You've got to love this.....NOT

[RGDave]

OK, so one of my car keys is dead. The other is dying. (BMW 320d)
Made a personal visit to the independent service centre and enquired about cost. "£150 or thereabouts"...."oh, and we'll need your driving license"....

???

I don't know where my license is so told them it might prove tricky to find. Then got a LECTURE about not having my license to hand.

"Did you know you can be fined up to £2,000 for not having a license?".....

I saw red and in under 10 seconds......from mild-mannered Dave to bloodthirsty pead off caveman.....

So if my other key dies, I can't drive the car.
I have a passport and the ownership document plus insurance etc.etc. but that's not enough to get a key....
So what if I can't find my license, are the Police going to fine me 2 £grand for misplacing it between the filing cabinet and documents box in my attic?

I say "bring it on".....it's clearly not enough to drive for 19 years and 11 months without a point or forgotten tax disk....it's clearly not enough to pay over £10,000 over the years for insurance. If I get pulled tomorrow and get a 7-day wonder, I can expect to be fleeced of £2 grand??? No. I don't think so. Slap on the wrist more like.....

I've ordered a new one (license)....then I'll see if there is a cheaper way to fix the key problem. £150 for a £10 piece of kit and 20 minutes linked up to a computer....gits.

What is wrong with these people.....why don't they just make it £500 and laugh at customers who have some misfortune.

We'll see which way the main dealer goes once I have my license. All I can say is if I don't get a fair result, the £35,000 335d my Mum wants is going to mysteriously turn into an Audi overnight....

 

[Andy]

German engineering at its best lol

Andy

 

[RGDave]

German engineering at its best lol

Andy

I know!! arghh....

 

[Lump]

Not sure if this helps at all, but you can get 'valet' keys from BMW for much much less (£20 off the top of my head) if your wanting one just incase. This seems a really really common issue with these new style key fobs.

Best place for more advice is a forum attached to piston heads, alot of people with alot of motoring knowledge on their

 

[RGDave]

I have a weird spare key in the user's package....would this work in desperate measures?

 

[madandra]

Her in doors has a beetle and the thing wouldnt open one day and after forking out £300 for a numpty to tell me to take it to VW they could only retune ONE key but ere kind enough to tell me that for £140 PLUS £40 tuning fee they could have a new one the next day ...


4 months later we still have the one key.

 

[Smiffy]

I have a weird spare key in the user's package....would this work in desperate measures?

Is it a plastic copy of the original.
If so, it will open the doors but won't start the engine

 

[CliveW]

These keys have a rechargeable battery in them and are charged through the ignition barrel. If you have a spare key, you should use it every now and then or the battery will run down.
You will also note that there is a hole in the door handle, and if you put the key in it and twist, the doors will lock/unlock even if the battery is flat.
Incidentally, a bi-xenon bulb for my 330 cost £140 from BMW!

 

[tonto768]

Glad I just run an old Citreon

 

[RGDave]

These keys have a rechargeable battery in them and are charged through the ignition barrel. If you have a spare key, you should use it every now and then or the battery will run down.
You will also note that there is a hole in the door handle, and if you put the key in it and twist, the doors will lock/unlock even if the battery is flat.
Incidentally, a bi-xenon bulb for my 330 cost £140 from BMW!

I ran the dead key for hours in the ignition....no joy.
I have been unlocking quite often using the key hole and then starting to stop the alarm.

As for the bulb thing.....I'm confused. I use basic "Ring" brand xenon = under £5

12v 55w +90% xenon bulbs for mine should be about £20-25 a pair.



I hoping you are talking something way more posh then these? ....otherwise....

 

[USER1999]

Yep, I have just the one key for my Merc. Same deal, new key is £150. No way am I spending that.

 

[Spoff]

OK, currently got a Picasso, looking to change next year and push the boat out, thinking 3 series or an A4.

Can afford the monthly re-payments, can afford the insurance, perhaps can't afford to replace the keys and the lights though!!!

 

[RGDave]

Yep, I have just the one key for my Merc. Same deal, new key is £150. No way am I spending that.

Isn't it weird (not) how a key seems to have a base-line cost?

I have an existing key, the complicated metal section is perfectly usable. That means all I need is the plastic section presumably with a chip in....what's that going to cost to buy?....certainly not more than £10 bought wholesale in job lots.