I bought my Mini "used" from a Volvo dealership in San Diego because I could no longer wait for Brecht to open. One problem was that they only had one key, and it wasn't for electronic opening. I finally ordered one from Brecht after they opened. When I went to pick it up today (for $100), I was told that my car is not equipped for keyless entry. What a pisser. Anyone else have this issue? The Parts guy thought maybe I had an early production model. Any ideas?

 

I really doubt it... All Mini's came standard with one keyless entry key! And there aren't really and early early model coopers in the U.S., they came over in March, several months after they came into GB... I think you're being had!

 

Thanks for the input. I think so too. Good news was that I told them I would not pay for a $100 key if it was useless, so I ordered a standard replacement that would cost $30. When I asked them if they would just change the casing on the one they already made, the perturbed Parts guy said no, that it would be trashed because of the microchip technology. I then offered to buy the "useless" electronic key from him for $30, suggesting it would cut his losses. He looked at me like that was my plan all along (which is stupid because I was willing to pay $100 for something that I should have received free in the first place), but he did end up selling it to me for $30. Now, all I need to do is find a competent Mini service dealership that can correctly program the key (if this is still possible). L.A. is too far from San Diego. Has anyone tried out the dealership in Tijuana?

 

I lost my zapper key, the replacement from Crevier in Santa Ana cost me $157.00. Howd'ya like them apples?

 

DEALER IN CALI TOLD ME THAT YOU GET TWO KEYS FOR 2003

 

DAMN!!! I better not lose that key! That's a lot of apples!!!!!

 

My remote-less Mini was "born" in February. Anyone else with this early of a model that does not have a remote key?

 

My Cooper was born on February 1, and it has a remote-entry key. Although when I picked up the car, the dealer had apparently just found out about it. My guess is that the dealers who claim that some cars aren't equipped for remote entry just don't know how to program it.

 

The service guys indeed said that the car was not equipped. When I contacted Miniusa.com, they sent me a quick response on how to "initialize" the mechanism, which was identical to the procedure set forth in the manual. Tried it. Still no go. Battery is present in the key, and it's new, but so far no luck.

 

>>L.A. is too far from San Diego. Has anyone tried out the dealership in Tijuana?




Cheers!
Clover

 

Thanks. I will stop by when I go to the rally in Huntington Beach on August 18th. Say, wouldn't that be a kick to have a slew of Minis drive into various dealerships to see who jumps to offer the best, quickest or most useful assistance? We could be like a living petition sheet. Then maybe, all of the Mini drivers in the world could get together and demand world peace!! Well, maybe that's a little ambitious. For now, I'll settle for getting my remote control to work.