technical Programming of a spare key for 2018 X3 G01

[ahmad911]

Hi guys.

My 2018 X3 G01 didn’t come with a spare key, unfortunately.



Looking for contacts / recommendations of people that can do this for me?

I am based in JHB.



The actual key can be sourced and key blade cut if necessary, but I will require help with programming it to the car.

From the current remote I am picking up that it’s a N5F-ID21A 434MHz



Any advice?

 

[Shaheenem]

Not many if any places locally can do the spare keys for the G series vehicles with BDC2. It seems to be a dealer only service at this point. There have been some new updates to adding a key to G series outside of the dealer overseas but i doubt anyone locally has the capability.

 

[ahmad911]

Not many if any places locally can do the spare keys for the G series vehicles with BDC2. It seems to be a dealer only service at this point. There have been some new updates to adding a key to G series outside of the dealer overseas but i doubt anyone locally has the capability.

Thanks for the feedback.
If I source a "blank" key and take it to BMW, do you think they would do the programming only for me?
Or would they want you to buy the key also from them, before doing the programming?

 

[Shaheenem]

I dont think they would do programming on a blank key. You would need to order the key from the dealer.

 

[ahmad911]

I dont think they would do programming on a blank key. You would need to order the key from the dealer.

Skelems!

 

[momoPike]

I bought a key for the mini a few days ago from AutoSupply and was recommended a gent in the East Rand; I’d recommend maybe just giving them a call (Auto Supply? And ask if they can recommend someone.

I sadly lost his card

 

[ahmad911]

I bought a key for the mini a few days ago from AutoSupply and was recommended a gent in the East Rand; I’d recommend maybe just giving them a call (Auto Supply? And ask if they can recommend someone.

I sadly lost his card

I spoke to Mark from autosupply this morning. He referred me to Jason (Green guy locksmith).
Jason said he might be able to assist. Going to see him tomorrow morning.
Most other guys I spoke to said they coudnt do it on the G series

 

[Scotty88]

Bmw won't program the key for you. It may be required that they remove the front end module (FEM). There are a few companies that can assist.





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[momoPike]

I spoke to Mark from autosupply this morning. He referred me to Jason (Green guy locksmith).
Jason said he might be able to assist. Going to see him tomorrow morning.
Most other guys I spoke to said they coudnt do it on the G series

Let me know how it goes. Jason was the guy! Hope they can help

 

[XPD]

At a minimum quickly do the key blade for now. A good car locksmith place should be able to do it. At least you will still be able to get into the car if your only key is lost which makes towing easier. Luckily these days with the later model BMW’s even if all keys are lost they don’t have to change the entire locking system, they de activate the lost keys and reprogram the new ones, with the only risk being the keyblades out there.

 

[ahmad911]

Bmw won't program the key for you. It may be required that they remove the front end module (FEM). There are a few companies that can assist.





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Thanks for the info. Can you perhaps suggest a few? Can PM me if necessary

 

[ahmad911]

Let me know how it goes. Jason was the guy! Hope they can help

Went to see him. He read the current key and said there was a 50/50 chance (his program said something about some models being supported and others not).
If not successful via the obd / key copy method he would then have to remove something (I'm assuming it's the FEM module) and send it to someone else to be done (on a "bench")

 

[ahmad911]

At a minimum quickly do the key blade for now. A good car locksmith place should be able to do it. At least you will still be able to get into the car if your only key is lost which makes towing easier. Luckily these days with the later model BMW’s even if all keys are lost they don’t have to change the entire locking system, they de activate the lost keys and reprogram the new ones, with the only risk being the keyblades out there.

Sound like a plan. Thanks

 

[Nastaliq]

Did this end up working. Also have a key that needs "programming"

 

[ahmad911]

Did this end up working. Also have a key that needs "programming"

Unfortunately not.
There was, however, some talk of some software update due to come out in the future that would allow it.
I didn't follow up on this in subsequent months tho

 

[Nastaliq]

Shot bru, i just got back from BMW where I paid for a new key, it will take 2-3 days to arrive, they will then remove the lost key from one of the slots (permanently disabling that key from accessing the car) and programming the new key to one of the available old slots.

The only way, from my research that this can be done with an existing is to have someone desolder the EEPROM and install a new EEPROM. which effectively blanks the key. then you can use ISTA to program the "now blank" key to one of the available slots, but apparently this is hit and miss, since the desoldering often melts other pins and then its just a paperweight.

To anyone who comes here looking for an answer to this, short answer.....go to BMW, pay an arm and a leg for a key and be done with it. The risk of bricking your FEM on the newer G chassis is very significant.

For then E and F series, aftermarket tools can now do this fairly reliably (given time on market).
YMMV.

 

[Scotty88]

Shot bru, i just got back from BMW where I paid for a new key, it will take 2-3 days to arrive, they will then remove the lost key from one of the slots (permanently disabling that key from accessing the car) and programming the new key to one of the available old slots.

The only way, from my research that this can be done with an existing is to have someone desolder the EEPROM and install a new EEPROM. which effectively blanks the key. then you can use ISTA to program the "now blank" key to one of the available slots, but apparently this is hit and miss, since the desoldering often melts other pins and then its just a paperweight.

To anyone who comes here looking for an answer to this, short answer.....go to BMW, pay an arm and a leg for a key and be done with it. The risk of bricking your FEM on the newer G chassis is very significant.

For then E and F series, aftermarket tools can now do this fairly reliably (given time on market).
YMMV.

Yep,there 10 key slots available. The cost to add a key to an f series is roughly 3k from a private company. The FEM has to be removed in some cases i beleive.

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