Car only came with one key (any thoughts?)

[Mission1]

I had the same problem and when I made a few enquiries about a new key I just got told you MUST go to a Stealership and its $675. So I searched Ebay and found a company in Hong Kong who supplies genuine keys with the internal computer and battery, it was about $20 I think. So when it arrived I had to send it to a special locksmith with the vehicle details and VIN to have it cut, a further $15 and had it back in a week.

Then I had a new key to fit the car that needed to be coded to the X5, which I was told by the Stealership could only be done by them for $75. Searched this site and found the directions to have the X5 do it itself in 30 seconds, all done and have two keys that work in all modes.

Be careful with keys on ebay, some do not have the internal electronics.

[neilrmp]

Originally Posted by Mission1

I had the same problem and when I made a few enquiries about a new key I just got told you MUST go to a Stealership and its $675. So I searched Ebay and found a company in Hong Kong who supplies genuine keys with the internal computer and battery, it was about $20 I think. So when it arrived I had to send it to a special locksmith with the vehicle details and VIN to have it cut, a further $15 and had it back in a week.

Then I had a new key to fit the car that needed to be coded to the X5, which I was told by the Stealership could only be done by them for $75. Searched this site and found the directions to have the X5 do it itself in 30 seconds, all done and have two keys that work in all modes.

Be careful with keys on ebay, some do not have the internal electronics.

Never heard of this, BMW are made with ten (10) keys, so you normally have 8 spare if you lost any, you have to go to the dealer with your license and registration to show you own the car, the key is shipped from Germany to local dealer here. I paid $198 for replacement.


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[Qsilver7]

Originally Posted by [B

Mission1[/B]]...I searched Ebay and found a company in Hong Kong who supplies genuine keys with the internal computer and battery, it was about $20 I think. So when it arrived I had to send it to a special locksmith with the vehicle details and VIN to have it cut, a further $15 and had it back in a week. ...

Originally Posted by [B

Mission1...are you sure that you're not leaving out a part of the story? I ask because...it is totally possible to get a remote key that actually works...but the problem is...you need to find someone who has equipment that can read & write the ISN (individual serial number) that has been assigned to your EWS control module & DME/ECU.

As repeatedly explained...the remote keys have 3 different features...and EWS can NOT be resynced or read or reinitialized in the driveway with no equipment or software. It is NOT like the FZV & DWA (central locking & anti-theft alarm siren system) where you can insert the key into the ignition and press a few buttons to program the key to your car. EWS is SPECIFIC to each BMW that has this system installed (see the info in my previous post as to how the car rolls off the assembly line with this feature).

For example, RPM Motorsport LTD... a vendor in Canada ( RPM MOTORSPORT LTD. BMW USED DME ECU Replacement Experts) can make a new BMW key. But...it requires that you send your key & either your EWS control module or your ECU/DME so that they can read the control module to retrieve the ISN. They then burn a new transponder (EEPROM) for a new key with one of the numbers that has already been assigned to your car (again, see the previous info about EWS as it rolls off the assembly line).

In some circumstances this may work for an owner...but in many cases...the time and effort involved to do this may not outweigh going to the local BMW dealership presenting your proof of ownership and the VIN and just getting a key shipped to you by BMW already to go (cut & programmed).

[jgold47]

I just had one done, BMW requires proof of ownership, so take in your title or reqistration paperwork. They order it from NJ, and its there the next day. They SHOULD program it for you gratis. You may even be able to get them to wipe out all the old keys and resync your one existing key if your paranoid about it. I think I paid either 130 or 175, I cant remember for the life of me.

The good thing about wiping the key memory and just having your two keys coded is that there are key specific features that you can access for each key like lighting, seats, etc... you can only have 4 keys assigned to the CKM functions, and if your car had 2 masters and a valet, this key would be #4.

Now are we square from the other thread?

[Squiggy]

Originally Posted by jgold47

I just had one done, BMW requires proof of ownership, so take in your title or reqistration paperwork. They order it from NJ, and its there the next day. They SHOULD program it for you gratis. You may even be able to get them to wipe out all the old keys and resync your one existing key if your paranoid about it. I think I paid either 130 or 175, I cant remember for the life of me.

The good thing about wiping the key memory and just having your two keys coded is that there are key specific features that you can access for each key like lighting, seats, etc... you can only have 4 keys assigned to the CKM functions, and if your car had 2 masters and a valet, this key would be #4.

Now are we square from the other thread?

We are square. Thanks man.

[Bulk]

Did you take it on a picnic and lose a key?.........

[TerminatorX5]

his posts do sound like picnic posts, don't they?

[Mission1]

To add more information to the post. Before I bought the key from Ebay I went to a local euro only Indy service shop and enquired about spare keys as I had also been told ONLY FROM BMW. He said he would have to read my key first and then told me he could not be sure, but at the cost from BMW give it a go. I then got the key from ebay and he read my original again sent the blank to a specialist locksmith in Brisbane.
After I coded the key to the car it does what the original does - unlock the car and start it, which I think was the intent of the original post from the person with one key ! ! !

If BMW could supply me a key for $175 I would have paid it.

[Qsilver7]

Originally Posted by Mission1

To add more information to the post. ...
If BMW could supply me a key for $175 I would have paid it.

Thanks for the update...and now your post makes more sense. I was trying to figure out how a used or blank key got around the EWS transponder chip's ISN.

It's the EWS feature of the key that stops-up the works. Without the same ISN (individual serial number) that is assigned to the EWS control module and DME...the car won't start.

The FZV & DWA features are kids play...any fully charged BMW remote key (using the same frequency & from the same generational BMW siblings e38/e39/e46/e52/e53/e83/e85/Z3) can be programmed to lock/unlock & arm/disarm the vehicle.