My keychain has various items on it such as a multitool, usb stick, vitamin canister, etc.. and I was just scolded by my sister for it being too heavy. She told me that it could ruin the transmission with a keychain so heavy [she estimated it to be about 4 lbs]. I wanted to remove some items, but since i use each one every day, I am now starting to use the release button and just inserting the disc into the car with the rest of my keys in my pocket..

i guess i have two questions..

Can a heavy keychain ruin a transmission? [it did seem like the r56s support the disc with an extended bottom 'lip' to relieve pressure]

and

will seperating the key Every time wear it down and make me prone to loosing the disc part of the key?

Thanks so much for your help

 

Wow. That is not a keychain, it a purse with a ring.

Suspect that she is overestimating the weight - by a lot.

You must have huge pockets.


Q1: No. No physical connection to the trans. But I am sure that if you add enough stuff you can eventually break something.

Q2: Yes

A thought - Since you need so much stuff consider functionally organized keychains. House/car and a separate work/tools. If you can figure out the natural dividing points in your day - i.e. you use the thumb drive and MacGyver tool at work but nowhere else then they belong together - that should indicate the things that kinda belong together.

 

Four pound keychain ! How do you put that in your pocket without looking like a potato smuggler? I'd suggest either a Bat Belt or man-purse .

Used to be with heavy keychains when cars had their ignition/steering locks located in the steering column the ignition switch might be damaged by the constant weight and vibration. Not the transmission, although a column shift might end up involved in a damaged ignition switch.

Conceivably detaching the key every time might wear down the catch and cause it to fail. What about a quick disconnect keychain? I've seen them with push-button pit-pins. Better to wear out a cheap disposable link than your expensive MINI key fob.

 

i seperated car keys in a keychain and other keys in another keychain for convenice and safety

 

The keys won't hurt the transmission.
As for the ignition switch, four pounds is a bit much, but a bunch of keys shouldn't do anything.
The old myth about more than one key hanging from the ignition is just that a myth. I've had cars with 200,000 miles on them in the shop, and never saw an ignition switch damaged from too many keys.
Screwdrivers on the other hand do some serious damage.

 

There is a bit of truth to this old saw... miatas have seen ignition switch damage from people with overly heavy keychains. But it takes a lot of keys on that chain to cause damage and a lot of kms for damage to be done.

More important than ignition switch damage is the annoying racket of having too many keys inserted in the steering column / dash as they clatter over bumps and swing left and right in hard cornering! That's the main reason why i keep only 1 car key plus 1 house key on my setup.

The "transmission damage" thing was funny though. We know what she means, but she sure has a funny way of saying it.

 

I have seen many cars of different makes prematurely wear out keys and ignition locks with excessive weight on the ignition key.

 

I just weighed the offending key chain and clocked in at 0.7 lbs.. think im in the clear?

--im still going to use a detacher though.. day two with my r56 and i think im starting to obsess.

 

.7 pounds is a lot of weight to be swinging around. I wonder if it could damage the interior dash finish. Far better to detach the car key (disc). I generally keep all the house and mail keys and office keys in the mesh netting on the passenger side.

 

Just diet and loose the extra weight of your keychain and youll be fine

 

Now i use a dedicated keychain detach, so i dont wear out the built-in detatcher in the mini key.--

Hopefully my brief neglegence wont bite me in the *** one day when the key doesn't register in the ignition.

 

how about one of these:

http://www.erichatesyou.com/wordpres.../fannypack.jpg

 

That's what she said.

Man, I've known school janitor's that carry around less than that.

 

The worst problem with having too many keys is when you get skewerd by them in a wreck. Best to have as few a possible. It will save on stiches.

 

Worked at Ford for 16+ years. We were always replacing ignition cylinders due to heavy keychains prematurely wearing the mechanism. Yes, too many keys is bad on traditional key and cylinder mechanisms, however, the R56 Mini, with the pod style may be different, but I would still detach all those keys. You might be damaging the dash finish with the swinging of the whole mess.

 

I thought I read in the owners manual on or about page 18 that you do not need the key in the ignition to start the Mini.

I dont have the manual here to check and have never tried it.

 

If you have the Convenience package you do not need to put the key in. Just sit it in the seat beside you. Something that big you might want to buckle in

 

Simple fix:

One set of house keys (2) on one ring in right pocket.
One vehicle key loose in right pocket.
(easy to figure what I'm getting when I reach)
Office keys (3) on one ring in left pocket.

Done.

 

The ideal solution for me is a (long ago) gift key ring set from the local State Farm Insurance guy.

It has one inch rings swivled on each end of a black plastic connector that easily snaps apart or securely locks together,
total length is three inches with rings.

I keep the MINI fob on one ring and my slightly lighter Garage Door control on the other and a couple door type keys as well.

Strong but light weight and easily separates two key sets that I don't always want to carry at the same time.

Perhaps one of our NAM member State Farm folks can ID and suggest where this key keeper came from.

It is black plastic with "BUCKLE UP" on one side above the State Farm Logo and the agents phone number on other side.

 

+1 - convenience is the best.

 

Once upon a time, I thought I needed 4 lbs worth of stuff on my key chain... And then I realized that I wasn't a 16 year old girl.

 

have you not figured out how to use the glove box or open the secret dash compartment?

seems to me much of what you tote, should be stowed

 

I keep my key fob in my left pocket and a keyring with my house key, mailbox key, and work key in my right pocket. No scratches on the MINI key that way.

 

So, when did your mouthy sister become an auto expert?

One word, carabiner.
I keep all the extra keys hooked onto this and free up the Mini key.

 

I'm with some of the replies here. I go to great lengths to avoid carrying stuff around with me, particularly in my pockets. The multi-tool and USB stick can definitely stay at work, and I'd imagine the vitamins may be able to stay in the medicine cabinet? Or maybe a different bottle for work, home, and in the car if you need them multiple times per day.

For reference, I have my car key, office key, house key, mailbox key and RSA secureID keyfob on the keychain. Very lightweight and I do not look like a potato smuggler!