Q: Anyone found a vendor who sells good, complete replacement 2 button key FOB shells for the 1st gen pre-faceifts?

Those of us who've owned their Mini since new may have, at one time or another, had to replace their key fob shell (for what ever reason). I have 2wice. Mostly because the blade had become loose or the chrome badge on the unlock button had faded or fallen off.
A couple of years ago I scored a pair of pretty good "Chinesium's" that came with blanks and more importantly - the chrome stick-on badges were stored safely inside the FOB shells...
I recently ordered/received a pair of shells w/ included blanks. Unfortunately no chrome badges. I did a little more searching but I've yet to find a vendor/seller that includes the metal badges as well.

I don't expect many responses. It's just more of a a heads-up for any 1st Gen-ers hoping to keep their Mini ensembles as close to original as possible. It's all in the details.

I just dropped another $30 for 3pair of stick-on badges from the UK.

 

I would contact NAM member Valvashon who started a key repair/refurb service for a current recommendation, or possibly a purchase. This thread might have some good info if you haven’t seen it already: https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...rbishment.html

BTW, does your thread title have anything to do with HoJo?

 

Thanks.
I hadn't seen that thread before but it details exactly what I've done/experienced in the past. Interestingly: @valvashon also mentions the open button becoming detached from the circuit board This also happened to me.
Despite me, being the worst solderer that I know of; to my amazement I actually, successfully and cleanly, soldered that little button back in place. It was nerve racking and I hope to never have to do it again. It has been working without fail, now for 12years.
I also noticed the obscured LED light as valvashon had noted and I was also perplexed by this.

Alas, finding that little chrome badge stowed away within the case was indeed like discovering a pearl in a shell.
'Pearls' sold separately - Now-a-days.

Howard Johnson's??
...but,seriously - yes. My head is one big playlist

BTW: The title above is also a track from the same album and not meant to be a jab.

 

The keyless entry and the airbag light are the only 2 things I have not been able to repair on the black Mini. I have been thinking of ordering a factory key to see if that will get it working plus, I don't have a second key for the car.

 

Although I haven't had any keyless entry issues as of yet - If you still have issues with the airbag, (unable to clear or blown squib) : There is a DIY diode squib repair thread on NAM, to fix the airbag issue. I preformed this method on my squib after trying in vein to turn off the airbag light through conventional means. The procedure is cheap,simple and works to restore/fix the problem.

 

My airbag issue is the module. The carpet had been getting wet for who knows how long. It has 14 codes, voltage failure, resister, belt, etc, etc. I think the only way to get it to go out is to get a new module and let Mini flash it.

 

Hey ChiefM - Just curious. Have you tried your key fob without the shell?
Coincidentally enough; my unlock button stopped working today (not the one I re-soldered), but when I opened up my shell, with the board and chip exposed - I can depress the little buttons and they function fine.
The rubber shell button had degraded and no longer made direct contact with the button on the circuit board. ' swapped out the shell and working again.
Just a thought.