My wife lost her comfort access key. Can I buy a used one from Ebay and reprogram it myself or at the dealer?

I tried searching for the answer, but I only seem to find info on replacing non-comfort access keys.

This is the key type I'm referring to. Thanks.

 

No, sadly.

 

Yes it can be programmed to your car, but not by you unless you have a NCS expert.

It should take a dealer about a 1/2 hour to do it.

 

NO it can't don't buy a used key.

 

Way, do you mean the fob can't be reprogrammed? I know you can't use the key part.

 

I called 2 local dealers who both said used comfort access keys can't be reprogrammed. Who knows if they said that to get me to buy a new key. I didn't say I lost a key, instead I said I am looking to get a spare 3rd key.

 

I did not know that.

 

Just in case you'll still be shopping for a used one, the pictured key is a regular non-comfort one, as defined by the sealed battery cover.

 

I thought the non-comfort access keys looked like the image below, but I guess that key type is for the previous model. I don't know anyone else with a Mini, so I didn't know the difference. So non-comfort access cars have to put the round key in the dash key slot to start the car?

 

That's for the Gen 1 cars. The Gen 2 car's Comfort Access and Normal Access keys look alike (from the topside).

 

To the OP and others... call various dealers within driving range. I found the quoted price for key and programming varied by almost $120.

You have to buy the key (prepaid) and they cut the blade in NJ. Then the local dealer programs it with your second key so everything matches (?). It's my least favorite MINI feature at the moment.

 

All BMW and MINI keys are married to the car and can't me divorced and used in another car. They have rolling codes that can't change as it is car specific.

 

I acquired an extra confront access key from a friend. Carried it in when my car was serviced and asked to have it programed and was told to "trash" it. Keys have to be ordered to match the car.

 

Well said! ;-)

 

I guess this is another 'cool' feature?

 

Yeah... but it does make car theft a bit more difficult.

 

I call BS. Every modern car has keys with rolling codes. But all you have to do is program one, i.e. 'tell' the car that 'this is your key'. There's a limit (7?) on how many keys can be added, so there's also an option to un-program, or 'divorce' it, using your terminology, in case the key is lost, etc.

This is how they steal BMWs in EU - access the car computer via un-protected OBD port and add an extra key.

 

Dealer lost one of my CA keys before delivery. They ordered me a new one and mailed to to me. The new FOB worked like a non CA key but the CA features did not work until I made a 200 mile drive to the dealer to have it programmed. They had to unprogram the lost key before the new one could be added.
I was told that there can only be 2 CA type keys in the system but more non CA keyfobs could be added. Don't remember how many more?

 

On my Gen 1 car I bought it with only 2 keys. One had the keyless remote and the other was just a valet key. I bought a used key on ebay and disassembled my Valet key and the used ebay key. I swapped out both the magnetic chip and metal part of the Valet key into the used key. Then there was a procedure to reprogram the wireless part of the key and I had a new fully working wireless key.

Not sure if the Gen 2 have the same "magnetic" piece that encodes each key to a specific car.

 

OK so your saying I don't know what I'm talking about. That's fine buy the key and try to make it work, it won't cost me anything. I'm just putting facts out there to help people out. Been working on these for 10yrs.

You can deactivate a key in the computer so it won't work on a car, but that won't make it work on another or clear it so you can reprogram it.

Think of the keys as being VIN specific.

In EU when they steal a car they are coding a NEW, or blank key to the car. They are also using a bootleg program to do it.

 

Yours worked cause you changed everything in the key that is vin specific and just used the case of the other key.

 

In short - yes. Just because you couldn't/didn't do it for 10 yrs, doesn't mean it can't be/isn't done at all. Few years the whole idea of DIY coding BMW & MINIs was a blasphemy... and look where're we now, people retrofit, change VOs and settings, even roll back odometers left and right.

 

I would put it this way. I'm sure it can be done (there seems to be a hack for everything) but a Dealership will not do it.

 

Fine show me who can do it and prove me wrong. I'll send them some business.