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.