So you can do many things, the dealer is raping you.

A new replacement diamond keyfob should be around $175 last I checked. A Valet key should be around $50, BUT it will not get you in the trunk or glovebox.

You could be cheap, buy a Valet key, then get a cheap Amazon aftermarket keyfob and have it cut off the Valet key, then you could program the keyfob to open the doors and the keyfob would open the trunk and glovebox, BUT it will not start the engine.

You could see if there are locksmiths in your area that can program keys, but the problem is they have nothing to copy, so you probably need at least a Valet key anyway.

You can shop around other dealers for pricing or see if they will price match. I think the reason some of the keyfobs are so expensive is they include Service Labor to sync the keyfob to the car which you can do in minutes with no tools or software.

See this thread, you can order a new keyfob from these guys for around $175 on your doorstep unless there has been a major price hike. See toward the end of the thread, BMWMiniPartStore.com as I recall.

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=1008294

 

Eeuroparts.com sells themfor about $179. https://www.eeuroparts.com/Cars/BMW/2030/2003-325xi-E46-2-5L-6-Cyl-24-Valve/?search=ignition+key
There's also a guy on the e46 Facebook page that makes them, try there too.

 

I joined my local CCA chapter and I wait for one of the local dealers to have an undercarriage tech session. Usually the parts guy will offer 25% off parts bought or ordered the same day. This reduces the key price from ***8220;outrageous***8221; to simply ***8220;grossly excessive***8221;. But I am one of those people who will lose sleep if I don***8217;t have two keys to every vehicle. Family members have a tendency to lose keys..

 

I paid 230 in dec from a dealer in Houston. Call around. Sometimes they will price match other dealers.


Sent from my iPhone using E46Fanatics

 

The transponder is now the easy, inexpensive part to create. An AK90+ system is now under $30 shipped from the US, or $25 shipped from China. A complete diamond key with unlock transmitter and transponder is $10 from Amazon Prime.

You might find a well-equipped locksmith with a tool that decodes the key cut codes while picking the lock. A top-end key cutting machine can then cut a key from the key code.

There is certainly such a well-equipped locksmith in the San Diego area, but I don't know how you would find them.

There are plenty of locksmiths that can trace-cut a copy from an original key. That type of key cutter is much less expensive -- I have one, a Defu 368a, for my personal use. But of course you need to either buy a key from the dealer or find your old one for that approach.

 

I paid $214 at the dealer last week for a new master key. They also offered a standard key that does everything except lock/ unlock for $75

 

Last time people were ordering keys from here

https://thebmwminipartstore.com/

 

Go to http://www.thebmwminipartstore.com/ and enter 66126955750 into the Search by Part Number box. They are a BMW dealer.
This should give you a price of $166.21 for a Cut Key with Code including shipping.
You need to email them photocopies of your driver license (or suitable ID) and the vehicle registration to confirm you are the registered owner.

I would buy two keys.

 

I bought an AK90 ews programmer, two blank keys, and a cheap key duplicator from ebay.
Overall it cost me about the same as a new key from a dealership but now I can make keys for future vehicles.
You could save a lot of money if you only programmed the key and had someone else cut it!

 

The one wildcard here is the OP has NO key! So nothing to easily duplicate.

Might be possible to figure out the key pathway from disassembling a lock or a pro pick took, but Jesus find a dealer that will sell a Valet key for $50 and at least you can drive the car, may not be able to get in the truck, but I am sure the OP could deal with this unless he has a fold down rear seat.

 

Oops that's an important detail I totally missed. If a valet key is $50, it still wouldn't be prohibitively expensive to get a key duplicator and use the valet key to cut a working remote key.
Probably could get everything needed for less than the cost of what OP's dealership is charging for a single key.

 

Let me clarify: I ordered the key at the dealership who had the key cut at their New Jersey distribution center and then they overnighted it to the dealership. This is where I picked the key up the next day. My point was that I did not need to show a key to have a new one made and the fact that I paid $214 instead of $360. Also BMW offered me a basic key for $75 instead of a master key. That's all.

 

You are not understanding the big picture here. Sure you do not need a key to order one via the dealer, this is well known.

HOWEVER, the OP was told that by using an AK90 EWS transponder programmer that he could set a key up to work with the EWS system. Also mentioned was a local locksmith could possibly make a key. But without ANY key to make a copy from it is VERY difficult to figure out the key slot layout.

I am quite well aware of exactly how BMW orders the keys. But there are also ways around dealing with BMW albeit not always quick and easy unless someone has the hardware, software and experience.

The OP should follow what I told him in the 2nd post in this thread and has been subsequently told. Order a keyfob, Valet or Spare key from www.thebmwminipartstore.com/

 

I misunderstood the two options between dealer and AK90. Just trying to help.

 

Just to have it all on one place - https://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=1226882

 

E Europarts $189.00

 

www.thebmwminipartstore.com/ $166.21

 

"when you break the drivers door lock link you might require a brick for a MASTER key if the central locking button in the console does not work, the GM5 relays are flaky, the vehicle battery is weak or dead"

^ can you pls expound on this



"Having only 1 working keyfob for a BMW is a future broken window waiting to happen."

Why is that?

 

I suggest you spend about 2 hours searching and reading up about the BMW E46 locking system, it is very complex and complicated and owning a 15+ year old BMW with only 1 keyfob is STUPID. Also not maintaining and fixing problems with the locking system and buttons is STUPID. Search my user name and the terms keyfobs, locking, GM5, you many need to use Google because the search function here is marginal.

Ignore my advice and you will be using a brick and replacing a window then fixing all the things you should have maintained.

Also read up on www.bmwgm5.com

Every BMW owner needs at least 2 working keyfobs, even if one is only a $10 Asian keyfob that is not cut and down not start the car. Trust me.

 

i have 2 chipped fob master keys but one of them doesnt remotely unlock/lock the doors anymore. not sure if it is a batt issue but some say the batt isnt replaceable nor the fob is repairable?

 

www.bmwgm5.com

Scott will usually repair the keyfob for around $50 as I recall. RARELY is the battery the problem, most people that cut the keys open screw them up. Usually the switches or components are problematic.

Or just buy 2 check keyfobs on Amazon for $20 and program these along with the 1 working keyfob.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01IHLYLR6/ref=oh_aui_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

http://www.bmwgm5.com/key_recode.htm

This is what most keys first timers cut open end up like!

http://www.bmwgm5.com/kf_wos.htm

 

im more aware now about its complexities thanks a lot