Key Blanks

[Capt Sisko]

My R1250RT has keyless ignition and as people who have this know it also has a flip up metal key for the seat, panniers etc, however I'm kind of wary that one day the flip up bit might break, (it's happened on two cars I've had), so I'm looking at getting a standard key for use on the seat & panniers, thus hopefully prolonging the life of the fob. Is it so simple as just acquiring a key blank and getting it cut locally?
Has anyone done this or are BMW keys so weird Timpsons and the like won't touch them?

Look like I can buy blanks from this lot.
https://www.motorworks.co.uk/key-aca00711-1.html

[beemerboy9]

You should be fine with that - a good automotive key cutter should be able to oblige with cutting the duplicate.

I've done the same thing.

[Steve398]

TBH it’s far more simple to buy a key, ready cut and minus fob, from BMW, it’s not expensive.

IMG_5810.jpeg (392.27 KiB) Viewed 2852 times

[RTs4me]

I've bought non-BMW blank keys from eBay in the past and tried to get them cut at Timpsons and a couple of local locksmiths.

My experiences:
a) The eBay blanks are not of the same quality as BMW keys. The blade material is not as hard. I have no experience of the Motorworks blanks.
b) High street locksmiths can't obtain genuine BMW blanks.
c) High street locksmiths aren't keen to cut a key that they haven't themselves supplied.
d) High street locksmiths can't always cut the profile accurately and may not guarantee the fit.
e) A genuine BMW key ('dumb' key, no transponder, usually grey) bought from a dealer and ordered via proof of ownership (V5 document) is about £25, but it will be durable and will fit.
f) A replacement blade for the flip-out key fob is about £16.

Do it right. Order a genuine key from your BMW dealership and avoid the hassle of non-genuine parts.

[burridge01]

e) A genuine BMW key ('dumb' key, no transponder, usually grey) bought from a dealer and ordered via proof of ownership (V5 document) is about £25, but it will be durable and will fit.
f) A replacement blade for the flip-out key fob is about £16.

How the hell do they then jump to £200+ for a coded key

[Doctor T]

Not sure but my 07 came with 2 coded keys and one uncoded. I don't like keyless cars so I would not like it on my bike.
A mobile auto key cutter should be able to cut a key cheaper.

[Steve398]

Not sure but my 07 came with 2 coded keys and one uncoded. I don't like keyless cars so I would not like it on my bike.
A mobile auto key cutter should be able to cut a key cheaper.

I tried that avenue first… it didn’t work, so I paid my £20-odd and bought one from BMW.

[Doctor T]

That's a shame. It worked for my Tiger when I broke my key.

[RTs4me]

How the hell do they then jump to £200+ for a coded key

Presumably the relatively high price for the 'fob' key is due to the electronic trickery contained within, versus the simple 'blade with a rubber head' of the non-coded 'dumb' key. The transponder key is actually not a bad price, when compared to the cost of some car keys nowadays.

[Steve398]

It was only the fact that I am dreadful for mislaying little things, like wallet, keys, passports, phone, tickets, etc., that I gritted my teeth and bought a spare so my ever-patient pillion could look after it.

Not cheap and not needed it so far but…

[Doctor T]

You can always lose your wallet near me

[Steve398]

You can always lose your wallet near me

Anything’s a possibility, but you’re never going to get rich on my wallet!

[Doctor T]

Anything’s a possibility, but you’re never going to get rich on my wallet!

Bugger was hoping to buy that Devon Estate.

[Capt Sisko]

Just to let you know I went down the ordering one from BMW route. By the time I bought a blank, paid postage, paid for the fuel to ride somewhere that may or may not have been happy to cut a third party key and then no comeback if it didn't work, I thought sod it, twenty five quid ain't that much in the overall scheme of things.