Hi, I just bought a 2007 Mini Cooper and it only came with one key. I saw on eBay I can buy a new key. How do I program a new key for my Mini? I read some other forums and they had mixed replies. I saw one person say you just need to put the new key into the car and it will automatically get programed. Another said you would have to go to the dealership and pay $300-500+ for a new key. Sorry if this had already been posted but all I saw was forums on new keys for 2002-2006 Mini Coopers. Thanks

 

You must order the key from the dealer, it comes from Mini coded to the car.

 

key must come from dealer.

 

Otherwise, you could just reprogram your key in any Mini you felt like driving for the day.

 

But if you really feel the need to waste 35-40 dollars you can just send it to me instead the at least one of us will not the money went to a good use.

 

If U bought it used from a dealer, then go back to the dealer and ask them where the other key is. this stuff's supposed to be accounted for.

If U bought it private sale, well if the seller didnt have it U will have to go thru the dealer to get a second, or live with one key. my dealer charges something like $360 for a programmed replacement. Not whatcha want to hear Im sure

 

Dang... I guess I won't be getting a second key. Thanks everyone for fast replies!

 

for the record I got the dealer to replace one of my standard (not comfort access) fob's on my 07 when the original stopped 'remembering'

The brand new - never been in a car - fob will automatically associate with the first car it goes into. Mine came out of the plastic bag, plugged into the dash and after a few seconds everything was okeedookie. Once I convinced them to get me one .... when it came in I was in and out of the dealership in 5 minutes with no one from the dealership so much as touching my car. They handed me the new fob and said if it doesn't work come in and we'll have to hook you up to the computer. It worked....

A fob that HAS been associated with another vehicle will require (expensive) reprogramming on top of the crazy cost of the fob itself.

So the issue is where did the e-Bay fob come from? Is it a virgin? Given the hoops I had to go thru to get one from the dealer under warranty:

- copy of driver's lic
- copy of registration
- hand over the fob being replaced

I doubt it but ya never know.


btw - when my son had primary custody of the 02s he lost the primary key ... that used car didn't come with two when someone bought it from a dealer.....

 

Fascinating. This could have bee my query. I also just bought a used 2007 (laser blue/white, 11000 mi, sweet) but the place I bought it from only had one fob (they gave me $200.00 to replace the other). I too checked ebay, and saw the keys there. I wondered how they get programmed, so I wrote the ebay seller. I was told a locksmith could do it. I called 3 area locksmiths (Chicago), and they said they couldn't do it, so I anted up and got the key from the dealer. (didn't want to be without a spare). I just started a new thread on this, though. The fob came from the dealer. It didn't work at first. I then opened the door with the key. Put the fob in the ignition, and everything seems to work. Except, comfort access does not work. I have to put the key in the ignition, and I have to push the open/lock button on the fob to get it to work.

So I want to know how to get the comfort access to work. But also curious. Ebay are usually reputable sellers. They are selling new, unused fobs/keys. From what I saw on the last post, I am wondering, if they are completely unprogramed, if I put it in my MINI, would it, too, self program and be usable just like the one I just got from the dealer?

 

From what I understand, the fobs that come from the dealer are partially preprogrammed for the car to accept it. If this wasent the case we would have a lot of Mini ripoffs.

 

Uh, no. you must have the dealer deal with the key, it is not self-programming.