Can't get a new key
 

My son lost the keys to his Mini and he had let his registration expire. We have a clear title, an expired registration, current insurance, and a driver's license. No dice, you cannot get a key with an expired registration. You cannot get a car registered in MO without an inspection. You cannot drive a car to inspection without a key.

I called BMWNA and the guy told me to try another dealer who might be willing to break the rules. I'll give that a try, but has anybody gone through this? Any suggestions on who to appeal to? Surely BMW does not expect me to abandon the car.

Thanks,
Rickdm

Will the inspector come to the car?

I would have it towed to get the inspection done..

A good locksmith can program a new key to the car. I've had it done. Costs as much as going to the dealer for a new key, but sounds like you might not have another option.

So the moron who told you that never sells a key to Auto Dealers in his area ? What happens when Joe-Shmoe's Used Cars calls to purchase a key for a car they purchased at auction ? "Sorry, you have to register the car first to the dealership before we can order a key for a car you haven't sold yet so you can drive it to the front line ?

Proof of ownership is what they ask for when placing a PMP order for a key....If you have a signed over title to a car or clear title and a drivers license, that is sufficient.

Call their Parts manager, and if that doesn't work call their GM.

Thanks for the suggestions, but...:

-Talked to both the GM and parts manager. It is a BMWNA rule to have a current registration and they get audited by BMW. I am going to see if the original dealer in Texas where I bought the car will cut me some slack. The parts guy was pleasant enough, and has no doubt this is our car but he needs to check the box.

-The parts gut actually suggested a locksmith who might be able to help, but the guy said he could not create a working key for this car. Have you guys found locksmiths with a chipped key for sale who can program them?

-We could tow it to an inspection station, but would MO really inspect a car that cannot start or run?

If nothing works I will go back to BMWNA and have them one a case file and see how many rabbit holes I need to go through.

The Advise you are getting is coming from a person VERY FAMILIAR with key ordering...aka, does it..or who orders keys....
Think you dealership are jerks, or don't like you for some reason...like he said...try a different dealer, or go up the food chain.
The catch 22 they created here is you could have the car towed for inspection, but cannot start it to complete the inspection...lol... Hate to laugh...but someone's read the rules and interpreted them wrong at YOUR DEALER...and they are going by the "urban key legend" ...not the actual rules.

PS DOESN'T A "TEMP" OR TRANSPORT tag for $5 quality? Just a thought....

Problem solved. Mini of Dallas had no problem ordering a new key with a clear title and a driver's license. Very different attitude than we got in Kansas City. The only negative was that the key was $380 without the comfort access programming :eek2:

Thanks,

Good to hear.

BMW Suggested Retail for radio remote part #61303456372 - is $218.26
BMW Suggested Retail for the integrated slide in key part # 51212756061 is $35.74.

Should have been $ 254.00 + tax....+ programing ( half hour of their shop rate ).

Are you sure that price doesn't incl the programing for comfort access ?

When you get the key it comes with a tag that had a sequence of # 's on it, don't lose that. W/O that tag tech will not be able to program the
key rendering it useless.

Geez, I stole my new key for $190 from my local dealer. I don't have comfort access. Is that the difference? And I only had the temporary registration from the out of state dealer I bought it from. Glad you got sorted... Sorry it was painful.