Can't Sync Keys

[andrewwynn]

Good info especially if you can pull the ews chip out of valet or master key. You can buy eBay keys designed to port over the chip. Also I had assumed the frequency was the same because I think it uses the same pickup coil as charging for the ews but having it dofrent would reduce odds it would have interference.

[wpoll]

You need a much lower RF frequency for the charging induction field - a 315/433Mhz is too high in frequency to provide much power for charging and powering the EWS circuit. The 125kHz frequency is commonly used on door access systems etc. (Wiegand). And electric toothbrush chargers!

Re. the various keys - a picture is worth 1000 (of my) words! I have a standard "diamond" 433MHz key, plus one of the Illuminated Universal Keys, as shown on the left in this image...



The plastic "Valet" key is on the right?

*edit* I just found something that calls the left hand key above the "Valet" key and the plastic one on the right as a "Wallet" key.

[oldskewel]

Here's my valet key, with the cut-off diamond key fob.

It has the functionality of a valet key in that it does only the minimum needed to valet the car - unlock the door and start the car. It does not unlock the glove box. So I can believe it really should be called a valet key.

To determine if other keys could / should be called valet keys, I think the simple test is whether it opens the glove box. As I recall, it has an extra part on the key that prevents it from even fitting in the glove box key slot.

I think the right-side key in @wpoll's post is:
- not the valet key
- would make sense to be called a wallet key
- I expect it can at the least do the functions of a valet key
- Appears to fit the legend I referred to earlier of an all plastic (except the enclosed circuit) key that is not designed for extended usage.
- It may be what I've seen called a "service key", with PN 51218213932

The "illuminated universal" key fits the functional description (fully functional + light) of what I had found called a "master" key (if we are allowed to say that on here) with a PN of 51218213909.

All info and part numbers here should be suspect, but here are more PNs to look up and confirm if you like. And then still doubt them. This info is all at least 5 years old.
51218213931 - Spare key. Valet key. superseded to 51217124770

51218236594 - EWS III key (per the bmw mini parts store.com - shows …931 superseded to this) [no idea what that means]

66126955750 - Diamond key (not the official name, but what everyone calls it). Master Key with remote control. Universal Key with remote control.

[Qsilver7]

Just more FYI....the FZV/DWA (central locking/alarm siren system) features of the remote keys transmits on either 315 MHz RF or 433 MHz RF. EWS communicates over the 125 KHz radio frequency

There are two different kind of key blades, too. With the older version keys...its easy to tell the valet key from a “master” key (which can open everything)...the valet key does NOT have the groove down the middle of the key blade (see pic below).



The newer key blade's "cut" appears as a grooved out "canyon" that runs down the middle of the blade with the sides of the blade being smooth. I’m not sure how the valet key is cut on the new style blades.