Having just purchased a R50 need a bit of help.
It came with one key fob three button, which at some point had fallen apart and was taped up. The remote lock/unlock did not work but it started the car . I purchased a new remote via ebay had it cut and was intending to remove the transponder from my old key into the new one.
The new key has a seperate black transponder chip
The old key does not have this also the battery had come adrift along with some printed curcuit track.
Is the old transponder on the circuit board, can I remove it and put it in the new key????

thanks

 

You can't- it's soldered to the circuit board but does not draw any power from the battery that is mounted on the circuit board. The battery only runs the remote functions. The transponder chip draws its power from the ring antenna and is a passive device.

Your eBay key has a separate transponder chip as that style can be used with this car; it's what is inside of the "Universal, non-remote" key that is also available for this vehicle. If you had the appropriate key transponder device and knew how to read the EWS code from the EWS computer, you could possibly code/program this chip and allow your car to start. Since that's unlikely and it's also unlikely that any area locksmith has this equipment, your eBay key can at least be used to open the doors in an emergency. It's unlikely that you will get that key to be able to start the car. Here's hoping that you didn't pay too much for it.

The only real place to get a MINI key is at a dealer. I recommend that MINI owners go through MINI of Peabody in Massachusetts (minipartsmass.com) as they discount all their parts including keys. There are two different keys available for your car, a remote and a non-remote key. Here's the part numbers and approximate cost from MINI of Peabody, exclusive of shipping:

66126931749
Universal key with remote control
post-facelift ($135)


61317127556
Universal key
without remote control ($75)

Order online to get the discount as it's not available over the phone. After the sale you will need to submit a copy of your license and registration/title as proof of ownership. You can do that electronically via e-mail.

I do MINI key repair on the side. Your current key may be repairable depending on how bad the damage is. I'm going to suggest that you get a new remote key (or a non-remote one if you are on a budget) and after that contact me so that I can have a go at repairing your current key. The door locks in these early models are not designed to be used everyday with the blade key. They made them out of a cheap pot metal that breaks where the metal rod comes out and goes into the door actuator. I've replaced them in both of the early R50's we have. You DO NOT want this to break as you lock the car if you don't have a remote. The replacement ones (also available from MINI) are made of better material and seem less likely to break.

My e-mail is "minikeyhospital (at) outlook <doot> com.

Val

 

I have done as mentioned, ordered online and get discount on it and then ask experts from locksmith queens to program it.