What to Do When You Lose Your BMW Keys BMW cars are expensive, and are equipped with sophisticated anti-theft technology. This makes them difficult to take away however, it can also make things if you lose the key. The first thing to do if you've lost your BMW key is call the dealership. This isn't the most convenient choice. Instead, you may be thinking about using a locksmith. 1. Contact the Dealership It's been a long, tiring day. You just want to get home and curl up in your comfy sweats. Get some pizza and watch your favorite show. You'll need to return the keys to your car and you've not seen them throughout the day. Luckily, you have a variety of options when it comes to finding your BMW key replacement. https://www.metooo.co.uk/u/66e6971ef2059b59ef35171d is to go to the dealership. You'll be asked for proof of ownership as well as an ID that is valid. If you own other keys, they will also require them. The dealership will then request the appropriate key for your car and pair it with the chip in your car's computer. The process can take as long as two weeks and cost you $200 if you do not have a spare key. Contacting a locksmith is a different alternative. Locksmiths are able to cut BMW keys at a fraction of what a dealership charges. A locksmith can program the blank key for your vehicle and cut it. This could save you a lot of time and money, however, you'll need to be sure to find a reliable, professional locksmith. If you have an additional key, you can use it to unlock the vehicle. If you don't have an extra key, you will need bring your vehicle to the dealer to replace the lost fob. This can be expensive, time-consuming and expensive way to get back on the road unless you have a roadside plan like Emergency Roadside Service by GEICO. A better alternative to visiting a dealership is to buy an uncut BMW key from an online retailer. This can be a more affordable alternative, but you'll have to have it programmed to your specific car by a locksmith or dealer, which could increase the cost of the replacement. If you decide to purchase a blank online make sure you check the seller's reputation and customer reviews. 2. Contact for a locksmith While the BMW key and fob might seem like an insignificant accessory to lose but they are actually sophisticated pieces of technology that are designed to increase security. BMW keys are equipped with transponder chips. These chips transmit a unique ID to the vehicle whenever they are placed in the ignition. They can also be programmed to remember personal settings, like mirror and seat positions, radio presets and more. This level of sophistication makes the keys incredibly secure and hard to steal. However, it also makes them harder to replace if they're lost or damaged. It is crucial to be prepared for such an eventuality by keeping a spare in an appropriate location, keeping the number of a reputable locksmith on your phone, and knowing the cost of replacing a key. It is essential to determine the kind of key or fob in your vehicle, as the cost of replacing them will differ in accordance with the unique design. If you have an old double-edged lock with the keyfob, you can generally find the replacement from the local hardware store for less than $10. If you have a contemporary key fob that requires special programming, then you'll have to visit a locksmith or a dealer to make sure that the new key fob is correctly configured to your vehicle. To safeguard against fraud or unauthorised key duplication The locksmith will need to verify that you're the owner of the vehicle as well as your identity. This will usually require an original copy of your driver's licence and registration for your vehicle or title. It is important to know that the process of obtaining a new fob and key could take as long as two weeks, during which time you won't be able to drive your vehicle. As a result, it is recommended to invest in key protection insurance that will cover the cost of replacing keys that have been lost and provide you with rental car reimbursement in the event of a sudden loss. 3. Cut a Key Blank It's been a long, tiring day and you're just dying to go home, change into some comfy sweatpants, order some pizza, and watch your favorite TV show. You realize that you've misplaced your car keys. This is the worst feeling and can cause a major disruption to your plans for the evening. There are ways to avoid the hassle and make sure you always have spare keys in your possession. You can have an uncut, new key made. This can be done by the dealership or by locksmiths. The procedure is relatively simple and involves a few tools. To start, you'll need to find the key hole on your BMW. It's located underneath the trim on the lower part of the door handle. You can take off the trim panel after you've located the keyhole. Then, clamp the blank and the original in a vise. Then, use a file to shape the blank into a similar form to the original. Make sure to file slowly and with care to avoid scraping the original key. Once the blank is cut, you can hold it over a flame and then blacken it. This will in revealing the marks of transfer made by the lock. 4. Get a replacement If your BMW has a smart key (also known as a proximity key), you'll want to replace it as well. These keys emit a unique electronic code that allows you to open your car doors and start the engine. This technology is a great protection against theft to keep your vehicle safe. However, it's not perfect - smart keys may still be lost. The dealer will need to purchase a new key, which is expensive. The dealer could take up to one week to process and deliver a new key. This can increase the 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 and get them delivered to your home. They are typically less expensive than buying from a dealer and will help you avoid the hassle of driving to the dealership to purchase a replacement key. If you want to avoid confusion, be sure to have your VIN handy as well as proof of ownership when purchasing the new key. Online BMW key fobs also have a built-in battery. This is crucial because the battery inside a standard keyfob is eventually worn out and require replacing. If your battery is suffering from a problem, the fob is likely to stop working entirely, which could be a risk when you're driving. If you have a government-issued ID and proof of ownership, you can purchase an alternative key fob for your BMW without a lot of trouble. Losing keys is always a problem but the loss of a BMW loss can be incredibly frustrating. It's crucial to be aware of your options when replacing the lost BMW key so you can pick the most appropriate option for your particular situation. In the future, make an effort to be more careful with your keys to your car so that you don't lose them in first place! Examine your pockets, your car, and other places where you don't usually keep your keys.