Hey all,

We sold my wife's 07 Mini Cooper S a while back. A dealer bought it from us and we kept the spare key and fob unknowingly. The question I have is can I sell the key to another owner so they can have it reprogrammed/recut?

Again, this was the second key from a car we sold, NOT a blank. Would this be useful to anyone?

Help is appreciated since I don't know what to do with the thing.

Thanks,

E

 

The smartchip in the key can't be reprogrammed to start the ignition on a different MINI.

 

Why not just give it to the buyer and let him pass it on to the new owner?

 

+1000. If you were the new owner driving your car right now wouldn't that be a nice thing to have?

 

I did that on my trade-in. I found my spare key after they sold the truck and they mailed it to the girl who bought it. I would hope someone would do that if I bought their car.

 

Please forward it on to the new owner. I am in the same boat and its very annoying to have to shell out $200 for a new key from BMW.

And to answer your question, no, each key is coded to your VIN and your car's EWS system. There is no way to reprogram it to start another car. Thats why all keys are cut from BMW NA headquarters in NJ.

I'm wishing/hoping one day the previous owner would find me and send me the spare key (thats probably brand spanking new too).

 

Though I agree with the idea of giving the key to the dealer to send to the new owner, is everyone sure the dealer can’t program it? I know the “removable” part of the key has to be a laser cut key but I’m pretty sure the dealer told me that as long as they have the car, they can program the key.

I’d find out from a dealer to make sure unless these guys know for sure. However, like I said, whether it can or can’t be programmed, I’d still think it would be cool for you to take it to the dealer and have them send it to the new owner. I’m sure they’d appreciate getting a key that belongs to that particular car anyway.

Mark

 

It's been done this way for all bmws since 1996. There used to be a limit of 10 keys per car bc the ewe could only store 10 preset key codes. Don't know what it is now but I would hate to find out at the rate BMW charges for their new remote style keys. Since BMW owns Mini, I'm taking a guess that they've implemented the same security process.

 

Thanks all for the help and clarification. I will contact the dealer we sold it to (not a Mini dealer) to see if they can get a hold of the person they sold the car to.

 

The cut key is to allow you to open the door if your battery dies. It is not designed to start the car (by itself). In my M5, which has comfort access, there is a shell holder for the spare key in the glovebox which I can plug the spare key in and insert into the ignition slot and use to start the car. So I'm guessing the spare key is chipped also. Not sure if this is the case for the mini.

 

Btw, I'm still awaiting the previous owner to send me my key. Wishful thinking IMO.