Replacement keys

[Lost John]

What is the truth about BMW 1200 GS keys, are they coded or are they just a standard cut key. I find it hard to believe the are electronically coded as the workshop key is just a plastic thing.

Do you have to go to BMW for a replacment and how much should you pay?

 

[richtel]

Believe they are indeed coded- there'll be a small RF transponder in the key hilt which the system interrogates via the key ring antenna.

I had one made up by the dealer at the last service so that I had at least one other proper 'spare' key ( the spare provided being just a naff plastic emergency key). The dealer just sent away for the key- it came already coded for the bike.... just needed the usual proof of ownership. Cost £33.

 

[jamm13dodger]

That's good to know, I could do with a spare too. I'll give Balderstons a ring on Monday and see if I can order a new one over the phone. Doubt it, but worth a try.

 

[Wapping]

..... I find it hard to believe the are electronically coded as the workshop key is just a plastic thing.

Well, let's see.

I have two BMW's both with the same EWS system and both with the little plastic key, too. If I put the key(s) of one bike into the other bike it doesn't go brum, brum, brum like it should. In fact it does, nothing.... much as one might expect, or BMW bikes would not need to be lifted into the back of vans to be stolen.... The thieves would just use, wait for it.... a genuine BMW key, to start them and then just ride away. Have you ever tried to lift a 1200 GS into a van to steal it? They are very heavy and very awkward, trust me; using a key (thoughtfully provided by BMW for just a few pounds) would be so much easier.

So, you'll just have to believe the unbelievable. As hard as that may be.

====

Alice laughed. 'There's no use trying,' she said 'one can't believe impossible things.'

'I daresay you haven't had much practice,' said the Queen. 'When I was your age, I always did it for half-an-hour a day. Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.....'

 

[EggChaser]

There's a thread on AdvRider about this and it seems you can order a key that is coded for your bike, so no programming needed on the bike itself.

However as you can also cancel a key from starting your bike if you lose it, then they must seed the bike with a sequence of codes just in case.

BTW the plastic "Wallet Key" does have an RF ID built in, but this may not be the same as the workshop key.

 

[littleredrooster]

IIRC, all bikes come from the factory with three keys plus the plastic key (which is perfectly usable, should the need arise). One (plus plastic) is supplied with the bike, one is kept at the dealer and one is retained at the factory. If any more are required, it then becomes a bit of a job to recode them to the bike.

 

[Wapping]

One is kept at the dealer's and one at BMW's in Germany?

Are you sure?

Do they have sufficient hooks to hang them all on? What happens if one or two fall off? Which key is which? Imagine the chaos if two (or heaven forbid, more) keys became muddled.

What happens when a bike from London is sold to a bod in Penzance? Does the dealer throw the key away? Or do they keep it on its hook, on the off chance the bike comes in one day? Or do they send it to the nearest dealership to the bike's new home? Or maybe they send it back to Germany, to hang alongside the its sibling?

I hope all the above is found to be the truth. It would go a long way to explaining BMW's high overheads.


PS I received two metal keys with my bikes and the plastic thingy one. I do hope I haven't got the one BMW (or the dealership) should have kept. Someone will get into trouble when they find out, I bet. BMW monitor this site, it's only a matter of time.

 

[duckspeed]

Replacements are a factory order matched to the VIN number, mine took three days to arrive and cost £30ish and work perfectly

 

[Wapping]

Replacements are a factory order matched to the VIN number, mine took three days to arrive and cost £30ish and work perfectly

See, the reality is so much simpler. Dull, but simpler.


PS BMW when ordering the key may well ask to see your V5, too. Just to make sure you own the bike.... This is despite you buying it from the same dealership and just paying for the bike's service. It makes sense, of course.

BMW Park Lane used to post them out, too. Now they no longer do so. Why? Because dishonest postmen were feeling the key in the envelope, looking at the address and putting two and two together..... Here is a key for a BMW, that is probably parked somewhere near this address.... aha, this key fits this nice BMW M Five.... brum, brum, brummm.....

 

[EggChaser]

If they only match the VIN number how do they deal with the loss of a key and decoding only that one lost key - must be more to it than VIN number.

Ok and I received 3 keys when I bought my GS, 2 standard metal and black plastic, one plastic "Wallet Key"

 

[duckspeed]

See, the reality is so much simpler. Dull, but simpler.


PS BMW when ordering the key may well ask to see your V5, too. Just to make sure you own the bike.... This is despite you buying it from the same dealership and just paying for the bike's service. It makes sense, of course.

BMW Park Lane used to post them out, too. Now they no longer do so. Why? Because dishonest postmen were feeling the key in the envelope, looking at the address and putting two and two together..... Here is a key for a BMW, that is probably parked somewhere near this address.... aha, this key fits this nice BMW M Five.... brum, brum, brummm.....

Simpler is good, and for dull read Concise.

 

[Wapping]

Simpler is good, and for dull read Concise.

No reflection on your concise (and factual) report. Merely an observation that the reality was much duller (and simpler) than having sister keys held at dealers and / or at BMW on the off chance that a bod might one day request one.

So two myths debunked in one thread...

(1) That the keys are not individually electronically encoded. They are.

(2) That single duplicate keys are held at the dealer's and at BMW. They are not.

 

[Wapping]

If they only match the VIN number how do they deal with the loss of a key and decoding only that one lost key - must be more to it than VIN number.

They use sorcery

 

[ianran]

They use sorcery

One of them new fangled database thingys Im guessing, the work of satan I tells ee

 

[craig101]

If they only match the VIN number how do they deal with the loss of a key and decoding only that one lost key - must be more to it than VIN number.

Ok and I received 3 keys when I bought my GS, 2 standard metal and black plastic, one plastic "Wallet Key"

I have just had a lost key deleted from my bikes imobilser, I believe the bike stores codes for several keys and any key can be deleted from that list.

Dealer wanted to see my v5 and driving license b4 ordering a replacement.

 

[cookie]

don't go wild. you can only have 15 apparently, then you need the ECU

 

[Wapping]

don't go wild. you can only have 15 apparently, then you need the ECU and somebody to remind where you put the previous ones

Fixed.

 

[Gossy]

See, the reality is so much simpler. Dull, but simpler.


PS BMW when ordering the key may well ask to see your V5, too. Just to make sure you own the bike.... This is despite you buying it from the same dealership and just paying for the bike's service. It makes sense, of course.

BMW Park Lane used to post them out, too. Now they no longer do so. Why? Because dishonest postmen were feeling the key in the envelope, looking at the address and putting two and two together..... Here is a key for a BMW, that is probably parked somewhere near this address.... aha, this key fits this nice BMW M Five.... brum, brum, brummm.....

Lost one of the 2 main keys last year, had to wait 3 days, present V5 and licence & £25.00 -

First lesson - need to remember where I put my keys
Second lesson - avoid keeping wallet key in wallet - it twists!