[20085]

I believe my dealer. You can buy an ersatz model on eBay, Amazon or on the street corner and probably the dealer won’t program it. I even found a locksmith who had the tools to do it!! There is a better than even chance that fob will screw up things in your car if it works at all. Now, ask yourself, why would I risk any of that on my expensive Italian Luxury car just to save a hundred bucks?!! 😎. Buy the fob from the dealer and have them program it.

Tom

 

[Will23]

I dont buy that. Now they may not be willing to do it, to force you to spend a fortune, but only programmable once is utter bs. That's just not how technology works.

HI Jon, I agree with you. Its BS!!! They told me the same thing. Sad part, they "dealer" is the only people who can program it. There is a cost for remote fob, cost for actual key knife and a fee for programing it. You do the math $$$$. You would think a used fob key can be re-programmed for half the cost?

 

[Flaring Afro]

I believe my dealer. You can buy an ersatz model on eBay, Amazon or on the street corner and probably the dealer won’t program it. I even found a locksmith who had the tools to do it!! There is a better than even chance that fob will screw up things in your car if it works at all. Now, ask yourself, why would I risk any of that on my expensive Italian Luxury car just to save a hundred bucks?!! 😎. Buy the fob from the dealer and have them program it.

Tom

There's no way a fob would damage the vehicle. It's not like it can shock it with the wrong voltage or something. At worse it won't always work and will have connection issues.

 

[20085]

You made half my argument!! Why take a chance on the other half to save a measly hundred bucks?!!

Best,,

Tom

 

[Will23]

Dealer has the monopoly here. They are the only people who can re-program the key. Unless you guys know someone who can do it for less?

 

[20085]

This situation probably doesn't conform to the legal definition of a "monopoly" anymore than a brain surgeon's skill inside your noggin. I could probably find someone to install a new gas furnace in my home who is cheaper than a certified HVAC guy. But why would I?!!

Tom

 

[Will23]

Has anyone found a solution to program a spare fob key without going to the dealer?

 

[20085]

Yep. My locksmith said that he can do it. He has all the electronics necessary. But when I asked him if he would repair my car if his key screwed things up, (as the dealer warned me coukd happen), he said "NOPE". Ain't worth it friend.

Tom

 

[Will23]

My dealer is telling me any fob key is already programed to another car vin #, so you can't re-program it.

 

[20085]

Probably true.

My point here is that it makes little sense to try to save $100 doing something risky on a $55K car!! I read about some guys on this forum who want to spend umpteen hundreds of dollars to replace their perfectly good wheels with those ones that have 5 circles on them, and black ones at that!! At 25mph you can't see the design anyway, only while parked!! And that only proviides some would-be thief with a target!! I guess it's my Scot heritage and advanced age driving me here. Do what ever feels right.

Tom

 

[Will23]

Come on now, wheels is key ingredient on what's makes this car sexy

 

[Flaring Afro]

Probably true.

My point here is that it makes little sense to try to save $100 doing something risky on a $55K car!! I read about some guys on this forum who want to spend umpteen hundreds of dollars to replace their perfectly good wheels with those ones that have 5 circles on them, and black ones at that!! At 25mph you can't see the design anyway, only while parked!! And that only proviides some would-be thief with a target!! I guess it's my Scot heritage and advanced age driving me here. Do what ever feels right.

Tom

Not everyone has a 55k car. My 2020 Lusso was less than 25k, there's probably a good amount of people on here that paid less than 20k.

It's also ridiculous that you can't just program a fob yourself. Even Apple isn't that bad and doesn't charge you to pair airpods with an iPhone.

 

[ALFAOFFROAD]

Ummm..... If someone steals your air pods it sucks. Having your car stolen is kinda worse though.

Regardless of price paid its nice to have security that your car won't be stolen (if you feel otherwise there's always Hyundai where you don't even really need a key 🤣)...

Think about it if you can program a key fob .... A thief can too.

Pretty sure there isn't a car on the market that doesn't require a dealer to trip to code a key..particularly ones with remote start from the fob.

No argument the prices should be easily affordable, but at least our FOB can have the battery replaced without basically breaking it then having to tape it back together, or buy a new one, and it's built pretty durable. I've dropped mine on rocks, buried in sand... Sucker works and still looks good.

