Diamond key replacement

[Masospaghetti]

What is the deal with replacement "diamond" keys? I placed an order for one at the dealer in November and they still show out of stock with no estimated delivery date.


I only have a single key that came with the vehicle and the remote doesn't work. I am concerned of losing the key, and/or the lock cylinder going bad and being stuck.


From what I've heard the eBay replacements all need programming and the BMW dealers won't touch them. Are there any alternatives? This seems like laughably bad service for BMW to force owners to source keys from them (at ridiculous prices, almost $300) and then not even have them available.

[andrewwynn]

I think BMW stopped making them.

I think you’re only real action right now is getting an eBay key that won’t work to start the car but will work as a remote fob


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[Fatcat]

I dont know about OEM but you can definitely get aftermarket ones, they wont feel as nice as genuine, but either way, I highly recommend getting some type of remote keyfob because my lock cylinder got stuck in the rain and broke. we had to drill the lock to open the door and trust me you don't want to do that. scratched my paint

[haigha]

You can program an eBay or aliexpress key (using an AK90 on the EWS module).

I have a couple of keys from the latter. I haven't tried programming them with my AK90 because one of my original keys still works. The other original one went through the washing machine around 2006 and the remote party no longer works. It still starts the car so I have one of the new keys programmed to do the remote functions and the original on the same keyring, as a combined working spare.

Check Google, YouTube or XO for more info on AK90.

[Masospaghetti]

So, after waiting six months at the BMW on backorder, I gave up and found a local locksmith that was capable of making new keys. BMW had no ETA for replacements.


The local locksmith had to remove the module under the driver's dash but all in was $190.

[80stech]

Did you get a refund from BMW ? What did they have to say ?

[andrewwynn]

Good job and that's just about the best price for online dealer when they still sold them


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[Masospaghetti]

Originally Posted by 80stech

Did you get a refund from BMW ? What did they have to say ?

They said they would refund although I haven't seen it yet on my credit card. They were making keys but there was still like 90 people ahead of me after six months and they couldn't provide an estimate when mine would be ready. They had to "submit a ticket" to BMW to cancel, supposedly.

[80stech]

That's crazy and sad. I was told "could" be 6 months for 3 keys now and a lock cylinder and they all showed up in a month or less. At least they are still available though---hopefully.

[talljames]

I only had one key so I got one of these mobile locksmiths that carry the same shape. Not a bad equivelant. That was a few years ago. Now I think the battery is a problem in my original key as I am getting the usual signs of doors not opening every now and then. I am going to do the key battery replacement job (also shown on youtube). Unfortunately, I have to do the reset procedure with my aftermarket key as I had some rear bluetooth module work done by a mechanic recently and lost the remote access to both keys. I did the reset job on my genuine key and didn’t get around to the aftermarket spare key.

On another note, I have a genuine key from the same model I had before this one (before it was written off by someone) so maybe I can just get a new metal part copied and do a programme reset with that one. I am sure wreckers have genuine key bodies lying around. The only thing that would prevent this is if there is a specific code and the electronics would not allow a key reset. But I don’t think this would be the case as once you get passed the manual security of opening the car/starting with a copy of the metal part I think the reset procedure should work.