Replacement 'proper' key

[Gareth Rowbotham]

My S50 Z3M is still in the garage but in the meantime I thought I'd pop into the local BMW dealer and ask about getting another key.

When I bought the car, it only came with one key - the spare! So no remote operation, and I'm assuming no setting alarm/immobiliser - just works the central locking and starts the car.

However, at the BMW dealer, they say part number 51218374065 is no longer available - its been discontinued as some of the parts for the remote can no longer be made by the supplier. (All BMW can offer is a Universal key 51218205443 for £35 + VAT)

Anyone had any experience of this? Can you get a third party key coded to the car? Anyone recommend someone in the Sheffield area?

Apologies if this is covered elsewhere in another thread (I searched the forum but no luck)...

 

[colb]

It appears that you need a 433MHz key for your car with the central locking printed circuit board in the fob part of the key and the correct type of blade. My Z3 has a tombstone shaped key fob where the Z4 has a Diamond shaped fob and a different blade than the Z3.
You can buy blanks on ebay but then you have to find someone to cut the key and then programme it to the EWS module in the car to allow it to start the car. The central locking function is operated by the circuit board in the key fob and is easy to sync to the car. The ebay keys are cheap but getting them coded to the car to allow it to start can be a pain if you get the required software and coding machine to do it yourself. Been through this with my Z4 key and ended up getting a mobile locksmith to code the key I had cut, cost me £130. The added complication is that the EWS module has to be removed from the car and its pogramme read on a key coding machine in order to programme a new key.
There are members on here who can do this and will have reccomendations for people who offer key coding service maybe near you, no doubt they will be along shortly to advise further.

 

[Robert Hill]

Bmw can get me a key but I will have to sell my kidney to pay for it so I was lucky enough to find a company in Edinburgh and are willing to travel to Alloa where I live and cut and code new key for £150 HE WILL HAVE TO REMOVE EWS so hopefully I'll have a spare

 

[Robert Hill]

Update on spare key the company that coded my spare key is keyz from Edinburgh because of the travel restrictions I collected the transponder from them and the spare key I installed transponder I now have two spare keys that work perfectly by the way the circuit board and chip for my z3 is the same used on the range rover

 

[Gareth Rowbotham]

Update on spare key the company that coded my spare key is keyz from Edinburgh because of the travel restrictions I collected the transponder from them and the spare key I installed transponder I now have two spare keys that work perfectly by the way the circuit board and chip for my z3 is the same used on the range rover

Thanks - gonna look up Keyz from Edinburgh.....!

 

[Robert Hill]

This is the details of keyz

 

[Gareth Rowbotham]

Thanks - I found them on Facebook and have sent them a message..

This is the details of keyz

 

[Robert Hill]

If you remove transponder and send to them keyz will return it with new key two minutes removes transponder

 

[Gareth Rowbotham]

If you remove transponder and send to them keyz will return it with new key two minutes removes transponder

I don't have the original key with transponder - just the spare. So I was hoping after lockdown, they could come to the car and read it from the car....

We shall see. Could be a while waiting...

 

[Robert Hill]

To code a key on z3 you need a transponder the transponder is under the cover above the pedals it's a white box held in place with two 10mm bolts easy to remove if you have a blank key it can be coded to the transponder
Then get it cut or send them your key a blank key and transponder the circuit board and chip that's in the key is the same used by range rover hope this helps

 

[Robert Hill]

There is no way keyz will travel to Yorkshire there inundated with work and don't have to travel to far to get work at present there on a 7 day week

 

[Gareth Rowbotham]

There is no way keyz will travel to Yorkshire there inundated with work and don't have to travel to far to get work at present there on a 7 day week

Wow - that's busy! I may look at the other option you suggested then.... Cheers!

 

[ViperKen]

Just picked up my new key from BMW today. Cost £60.
It is the exact copy/style of my original key complete with light and came coded. coded

 

[Robert Hill]

It's different from my key my key has alarm central locking if it works well done parks BMW wanted £240

 

[ViperKen]

It's different from my key my key has alarm central locking if it works well done parks BMW wanted £240

Yeah, mines 1998, the alarm functions came on a separate fob, better known as the brick

 

[Robert Hill]

All my functions are on the key that has three buttons lock unlock and boot lock but at least you have a key

 

[Althulas]

Just picked up my new key from BMW today. Cost £60.
It is the exact copy/style
of my original key complete with light and came coded.View attachment 170653 coded

Mines 10/98, I have this key with the EWS fob. I didn’t realise that this style key needed coding as I thought it was the remote that activated the immobiliser and alarm and the later three button key had the gubbins for the alarm remote and immobiliser.

@Gareth Rowbotham did you manage to sort yours out? There are services on eBay https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/263437439343

 

[Gareth Rowbotham]

Mines 10/98, I have this key with the EWS fob. I didn’t realise that this style key needed coding as I thought it was the remote that activated the immobiliser and alarm and the later three button key had the gubbins for the alarm remote and immobiliser.

@Gareth Rowbotham did you manage to sort yours out? There are services on eBay https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/263437439343

Nothing sorted yet - still looking.....

 

[ViperKen]

Mines 10/98, I have this key with the EWS fob. I didn’t realise that this style key needed coding as I thought it was the remote that activated the immobiliser and alarm and the later three button key had the gubbins for the alarm remote and immobiliser.

@Gareth Rowbotham did you manage to sort yours out? There are services on eBay https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/263437439343

I presume that the coding refers to the transponder chip inside the key. The reciept/paperwork that came with the key quotes the EWS version fitted to the car and the BMW coding station.

 

[Robert Hill]

The transponder is above the foot well just below the steering wheel its held in place with two 10 mm bolts
It communicates with the printed circuit board in the key that also has a chip when the transponder recognises the key it tells the ecu that the car can start plus unlocks the doors and tells the alarm to switch off you need the transponder to code the key to if keys were that easy to get you could steal any z3 by the way the printed circuit in the key plus chip are the same used in range rovers the key has 3 buttons and is not diamond shaped