Can You Program a Second Hand Key?

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Lancsbob
Joined: Fri 15 Aug, 2014 16:35
Posts: 256

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Location: Ormskirk

Can You Program a Second Hand Key?

Post by Lancsbob »

Can you program a second hand remote key off Ebay as i'm needing a spare
and there are a few for sale. Mine is the later 3 button type.
Is it just a case of initialising it as per handbook or is there
more to it than that.

Cheers Bob
therealdb1
Joined: Tue 25 Jun, 2013 21:47
Posts: 263

  Z3 roadster 2.0

Re: Can You Program a Second Hand Key?

Post by therealdb1 »

When I got my Z it only had one key with the 3 buttons on it and looked like it had been used by a labrador!
I initially went down the ebay route and found it was quite difficult to get anyone to cut a blank to fit my locks for less than about £50 and then guarantee it would work. You should be able to programme the key to the car or so I was told. All sounded too dubious to me so I handed over about £110, from memory, and my chassis number to my favourite BMW independent, waved the V5 under his nose and the following day I had a brand new key that has operated flawlessly ever since (about 5 years now!).
Sometimes life is just simpler and not much more expensive to just bite the bullet and buy the correct thing once!

By the way Bob, how is the cam sensor going; any more code 12?
Lancsbob
Joined: Fri 15 Aug, 2014 16:35
Posts: 256

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Location: Ormskirk

Re: Can You Program a Second Hand Key?

Post by Lancsbob »

therealdb1 wrote:When I got my Z it only had one key with the 3 buttons on it and looked like it had been used by a labrador!
I initially went down the ebay route and found it was quite difficult to get anyone to cut a blank to fit my locks for less than about £50 and then guarantee it would work. You should be able to programme the key to the car or so I was told. All sounded too dubious to me so I handed over about £110, from memory, and my chassis number to my favourite BMW independent, waved the V5 under his nose and the following day I had a brand new key that has operated flawlessly ever since (about 5 years now!).
Sometimes life is just simpler and not much more expensive to just bite the bullet and buy the correct thing once!

By the way Bob, how is the cam sensor going; any more code 12?
Thanks for the info Re:- key
After the initial run of about 20 miles & still no faults i havn't checked again but i will leave
it a few months & have another look. Thanks for asking.

Cheers Bob
siwilson
Joined: Fri 19 Jun, 2009 09:54
Posts: 790

  M roadster S54
Location: Horley

Re: Can You Program a Second Hand Key?

Post by siwilson »

You can program a second hand key yourself, but it won't allow you to start the car and obviously the key won't fit your locks. The best option if you don't want to fork out for one from a dealer is t go the eBay route I followed here. A local place cut the key for me.
2001 M roadster S54 Laguna Seca Blue
William P
Joined: Wed 17 Jun, 2015 10:36
Posts: 12

  Z3 roadster 1.9i

Re: Can You Program a Second Hand Key?

Post by William P »

Had the same issue my self, this guy is really good https://www.carkeyhelp.co.uk/, he will cut you a key from a digital photo and you can then fit your internals in it. Cost about £12. I have a second key from him which has the internals from a key I bought of ebay. It will unlock the car via remote or just using the key, programming the remote function is as normal. What it will not do is start the car as the transponder will need reprogramming by a specialist, but you have to send your key and ews unit to them. But at least now I have a spare key to unlock the car. He also provides the BMW key code so you can request another just by quoting this number.
siwilson
Joined: Fri 19 Jun, 2009 09:54
Posts: 790

  M roadster S54
Location: Horley

Re: Can You Program a Second Hand Key?

Post by siwilson »

William P wrote:Had the same issue my self, this guy is really good https://www.carkeyhelp.co.uk/, he will cut you a key from a digital photo and you can then fit your internals in it. Cost about £12. I have a second key from him which has the internals from a key I bought of ebay. It will unlock the car via remote or just using the key, programming the remote function is as normal. What it will not do is start the car as the transponder will need reprogramming by a specialist, but you have to send your key and ews unit to them. But at least now I have a spare key to unlock the car. He also provides the BMW key code so you can request another just by quoting this number.
Just use the transponder from your old knackered key. They are easily removed and its also safer than having someone mess with your EWS system.
2001 M roadster S54 Laguna Seca Blue
Lancsbob
Joined: Fri 15 Aug, 2014 16:35
Posts: 256

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Location: Ormskirk

Re: Can You Program a Second Hand Key?

Post by Lancsbob »

What i have actually got is an original remote key but missing
its electronics but still with its transponder so it still opens
car doors manually & can still start the car,what i want to
know is if i bought a used key & put its electronics board into
my old key will i be able to initialise it as per manual & use it
to remotely unlock car & turn off alarm.

Bob
siwilson
Joined: Fri 19 Jun, 2009 09:54
Posts: 790

  M roadster S54
Location: Horley

Re: Can You Program a Second Hand Key?

Post by siwilson »

Lancsbob wrote:What i have actually got is an original remote key but missing
its electronics but still with its transponder so it still opens
car doors manually & can still start the car,what i want to
know is if i bought a used key & put its electronics board into
my old key will i be able to initialise it as per manual & use it
to remotely unlock car & turn off alarm.

Bob
Yes. All you need is the circuit board and that can be initialised using the procedure below.

Image
2001 M roadster S54 Laguna Seca Blue
Lancsbob
Joined: Fri 15 Aug, 2014 16:35
Posts: 256

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Location: Ormskirk

Re: Can You Program a Second Hand Key?

