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Key Blanks

Posted: Fri Jul 26, 2024 8:38 pm
by 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

Re: Key Blanks

Posted: Fri Jul 26, 2024 8:51 pm
by 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.

Re: Key Blanks

Posted: Fri Jul 26, 2024 9:18 pm
by Steve398
TBH it’s far more simple to buy a key, ready cut and minus fob, from BMW, it’s not expensive.

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Re: Key Blanks

Posted: Fri Jul 26, 2024 11:12 pm
by 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.

Re: Key Blanks

Posted: Sat Jul 27, 2024 6:05 am
by burridge01
RTs4me wrote: Fri Jul 26, 2024 11:12 pm 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 :roll:

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Re: Key Blanks

Posted: Sat Jul 27, 2024 12:54 pm
by 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.

Re: Key Blanks

Posted: Sat Jul 27, 2024 1:20 pm
by Steve398
Doctor T wrote: Sat Jul 27, 2024 12:54 pm 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.

Re: Key Blanks

Posted: Sat Jul 27, 2024 1:23 pm
by Doctor T
That's a shame. It worked for my Tiger when I broke my key.

Re: Key Blanks

Posted: Sat Jul 27, 2024 1:50 pm
by RTs4me
burridge01 wrote: Sat Jul 27, 2024 6:05 am How the hell do they then jump to £200+ for a coded key :roll:

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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.

Re: Key Blanks

Posted: Sat Jul 27, 2024 5:30 pm
by 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…

Re: Key Blanks

Posted: Sat Jul 27, 2024 5:32 pm
by Doctor T
You can always lose your wallet near me

Re: Key Blanks

Posted: Sat Jul 27, 2024 5:35 pm
by Steve398
Doctor T wrote: Sat Jul 27, 2024 5:32 pm You can always lose your wallet near me
Anything’s a possibility, but you’re never going to get rich on my wallet! :lol:

Re: Key Blanks

Posted: Sun Jul 28, 2024 1:24 pm
by Doctor T
Steve398 wrote: Sat Jul 27, 2024 5:35 pm Anything’s a possibility, but you’re never going to get rich on my wallet! :lol:
:( :( Bugger was hoping to buy that Devon Estate.

Re: Key Blanks

Posted: Mon Aug 12, 2024 11:25 am
by 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.