Topic: stolen keys

[vdk]

but can they laser cut the key.. ? reprogram the immobilizer and all that.. i thought only dealerships have that kinda of equipment and data....

[barrie1]

No not only the dealerships have this type of equipment for cutting keys as let your fingers do the walking on it and you just may be surprised on how much you can save by doing it. The Remote Fobs are mostly a dealer item yes but are not usually that highly priced unless its a very rare model or has something extra special about it. A friend of mine had a new programmed for her late model Pontiac product for $65.00 . I believe the Fob cost almost the same amount as well. 

[rrocket]

No not only the dealerships have this type of equipment for cutting keys as let your fingers do the walking on it and you just may be surprised on how much you can save by doing it. The Remote Fobs are mostly a dealer item yes but are not usually that highly priced unless its a very rare model or has something extra special about it. A friend of mine had a new programmed for her late model Pontiac product for $65.00 . I believe the Fob cost almost the same amount as well. 

GM had those keys with the chip on them that weren't terribly cheap to buy blanks for....Someone here at work had one for a Firebird or Bonneville and the dealer wanted a load of money for the key.

Maybe someone can add to this?  You could actually see the chip on the key....

[Squishy]

For those keys I hear it's much cheaper to buy a blank on eBay and then have the dealership cut them.  Same with the RKE fobs.

I think most of those chipped keys will run you about $100 at a dealer.

[airbalancer]

When I had ask for 2003 GMC truck key it was around 100( but that was 5 years ago)
Son had to get a new key from BMW, it was over 300 and had to come from HO in NJ

[vdk]

Son had to get a new key from BMW, it was over 300 and had to come from HO in NJ

that's what i mean.. could an independent shop get that and cut it?   

[neil]

Son had to get a new key from BMW, it was over 300 and had to come from HO in NJ

that's what i mean.. could an independent shop get that and cut it?   

We talkin' the veedub?  Those switchblade keys can't be made even at the dealer I was told.  Like the BMW, they have to come from HO or even the Homeland.

[articsteve]

Toyota key can be cut at any hardware store.  Laser cut keys like found in German cars are a real drag in the used car market.  It's amazing how many used cars hit the market with only one main key. 

Like Squishy says OEM chipped keys can be had on Ebay for 1/3 dealer cost, but the dealer will still be needed to program them.  Even still it a real drag to lose keys or share with a large family.  Definitely one area where things have gone in the wrong direction. 

[airbalancer]

Son had to get a new key from BMW, it was over 300 and had to come from HO in NJ

that's what i mean.. could an independent shop get that and cut it?   

Probably at Pacific Mall, between the raids at the DVD shops

[vdk]

Son had to get a new key from BMW, it was over 300 and had to come from HO in NJ

that's what i mean.. could an independent shop get that and cut it?   

Probably at Pacific Mall, between the raids at the DVD shops

i heard PMall got raided and is currently half closed..       

We talkin' the veedub?  Those switchblade keys can't be made even at the dealer I was told.  Like the BMW, they have to come from HO or even the Homeland.

That's what i thought too. IDK, we just talking.. I still don't know what car the OP has...

[tpl]

I don't know about the newer BMW keys but mine had inside them
 A tuned circuit and a diode that formed a battery charger to keep the internal battery charged
A radio that could send the lock/unlock/trunk unlock and panic signals.

The car ignition lock emitted some signal that via the circuits in the key kept its internal battery charged.


I am not surprised that they were expensive.

[barrie1]

My 1991 Fleetwood has 2 keys and they have the chips in them. I have witnessed dealers take the chip and put it into a new blank to keep it going but cutting the actual key was done at a independent Lock shop. It was much cheaper but we didn;t have to send overseas to get a blank for it to start with.  Each brand may well have its own ways of doing it and will certainly have their prices as well. You may well find it on E-Bay for a lot less I agree with. 

[safristi]

1991 FLEETWOOD.........that would be tha MAC? daddy................ ...geez i think i hear tha Clintons singing inna background.......................LET's NOT.......................