tim told me that he would be happy to order/make me a new fob
I would need to fax or scan/email a copy of MY Drivers lic & Mini registration to show ownership. He gets the info from you - places the order and the Next day he gets your fob and that day he ships out FedEx.


I suggest you price around - remember sales tax if you buy locally


Key arrives ready to go. Here is a YouTube Video I made for this post.




BTW - Here is a great way to 'Maybe' get your key back if you lose it (since I had the Metal key out of by fob - no way to do this to it)


Go on the internet - google Military dog tag - about $5 - get some made with our name & cell number & Reward - Most people would return lost keys IF they knew the owner - this is a great way for them to call you - a bottle of wine / case of beer / Starbuck gift card - would be a cheap way to get your key back



I have blocked out my cell number here - don't need any prank calls from the internet - hey dude, found your key LOL

 

Glad it worked for you.

Dog tag idea is good, but if it winds up in the hands of a scammer, not sure how that works out. Might be better off paying for the lost key.

 

Glad you picked up some good info on the board. One of my folks at work lost their rental car key fobs (FORD). Rental company puts both keys together with a wire loop so you loose the set. Rental company charges $500 a key fob or $1,000 for the set. Ouch, Ouch, Ouch. I am sure they don't pay $500 a fob but it is a sinful process. Dealer had a person drive out an personally deliver so maybe the big dollars are for service.

 

understood - anything can happen,,, If it ever does, eval the situation at hand... nothing to lose.. Have never had to test it, and the one I lost was without the metal key so no hang area... getting a throw away key from a friend to put in my new one so I can hang a tag... leaving the hidden metal in place,,,,


This board rocks..


I posted about the manual clutch sensor that often breaks loose and you can not start the car - I posted that about 7 years ago and still get emails about it...

 

 

this is a VERY late reply,,, sorry, just never saw it until now.. NO the key I had works just like this NEW one... They both are the Very same.. I started with 2 keys,,, one was my spare and I lost my everyday key,,, Yes,,, I could have just used my spare key for ever - Provided I NEVER also lost that one... I Wanted a spare - If I were to loose the only key I had,,, I would be Screwed for sure...
Today is September, 2019 - friend bought this mini last year for his kid,,, over the past 10 months the kid lost first one the the other then left the car parked on the street too long,,, got towed and was in storage for several days before the kid called his father for help... Dad is having the car towed to Mini on Monday and getting a key made,,, this error is costing right at $1,000 for everything... Best to Always have a spare key / or at least don't park where you may get towed,,,

Sorry to the poster for the late reply...

 

he didnt have to tow the car to the dealer. just order the key online and provide papers of ownership. since your/his key is regular, it costs less than $200, I ordered mine the same way and it had CA...

 

I would agree with in you in Part - however there is much more family issues here than I will share. The Mini was towed and being held in impound and father wanted to stop the bleeding with storage fees... The Sac dealer charges $250 and the Key MUST be picked up in person, next closest dealer is 100 miles away.
As stated here (over 2 years ago) I delt with Peabody Mini in MA - I have a call into him to see what his current charges are.
Minitobe - PLEAASE post where a person can order Both Fob and metal key for Under $200 in Calif

 

I actually bought my keys from Peabody MA https://minipartsmass.com website (currently under construction). The blade was I think $36 and the Fob (with CA) was around $250 ish. My total with shipping and two blades was 360 ish. with a discount it was 275. I made the order online, then called the parts dep. The agent gave me an email to send it my registration and DL. a week later I got the key and was rolling.

Keys without CA, can be bought new on ebay for around $30. I bought some tools to program new keys (with CA option. ones on ebay do not work) but I would either need the car or the immobilizer.

here is where I had to roll up my sleeves lol: https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ml#post4482663

 

To continue with your advice,,, I just got off the phone with Tim at Peabody MA. His CS is again 100%. He laughed and said to me... "Hey, your the guy who posted my direct number on the internet with your key story back in 2017" Yep.... opps.. He said no problem at all,, He said, he is Still getting calls every week from that post from all over the US and Canada.. people are telling him how rude and over priced a lot of dealers are...
Tim will ship the key to you,, a lot Wont..
anyway,,, TIm said after he got an email with Pictures of both the Reg & DL showing the Same address, he would order the key,,, take about 2 days the ship to the address .. so looking at at least 5 business days to get a key... My neighbors issue is NOT that easy,,, kid got the mini towed and sitting in a PD impound yard collecting daily storage fees.. Dad is taking the Mini back and wanted to stop the bleeding, so local dealer is being used for first key.. $275 Plus MUST be picked up in person.
Peabody MA price is much better and can be shipped to your address.

Thanks to everyone here for all the advice over the years..

My advice to you,,, look at my first post here,,,, buy that dog tag for your keys,,,, a $5 investment just may save you over $200 and if you loose one key,, get it replaced no matter how much it costs.... Loose that second key and your SCREWED for sure