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What to Do When You Lose Your BMW Keys BMW cars are expensive and feature sophisticated anti theft technology. This makes them difficult to steal, but complicates matters when you lose your keys. If you've lost a BMW key, the first step is to call your dealership. But this might not be the most practical option. bmw replacement key The Key Lab might think about hiring using a locksmith. 1. Contact the Dealership It's been a long, tiring day. You're just looking to get home and relax in your comfy sweats. Take a bite of pizza and binge-watch your favorite TV show. But before you can do any of that you must make one last stop and return your vehicle keys – which you haven't seen since the beginning of the day. There are a lot of options when it comes to finding your BMW key replacement. The first option is visiting the dealership. You'll be asked to show proof of ownership as well as a valid ID. If you own other keys, they will also need them. The dealership will then order the right key for your vehicle and pair it with the computer chip of your vehicle. This process could take between two and three weeks and cost you $200 if you do not have a spare key. Contacting a locksmith is a different alternative. Many locksmiths have the equipment to cut the BMW key, and they can often do it for only a fraction of the price of the dealership. In addition to cutting the blank, a locksmith can also program it into your vehicle. This could save you lots of time and money, however, you'll have to locate a reliable professional locksmith. If you have an extra key, you can use it to unlock the vehicle. If you don't have a spare key, you will need bring your vehicle to the dealer to replace your lost fob. If you don't avail of an emergency roadside service plan, like Emergency Roadside Service from GEICO it will be an expensive and unwieldy option to get your vehicle back on the road. A good alternative to visiting an auto dealer is to purchase a blank BMW key from an online retailer. This is a more affordable option, but it will need to be programmed by a locksmith or dealer to be fitted to your vehicle, which will increase the cost of the replacement. If you decide to buy a blank from the internet, be sure you check the seller's reputation as well as reviews from customers. 2. Contact a Locksmith While a BMW key and fob could seem like an insignificant accessory to lose however, they are sophisticated pieces of technology designed to increase security. BMW keys come with transponder chips, which provide a unique identification to the vehicle when they are inserted into the ignition. They can also be programmed to store personal settings like seat and mirror positions, radio presets, and more. This level of sophistication makes them highly secure and difficult to take however it also means they are more difficult to replace in the event of loss or damage. It is important to prepare for such a situation by keeping a spare key in an appropriate location, keeping the number of a reputable locksmith at your fingertips and knowing the price of replacing a key. It is important to first identify the kind of fob or key in your car, as the cost of replacing them will vary due to the unique design. If you have an old double-edged key with a keyfob, you can usually get a replacement at the local hardware store for less than $10. But if you have a modern key fob that requires special programming, you'll need to visit either an auto locksmith or a dealership to make sure that the new key fob is properly adapted to the vehicle you own. Before the new key can be made, the locksmith or dealership will be required to verify your identity and ownership of the vehicle to safeguard against fraud and unauthorized key duplication. This usually requires an original copy of your driver's license, registration for your vehicle, or title. It is important to be aware that getting a replacement fob and key could take up to two weeks. During this time, you will not be able to drive your vehicle. As a result, it is recommended to purchase key protection insurance which will pay for the replacement of keys that have been lost and provide you with rental car reimbursement in the event of a sudden loss. 3. Cut a Blank Key You've had a long, tiring day. You're eager to go home, change into your comfy sweatshirt and watch your favorite show. Then you realize that you've lost your car keys. It's the most awful feeling you can ever experience, and it can affect your plans for the evening. There are ways to avoid this hassle and make sure you always have a spare on hand. One option is to get a blank key cut. This can be done either by a dealer or by a locksmith. The procedure is quite simple and requires a couple of tools. First, you'll need to find the keyhole on your BMW. It's located underneath the trim on the bottom of your door handle. You can take off the trim panel once you've located the keyhole. Then you can clamp the blank and original in a vise. Use a file to form a blank to resemble the original. File slowly and cautiously to avoid scraping the original key. Once the blank is cut, you can hold it over a flame and blacken it. This will to make it easier to discern the transfer marks created by the lock. 4. Get a replacement It is also recommended to replace the smart key when your BMW has one (also known as a proximity key). The keys emit an electronic code that opens your car's doors and also begins the engine. This is a great security measure that helps keep your vehicle safe. However it's not perfect, as smart keys are still lost. Finding a replacement at the dealership can be expensive, and they'll have to purchase a brand new one. It could take up to one week for the dealer to process and ship your new key, which will increase the overall cost. The good news is that it's not difficult to find an alternative for the BMW key fob. You can purchase BMW remote key fobs on the internet and have them delivered directly to your door. They are usually cheaper than buying them from a dealer, and can also spare you the hassle of having to drive to the dealer to purchase a replacement key. If you're trying to avoid confusion, be sure to have your VIN in hand and proof of ownership when purchasing an additional key. Another advantage of buying online BMW key fobs is that they come with batteries. This is crucial because the battery in a regular key fob will eventually wear out and need to be replaced. If your battery has a problem, the fob is likely to stop working altogether, which can be dangerous while traveling. Fortunately, you can usually 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 to go. It's not fun to lose keys, but losing the BMW key can be especially stressful. It is important to know what options you have in the event of replacing a lost BMW Key so that you can select the right one for your situation. In the future, try to be extra cautious when it comes to keys for your car, so you don't lose them in the first place! Make sure you check your pockets, your car, and other places where you aren't likely to keep them.