Lost key! What now?

[chimay]

Boy this is really stupid, but today I lost the only key to my BMW 318! I normally have this key on a key ring, but I took it off to jumpstart the old car that I'm trying to sell. To make a long story short, somewhere I lost the BMW key. I don't have a duplicate. I know, I should have one, but I only bought the BMW about a month ago.

I remember a friend of mine used to lose his key so often that he memorized the key number so he could get a new key from the dealer. Can I do something like that with a BMW -- ie. go to the dealer my VIN number, and of course, after proving that I'm the owner, get a replacement key? Or do I have to have the lock replaced at a cost of hundreds of $$?

[pimp_squeak]

the dealer works...car thiefs do it all the time

[chimay]

Originally Posted by pimp_squeak

the dealer works...car thiefs do it all the time

You mean the car thieves just go to the dealer and say, please give me a key for the car with this VIN number -- and they just give it to them?? That doesn't sound like a very secure system.

I assume that I need to show my registration/driver's license ID, or otherwise prove that I'm the owner of the vehicle?

Any idea how much dealers charge for the replacement key?

Oh and by the way, where is the VIN number on the 318?

[shtamp]

I paid $35.00 for mine.

[MioCLK]

the VIN # should be on the lower corner of the windshield (driver's side)

[pimp_squeak]

well the dealership is supposed to ask for ownership papers...but the thiefs just say that they're locked in the car along with the key...so the dealership does the key thing...there you go, brand new BMW...you cane ven do it over the phone...not that I condone it or anything...but it works

[chimay]

Don't you at least have to show Car Thieves of America ID or something to get the keys to a brand-new BMW? ;(

[pimp_squeak]

nope, no ID....when i said you can use the phone...you jsut call the dealership, tell them the situation and then they'll give you the codes to make your key, then you take those codes to your local hardware store (Canadian tire, home hardware, building box, etc.) and then you can get them to make you a new key...You guys might be wondering how I know this but the CBC did a segment on car thieves and this was the top technique for stealing cars, they tested 20 dealerships and only 7 refused to give the codes/key without the proper ID or ownership papers. Kinda sad if you think about it...

[gerhard328]

What if there is no VIN code on the lower corner on the driver's side... is there somewhere else where I can find it.

[DurangoDave]

Originally Posted by gerhard328

What if there is no VIN code on the lower corner on the driver's side... is there somewhere else where I can find it.

Look on your registration card.
Look on your insurance card.

[blue4917]

Originally Posted by gerhard328

What if there is no VIN code on the lower corner on the driver's side... is there somewhere else where I can find it.

the vin number should be where everybody elses is thats on your registration document, if you dont have that then check passenger side at the bottom of the windscreen if not there then just have a look in the engine bay somewhere,
the same thing happened to me and all i did was go to the dealers with the vin number and he cut me another one straight away its allso not a bad idea to have a spare hidden away for times like this,
i never had to produce any documents but at the time i was just pleases to get my car back but now i think about it, anybody can get a key for anybodys car
ITS ALL WRONG