Valet lost key

[Sterling 4.4]

I want them to re-key car. They want to replace key only. I think that even if they "void" the lost key and give me a new one, it can still be used to enter the vehicle mechanically by inserting into door handle, but not started. Any thoughts on this?

My fear is that the new car wash guy who lost the key has a side job losing keys and either selling them or stealing them. Not sure if my car will be there every time I go to drive it!

[SlickGT1]

Wow that sucks. Yea you can program a certain amount of keys to the computer. To remove old key, you might have to take to dealer. I too would want them to rekey the X. I would of probably got pissed, and called the cops just to get these guys names into a police report. Then take car to dealer, have them rekey, then small claims court.

Oh wait, when I have no option and have to use a valet, I slip them a $20 upfront and tell them I want a front spot, and I hold the keys. I usually get a decent spot, but have always managed to hold onto the keys.

[TwinTurboGTR]

I agree. I would fight to have the car re key'd. If they say no, talk to management. If they say know let them know you will send a barage of bad reviews their way. Contact insurance company and inform them what happened. And then the insurance co may send them a letter(The insurance company's attorneys) and make them pay.

My Advanced Key to my AUdi was "Lost" valet. Called the insurance co, what do you know, Valet co requested the car be taken to Schneider Nelson Audi and have an estimate done to be re-keyed. From the Ignition Lock, driver door lock, Glove box lock and trunk lock. Plus re programming. $3200 later, I got 2 new Advanced Keys, 1 Valet key, and the Plastic ID key. And I didn't pay a dime. Lawyers are good for something sometimes.

[epdarks]

Another reason I NEVER EVER UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE valet my car.

If a restaurant insists on it, I will advise them that I would like to park the car myself or I will go eat somewhere else. Never had an issue.

TOO many shady valet stories to count...

[TerminatorX5]

EWS will allow upto 10 keys programmed in a lifetime of the module with no more then 4 keys active at a time. The key will unlock the doors mechanically but will set off the alarm and should lockout the engine, but still, there is a lot of damage can be done even without the engine...

file a police report, report to your insurance and you should be able to file it under comprehensive coverage which should not increase your premiums. if EWS needs to be replaced (say, you have 7 keys ever programmed and doing 4 new keys not possible) make sure that the EWS is replaced with a brand new module, as a used module may set off your odometer with a tamper dot - have it done at a dealer only, as they know what to do.
If the insurance company gives you grief, it might be a time to shop for new provider...

Good luck

[duckseatfree]

Another option would be to program the car to start only when you enter a 4 digit pin that only you would know. I don't have the manual on me, but I know its there somewhere.

This way, even if they have the key, they wouldn't be able to start it.

[TerminatorX5]

i have the nav, and the pin option (code) is available everytime the engine is turned off but the key is still in the ignition. it means, that you have to set the pin everytime you turn off the car, and then make sure you remember the pin when you try to start the car...

I do not know if you can program the "lockout" to happen automatically everytime you shut off the engine with a previously established pin...

in other words, as it stands now, i can set 0001 when i park the car overnight, then at my dunkin donuts in the morning set to 0002, then, when i am at the dry cleaners, set to 003, then, when i stop by the post office to pick up some mail, i set it to 0005... wait... 0004... yeah... or... was it 0007?

i think duck is onto something but i want to know if i can set the code to, say 0007, once... and it would set everytime i shut off the motor and i need the code to start... that would be cool...

to the OP - press your insurance hard and have a police report... did you get the cops involved?

[SlickGT1]

Originally Posted by TerminatorX5

i have the nav, and the pin option (code) is available everytime the engine is turned off but the key is still in the ignition. it means, that you have to set the pin everytime you turn off the car, and then make sure you remember the pin when you try to start the car...

I do not know if you can program the "lockout" to happen automatically everytime you shut off the engine with a previously established pin...

in other words, as it stands now, i can set 0001 when i park the car overnight, then at my dunkin donuts in the morning set to 0002, then, when i am at the dry cleaners, set to 003, then, when i stop by the post office to pick up some mail, i set it to 0005... wait... 0004... yeah... or... was it 0007?

i think duck is onto something but i want to know if i can set the code to, say 0007, once... and it would set everytime i shut off the motor and i need the code to start... that would be cool...

to the OP - press your insurance hard and have a police report... did you get the cops involved?

Ha, this sounds good but won't work. First I don't think you can set the code to be there always. Second, what would happen if you are in the habit of giving your car to the Valet? You would have to give them that code. If you are to reset the code, you most likely have to go to the dealer, IF it can be programmed in at all. So basically, every time you go to the Valet, you then have to go to the dealer to change said code. lol. That would suck the big one.

[duckseatfree]

I don't know if it's just mine (2005 x5 4.4i), but I have been able to set mine to be the same code all the time (I don't have the nav. in the dash).

[TerminatorX5]

I don't believe you can "set it and forget it".. I mean, not FORGET the code, forget that setting it everytime - I think it is designed to be set everytime you shut off the engine...