Quote:
Originally Posted by Bdc101
...I may still get a new OEM diamond key as a second key....
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I never have gotten a second key, though I've had it for 28 months now. The single,original diamond key was the only one I received, and the battery died a day or two after I received it, and I had to open it and install a new battery, immediately, as I surely didn't want to have the door handle problems caused by manually unlocking it too many times.
I accidently damaged a wire in the fob when I cut it open, and though I soldered it back in place, I fear that it'll break loose again, so I bought two generic remote "diamond" keys from ebay, just so that I could use them
only to unlock the door handle or trunk remotely (I never got the "key" part laser-cut on either one). My wife immediately lost one, within days, so I have only one remote-only (no chip inside) spare left. As it came with a non-rechargeable battery already installed, I figure it'll die within 2-3-4 years (most watch-type batteries I've had never last much longer than that), so I'm going to have to get another soon, to be safe. No problem there, as the same source on ebay still sells them, so I can wait until the remaining spare goes bad.
Meanwhile, I keep my real key charged on a Philips Sonicare toothbrush charger, and I'm very careful not to drop it (and possible jar the wire inside loose); also, I've never lost an ignition key, in 58 years of car ownership (knock on wood).
But, today, while sourcing a local laser-cutting locksmith (or machine) nearby, to cut my wife's just-purchased spare physical key (missing from the secondary fob, of her new-to her 2014 Lexus), I had a link pop-up to a source for BMW diamond keys, which led me to another link that I thought I'd try first
https://roskinc.com/
For $20, this vendor offers a "diamond key shell", so I could have it standing-by to replace my original, and it will come with the key itself already laser-cut (sent photos of it to copy). I ordered one, just to see. If I receive a key/shell back from them that will physically turn my door handle lock (ignition tumbler, too) then they offer this:
Though I'm hesitant about trusting my EWS to USPS (or to any shipper, nowadays), it might be the cheapest way to get another fully-functional diamond key. Time will tell.