What You Need To Do With This BMW Keys

What to Do When You Lose Your BMW Keys

BMW cars are expensive and feature sophisticated anti-theft technology. This makes them extremely difficult to steal, but can make things when you lose your keys.

If you've lost the BMW key, the first step is to contact your dealer. This might not be the most practical option. Instead, you may be thinking about a locksmith.

1. Call the Dealership

It's been a long day and you're eager to get home, put on some comfy clothes, grab a slice of pizza, and binge watch your favorite show. You'll need to return the keys to your car, which you haven't seen throughout the day.

You have a few options to pick from when you need an replacement BMW key. The first option is to go to the dealership. You'll need proof of ownership, an ID with a valid photo, and any other keys you own. The dealership will then request the correct key for your car and pair it with the chip in your car's computer. This process can take upwards of two weeks, and will cost you at most $200 in the event that you don't have a backup keys.

Another option is to call a locksmith. Locksmiths can cut BMW keys at a fraction of what a dealership charges. In addition to cutting the blank, a locksmith can also program it to your vehicle. This can save you a significant amount of time and money, however, you'll need to choose a reputable, professional locksmith.

If you have an extra key, you may try using it to unlock your car. If not, you'll need to have your car towed into the dealership for replacement of your lost key fob. This will be expensive, time-consuming and expensive way to get back on the road unless you have a roadside plan such as Emergency Roadside Service by GEICO.

A better alternative to visiting an auto dealer is to purchase an uncut BMW key from an online seller. This can be a more affordable alternative, but you'll have to have it programmed for the specific vehicle by a dealer or locksmith that could increase the cost of the replacement. If you do choose to purchase a blank online, be sure to check the reputation of the seller and read customer reviews.

2. Contact a locksmith

While the BMW key and fob may appear to be a minor thing to lose however, they are sophisticated pieces of technology designed to enhance security. BMW keys are fitted with transponder chips. These chips provide a unique identification to the vehicle when they are placed in the ignition. They can also be programmed to keep personal settings, such as mirror and seat positions, radio presets and more. This level of sophistication makes keys incredibly secure and hard to take. However, it makes them harder to replace if they're damaged or lost.

Therefore,  source website  is important to be prepared for this type of scenario by storing a spare key in a secure place, having a reliable locksmith in your phone contacts, and understanding the basic cost of a replacement key. It is important to first identify the type of fob or key in your vehicle, since the cost of replacing them will differ depending on its unique design.

If you have an old, double-edged key with a keyfob, you can usually get the replacement from a local hardware shop for less than $10. If you have an advanced key fob that requires special programming, then you'll have to visit a locksmith or a dealer to ensure that the new fob is correctly configured to the vehicle you own.

To guard against fraud or unauthorized key duplicates, the locksmith will need to verify that you're the owner of the vehicle and your identity. This usually requires the original driver's license, registration for your vehicle, or title.

It is crucial to understand that getting a replacement key and fob could take as long as two full weeks. For this period, you will not be able to drive in your car. As a result it is recommended to invest in key protection coverage which will cover the cost of replacing keys lost and will provide you with rental car reimbursement in the event of a sudden loss.

3. Cut a Blank Key

It's been a tiring day and you just want to go home, change into comfy sweatpants, grab some pizza, and watch your favorite TV show. You realize that you've misplaced the keys to your car. This is the worst feeling ever, and it can really put a damper on your evening plans.

There are ways to avoid the hassle and ensure you always have spare keys on hand. You can request a new, blank key made. This can be done by the dealership or a locksmith. The process is simple and requires only the use of a few tools.

First, you'll have to locate the keyhole on your BMW. The keyhole is located at the bottom of the door handle, under the trim panel. Once you've located the keyhole, you can remove the trim panel to expose it.

Then you can clamp the blank and the original in a vise. Use a file to form the blank in a way that it resembles the original. Make sure you file slowly and cautiously, as you don't want to scrape the original key. Once the blank has been cut, you can hold it over a flame and then blacken it. This will help in revealing the marks of transfer made by the lock.

4. Get a replacement

You'll also want to replace the smart key when your BMW has one (also known as a proximity key). These keys emit an electronic code that opens your car's doors and also begins the engine. This technology is a great security measure to keep your vehicle safe. However it's not perfect, as smart keys are still lost. Dealers will have order a new key, which can be expensive. It could take up one week for the dealer to process and send your new key, which can increase the overall cost.

The good news is that it's not hard to find an alternative for a BMW key fob. You can buy BMW remote key fobs on the internet and have them delivered right to your doorstep. They're usually less expensive than buying them from a dealer and can also spare you the hassle of driving to the dealer to pick up a replacement key. If you're trying to avoid confusion, be sure to have your VIN handy and proof of ownership when ordering a new key.

Another benefit of buying online BMW key fobs is that they come with a battery. This is crucial because the battery inside a regular keyfob will eventually degrade and need to be changed. If your battery is suffering from a problem, the fob will likely stop working altogether, which can be dangerous when you're traveling. Fortunately, you can find a replacement for your BMW's key fob from the manufacturer without much hassle provided you have your government ID and proof of ownership ready to go.

Losing keys is always a problem however, the loss of a BMW loss can be especially frustrating. It is important to be aware of your options when you need to replace a lost BMW key so you can pick the most appropriate option for your particular situation. In the future, try to be more careful with your keys to your car so that you do not lose them in the first place! If you do lose them, make sure to keep an eye on your pockets as well as your car and places where you wouldn't normally keep them in.