I like the idea of the emergency ignition key..As it is made of plastic my local locksmith is interested to know if their is a chip embedded in it as it doesnt look like it.

 

>>I like the idea of the emergency ignition key..As it is made of plastic my local
>>locksmith is interested to know if their is a chip embedded in it as it doesnt
>>look like it.

I was told by my Motoring Advisor that a chip is in the key so that the MINI will start. No Chip = No Start, regardless of plastic or metal.

Cheers,
Bill

 

>>I like the idea of the emergency ignition key..As it is made of plastic my local locksmith is interested to know if their is a chip embedded in it as it doesnt look like it.

 

>>I like the idea of the emergency ignition key..

Who gave you an emergency ignition key in plastic? Mine only came with an emergency door key in plastic.

 

Have you tried it in the ignition? An emergency key that only opens the door seems pretty pointless...

 

not if you lock your key in the car...

 

>>Have you tried it in the ignition?

Nope, my MMA told me that it was only for unlocking the door. She specifically said there was no chip in it. She also told me it wouldn't work in the ignition.

Who told Gud999 it was for the ignition?

 

I was told that it could be used for the ignition, but that it was flimsy and was only in case of an emergency because if i was used a few times, it would probably snap.

 

Who here has actually started their MINI with the little plastic key?

 

>>Who here has actually started their MINI with the little plastic key?

I have - it works fine ... but you can feel it flex - should be for emergencies only ...

 

Strike one for my MMA....


>>I have - it works fine ... but you can feel it flex - should be for emergencies only ...
>>

 

I use it as my valet key or, as my MA so...um... creatively put it: "a beach key"--said it was ok to get it wet. In any event, I'm in Pittsburgh and I don't often take my car keys swimming with me so I think someone was grabbing at straws...

 

>>Nope, my MMA told me that it was only for unlocking the door. She specifically said there was no chip in it. She also told me it wouldn't work in the ignition.
>>
My MMA told me the same thing, but I just had to see for myself, and you know what? It works! BMW's have the same key.

 

glad to hear that it works, since i plan to eventually use my MC for the beach here in hawaii. that is, once my beach mobile runs down.

the other cool thing about this key, besides the smaller size, is that it arms/disarms the mini alarm as well. those other aftermarket alarms, ie. viper, requires you to quickly open the door, grab your prehidden remote, and disarm the warning chirps before the alarm sounds if you're quick enough. or if you've got butter fingers or forgot where you hid it, you've got to disarm the blaring alarm. at least with this key you don't gotta worry about being quick or having butter fingers.

 

I don't take my MINI to the beach. he hates sand- it gets all over the place. That is why we have an older car to go to the beach and get dirty. I bought a 2003 MCS and it came with the little plastic key, a standard fat key with the mini logo in silver and a second fat key with a plain black finish. I was told that the 2002 model on only one fat key and that you have to pay for the second key. I was told that the spare key was for holding in your wallet or to take while doing sports.

What if while doing sports you fell on it and snapped the plastic key in half??? Whoa. Bad news

 

when I bought my MINI at the dealership, all they used to set-up test drives were the emergency key. when I picked up the car. only then did I see my key. they took it out of a plastic box and handed it to me.

 

Nice manicure, Trippy!

 

The MA told the wife & I that the plastic key is the Valet Key & will allow you to safely give it over to the fine punks parking the cars (I used to be one ).

Why?

The Valet Key will only allow the MINI to go a certain distance, so the valets don't go joy-riding in your ride, then it will stop allowing operation of the MINI!

This later scared us a bit, as the MA didn't tell us how far we could go using it & suggested we use it for "beaching" too. This makes little sense if you don't know how far it will go before disabling the car!

Anyone hear that one?

-sb

 

>>I bought a 2003 MCS and it came with the little plastic key, a standard fat key with the mini logo in silver and a second fat key with a plain black finish.<<

Interesting. My 2003 came with two "fat" keys, but they're both all black. No silver MINI logo. Mine was the first week of production for the 2003s, so maybe they didn't have the new keys available yet.

>>The Valet Key will only allow the MINI to go a certain distance, so the valets don't go joy-riding in your ride, then it will stop allowing operation of the MINI! <<

What?! If this were true, I would think that even crap dealerships like mine would make a point of making sure we know this. This is the first time I've heard this particular detail. I assume that the manual could settle this question. There were so many lawyers all over that manual, I'm sure they would include a very prominent warning that the plastic key could leave you stranded somewhere...

 

Agreed, - Chrisnl.

Either the MA we had is a bit mistaken or we need to be better informed.

-sb

_________________
MINI: The best horse for the buck!

 

>>>>I bought a 2003 MCS and it came with the little plastic key, a standard fat key with the mini logo in silver and a second fat key with a plain black finish.<<
>>
>>
>>
>>>>The Valet Key will only allow the MINI to go a certain distance, so the valets don't go joy-riding in your ride, then it will stop allowing operation of the MINI! <<
>>
>>>>

... the Emergency key works like both 'fat' keys - no 'hidden shut-off' ...
... and the silver vs. black has always been a cooper vs. 's' thing - the cooper gets the black wings and the 'S' gets the chrome wings ... when they changed to two remotes in 2003, they may have forgotten the chrome part ...

 

Actually, the 'S' gets one of each key (or, they do now, at least). You get 2 big keys (one crhome, one black) and of course, the emergency "wallet key".

 

I was told that the plastic key only has 99 uses and after that, it's no good. Is that true?

 

Hi JW Yes I have tried the key and yes it does start the car. It came with the car (Liverpool UK). Bye for now.

 

Hi Dominic It is mentioned in my handbook.( UK), and it does work
.