R50/53 Need a new key fob
2nd Gear
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 137
Likes: 6
From: VA
Your car has an immobilizer. In German it has the acronym EWS. It uses a 128 bit security system that is energized by a ring in the ignition barrel. It uses obscured and rolling codes. It inhibits the vehicle fuel pump. There are 10 chips programmed into the vehicle security module at the factory. It is not possible to clone or DIY code a new one to the vehicle module.
The vehicle key also houses a radio transmitter. It can unlock and lock the vehicle only. It is possible to learn the transmitter to the vehicle using a sequence.
If you need a new key you can either buy the key you want, or order the cheaper wallet key, peel off the sticker, remove the immobilizer chip and transfer it to an eBay key.
The purse key is about $40, a used remote guts is gonna be $30, a blank eBay key is say $20, key cutting another $15 if you can find someone with the equipment, then you have to modify the key to add the chip and glue it together. For $115 you have a fake key with glued in bits. Better to get the key you wanted in the first place for $150.
The vehicle key also houses a radio transmitter. It can unlock and lock the vehicle only. It is possible to learn the transmitter to the vehicle using a sequence.
If you need a new key you can either buy the key you want, or order the cheaper wallet key, peel off the sticker, remove the immobilizer chip and transfer it to an eBay key.
The purse key is about $40, a used remote guts is gonna be $30, a blank eBay key is say $20, key cutting another $15 if you can find someone with the equipment, then you have to modify the key to add the chip and glue it together. For $115 you have a fake key with glued in bits. Better to get the key you wanted in the first place for $150.
5th Gear
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 699
Likes: 7
I am not trying to poo on your statements above because you have the right idea about most of what you said. I spent hundreds of hours putting together the research and guide here: https://sites.google.com/site/minian...moving-forward all in an effort to clear up a lot of confusion over keys for people. There are differences between 02-04 and 05-06 keys that get overlooked. Basic gist is that you CANNOT simply use a sequence to program used 02-04 remotes to unlock a Mini while 05-06 you can. The 02-04 used remotes MUST be programmed to the BCM for them to work. None of the work to get it done is easy. In addition, it is possible but not easy at all to bypass the immobilizer 10 code restriction. Both procedures require specialized software and/or hardware that is very difficult to get working. Also, as has been seen over many, many threads on keys including this one, the prices that dealers charge for each key type varies greatly as does the price of used remotes.
If you were wondering, 315MHz is the frequency cleared for license free radio operation in the USA. In Europe we use 433MHz and 866MHz (2*433) for license free operation. 315MHz equipment won't work with 433MHz equipment.
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3rd Gear
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 151
Likes: 0
From: Boston, MA
Sorry, guy. If it wasn't abundantly clear by this thread, I don't REALLY know what it is that I am doing. 
But that's ok, because neither does the dealership, apparently, as they claimed they need to do some computer magic. 
Just having a difficult time accepting that it is THIS easy, as they said they couldn't take care of me for another week.
Both of our keys turn the ignition on, so that is not a problem. Wife has the car today. I will follow the instructions you posted and report back. Thanks for all of your (and everyone else's) help and input thus far.
But that's ok, because neither does the dealership, apparently, as they claimed they need to do some computer magic. Just having a difficult time accepting that it is THIS easy, as they said they couldn't take care of me for another week.Both of our keys turn the ignition on, so that is not a problem. Wife has the car today. I will follow the instructions you posted and report back. Thanks for all of your (and everyone else's) help and input thus far.
Thread Starter
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3rd Gear
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 151
Likes: 0
From: Boston, MA
Alright! Time to put this thread to bed!
I arrived at the dealership this morning, talked to yet another person who was not informed about my situation. I calmly started telling him what the deal was, and he immediately said they should be able to get the fee waived. By the way, the fee would have been $140. I left the car, they said it would be about an hour, and headed to parts (I figure I will tell the whole story).
Parts did not have the trim piece I ordered. The guy I first talked to when I ordered the key and the trim piece stated that it wasn't even ordered (the second time) and he has no note of it being damaged. So, told him about the situation too, manager overheard, stepped in, and said they would mail it to me because it was unacceptable that they keep having me come back. He did tell me there was one "on the truck scheduled to arrive this morning," and that he would give me a buzz if it arrived before I left. I was skeptical, but at least happy that it was getting mailed so I wouldn't have to brave the weekday traffic.
After all that was squared away, I sat in the waiting room a few minutes. The service guy came and found me and was asking for a sticker with bar code on the back of the key. I told him there never was one, that there was a barcode on the bag the key was in, and that was in the glovebox. He took off, came back about 30 minutes later, apologized for the wait, and stated this was the wrong barcode, they needed another one, but they are phoning Germany and Mini USA to get things squared away. Longer story shorter, they figured it out (I assume by using the methods detailed in some of the tutorials you guys graciously linked to me). They also found the trim piece (I guess the truck really did arrive this time) and put it on my care free of charge.
I wrote this lengthy "review" because I was slamming Mini of Boston a bit earlier, but I feel they came through. They went above and beyond by installing the trim piece, which they didn't have to do, and they even cleaned and vacuumed the car for me.
I arrived at the dealership this morning, talked to yet another person who was not informed about my situation. I calmly started telling him what the deal was, and he immediately said they should be able to get the fee waived. By the way, the fee would have been $140. I left the car, they said it would be about an hour, and headed to parts (I figure I will tell the whole story).
Parts did not have the trim piece I ordered. The guy I first talked to when I ordered the key and the trim piece stated that it wasn't even ordered (the second time) and he has no note of it being damaged. So, told him about the situation too, manager overheard, stepped in, and said they would mail it to me because it was unacceptable that they keep having me come back. He did tell me there was one "on the truck scheduled to arrive this morning," and that he would give me a buzz if it arrived before I left. I was skeptical, but at least happy that it was getting mailed so I wouldn't have to brave the weekday traffic.
After all that was squared away, I sat in the waiting room a few minutes. The service guy came and found me and was asking for a sticker with bar code on the back of the key. I told him there never was one, that there was a barcode on the bag the key was in, and that was in the glovebox. He took off, came back about 30 minutes later, apologized for the wait, and stated this was the wrong barcode, they needed another one, but they are phoning Germany and Mini USA to get things squared away. Longer story shorter, they figured it out (I assume by using the methods detailed in some of the tutorials you guys graciously linked to me). They also found the trim piece (I guess the truck really did arrive this time) and put it on my care free of charge.
I wrote this lengthy "review" because I was slamming Mini of Boston a bit earlier, but I feel they came through. They went above and beyond by installing the trim piece, which they didn't have to do, and they even cleaned and vacuumed the car for me.
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