Vs most every other car I have owned, especially VWs the FOB looks beat up by the time the car is 3 years old. Mine is almost 6 now ... Which is insane to me. Ancient and it feels new still. The freaking leather on the steering wheel still looks good.. never owned a car that the steering wheel leather wasn't obviously worn after 2 years. Such a great car in so many ways. There are cars that cost $100k new and don't age as well. Isn't about money.

 

[Flaring Afro]

Ummm..... If someone steals your air pods it sucks. Having your car stolen is kinda worse though.

Regardless of price paid its nice to have security that your car won't be stolen (if you feel otherwise there's always Hyundai where you don't even really need a key 🤣)...

Think about it if you can program a key fob .... A thief can too.

Pretty sure there isn't a car on the market that doesn't require a dealer to trip to code a key..particularly ones with remote start from the fob.

No argument the prices should be easily affordable, but at least our FOB can have the battery replaced without basically breaking it then having to tape it back together, or buy a new one, and it's built pretty durable. I've dropped mine on rocks, buried in sand... Sucker works and still looks good.

Vs most every other car I have owned, especially VWs the FOB looks beat up by the time the car is 3 years old. Mine is almost 6 now ... Which is insane to me. Ancient and it feels new still. The freaking leather on the steering wheel still looks good.. never owned a car that the steering wheel leather wasn't obviously worn after 2 years. Such a great car in so many ways. There are cars that cost $100k new and don't age as well. Isn't about money.

All they'd have to do to prevent that is require a working fob present and the car running for customer pairing.

 

[ALFAOFFROAD]

Yes but no.


Way back when remote start was a brand new thing Mercedes did that.

Right up till there were a rash of stolen cars due to thieves ordering keys and figuring out a way to hack then and create a second key via code stealers and cloning devices.

That is when they implemented rolling codes where even if the thieves steal the signal and remote start the car it will only work once so they have to drive immediately to a chop shop since once it shuts off they won't be able to restart. It isn't perfect but, harder for thieves the better.

Due to the rolling code implementation very specialized software is required for key programming and it can't be done at home anymore for most brands. Since maybe 2017ish depending on the car.

Now all this said... The equipment is available to locksmiths and it is possible to find one who will do the job for less. Also come to your house or work and make or easier. Not a lot of locksmiths seem to do it though, the equipment is expensive.

At least thats the how and why as explained to me.

(Course now the thieves have figured out how to hack into cars by jacking into the CANbus so there are new measures on the way)

 

[mackdhagen]

I got one of the keyfobs off of ebay, had my dealer reprogram it (as mentioned above there is a rolling, expiring in 30 minutes code that only the dealer can get.) The way it was explained to me was that if you have the software you can program the key but only with this code and you gotta do it SOON after you get it. Its a quick job, I watched them do it and took 10 minutes...if that.
Long term review is that i use my original fob as my main one. The replacement fob, eats through batteries (rarely use it and have gone through two in one year (CR2032 btw)), the range is not as good, remote start does not always work, and the biggest issue is the RFID chip has limited range to where sometimes i need to open up the center consul and place the key to recognize the car. hope this helps

 

[Flaring Afro]

Rolling codes affect how it works on a normal basis but shouldn't affect pairing. Garage doors use rolling codes too.

I'm a software engineer and trust me when I say the real reason is going to be money, just like the word "security" is often thrown into the mix when talking about right to repair even though experts know this doesn't have to be an issue.

 

[ALFAOFFROAD]

I mean... The manufactuers did create a system where anyone with a laptop and the right connections can pop off the reader sensor and open/start anything they want.


It's obvious the security talk is at least partially BS.

But... Pretty sure everyone does it now. Like I said look hard enough and there are locksmith's who buy the software and do it. They are cheaper.

 

[goblue]

I just switched insurance providers (now Safeco, a liberty mutual company). I just got the paper declaration printout today and was surprised to see that they have no-deductable coverage for electronic key replacement if it's it is lost or stolen. (also surprising is world-wide collision and comprehensive for rentals).

if a new FOB is covered by insurance you can get the real deal vs some questionable version off amazon.

 

[Flaring Afro]

I mean... The manufactuers did create a system where anyone with a laptop and the right connections can pop off the reader sensor and open/start anything they want.


It's obvious the security talk is at least partially BS.

But... Pretty sure everyone does it now. Like I said look hard enough and there are locksmith's who buy the software and do it. They are cheaper.

Yeah... unfortunately that's how it goes when a manufacturer gets away with it. I'm just glad subscription heated seats hasn't completely taken off across the board...