Post by Lancsbob »

Thanks for that,thats what i tried a few times with my
old key but it wouldn't initialise so i opened it up & found
corrosion on pcb. I might try the used key route & see
as they are only £12 or so, worth a try instead of £120+
from BMW.

Bob
siwilson
Joined: Fri 19 Jun, 2009 09:54
Posts: 790

  M roadster S54
Location: Horley

Re: Can You Program a Second Hand Key?

Post by siwilson »

Another good tip is to hold the key near the rear view mirror while you press the buttons. I found the programming sequence more reliable that way.
2001 M roadster S54 Laguna Seca Blue
therealdb1
Joined: Tue 25 Jun, 2013 21:47
Posts: 263

  Z3 roadster 2.0

Re: Can You Program a Second Hand Key?

Post by therealdb1 »

Forgot to mention, Bob, when I bought my replacement key from Motormec, not a franchised dealer, there was no need for any of this pfaffing about reprogramming it worked straight out of the packet.
Remotely opened the doors and started the car as well as fitting all of the locks to manually unlock.
To me a wiser investment all around.
People seem to baulk at paying £100 for a key these days without realising that they are not just buying a key but a remote control and part of the immobiliser too and yet they happily spend money on things like wheel spacers because they got the wrong offset wheels cheap somewhere.
I think I should stop looking at this forum; I always end with a rant! :head:
But it is fun and a useful source of information!
Lancsbob
Joined: Fri 15 Aug, 2014 16:35
Posts: 256

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Location: Ormskirk

Re: Can You Program a Second Hand Key?

Post by Lancsbob »

I think I should stop looking at this forum; I always end with a rant! :head:

No don't leave, everone's opinions are valuable & of interest, thats the whole
point of forums & they are a goldmine of information including your's.
Thanks for taking the trouble to contribute. :)
I see your point regarding a new key & i will probably bite the bullet
& buy new but for the cost of £12 i think i may just try & see just
to satisfy my curiosity.

Cheers Bob
siwilson
Joined: Fri 19 Jun, 2009 09:54
Posts: 790

  M roadster S54
Location: Horley

Re: Can You Program a Second Hand Key?

Post by siwilson »

You now part of the fun of these forums is learning how to do the things that 'normal' people would not or could not normally do. Things like updating your key to one BMW never officially offered or performing diagnostics that prevent you getting shafted by a garage are two good examples. You can also find out what the correct offset should be so you get the correct cheap wheels off eBay and they fit like a glove.

Would I ever compromise the security or safety of my car with a mod. Never. That's why I used the immobiliser chip form my old key and had the key cut locally. I wouldn't want anyone with my address messing with my EWS or being able to cut multiple keys from a photo. However trustworthy that may seem. I could (and probably will) buy a new key at some point because I like to have there genuine article, but where's the fun in that?

If you can separate the quality info from the BS, the helpers from the haters then boards like this are a wealth of fun and information. Luckily we have a good crowd here which is why I have been here over 10 years.
2001 M roadster S54 Laguna Seca Blue
Cooper01
Joined: Tue 29 Apr, 2014 08:06
Posts: 163

  Z3 roadster 3.0i

Re: Can You Program a Second Hand Key?

Post by Cooper01 »

Hi, I looked into this myself.

You cannot buy a cheap 3 button key from Ebay and program it to work starting the car. The reason is that there is a specific chipset in the BMW key. The key of course can be cut and it will open the doors and such but it wont start the car. You mentioned that the internals are stuffed so moving those internals into another key housing doesn't seem like an option. They keys incorporate a ever changing or rolling security code.

I needed a second key and a great friend in England assisted me in getting on from Nottingham dealer for 45 pounds, but that just opens the doors and starts the car. They wants more than 100 pounds to do the same thing here is Australia.

Oh, and forget those cheap AR [????] coder machines. I contacted the manufacturer directly and it cannot encode the chip to the BMW specification. No one sells the BMW chip, I spend hours trying to find it from all over the world. Best to shell out the $ and get one from a Dealer but shop around for a good price. :)

Cheers,
siwilson
Joined: Fri 19 Jun, 2009 09:54
Posts: 790

  M roadster S54
Location: Horley

Re: Can You Program a Second Hand Key?

Post by siwilson »

There are two bits of electronics in the remote key. The circuit board for the remote door locking and the chip for the immobiliser. The remote locking can be programmed using the method shown above. The chip for the immobiliser is much more tricky, so best not to mess with that. Just put your old chip in the new key and voila!

This is a picture of one of those £10 eBay keys I successfully programmed last time. It actually came with a new immobiliser chip, but I won't be using that.

Image
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BladeRunner919
Joined: Fri 17 Feb, 2012 20:18
Posts: 2225

  Z3 roadster 1.9

Re: Can You Program a Second Hand Key?

Post by BladeRunner919 »

Cooper01 wrote:Hi, I looked into this myself.

You cannot buy a cheap 3 button key from Ebay and program it to work starting the car. The reason is that there is a specific chipset in the BMW key. The key of course can be cut and it will open the doors and such but it wont start the car. You mentioned that the internals are stuffed so moving those internals into another key housing doesn't seem like an option. They keys incorporate a ever changing or rolling security code.
The OP says that he has a key with a working transponder, so he can use an ebay key and make up a fully working key.
Cooper01
Joined: Tue 29 Apr, 2014 08:06
Posts: 163

  Z3 roadster 3.0i

Re: Can You Program a Second Hand Key?

Post by Cooper01 »

Sorry Bladerunner, I got confused with his posts cause one mentioned his BCB was corroded! Looks like i need to get my eyes checked again lol.
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