Key Shell for e39

[gurmukhbhogal]

The rubber head key shell empty and uncut blade for our cars is awailable on ebay for just $15 Check out item # 400084259703 My question is, if we have the blade copied and the transponder and battery transfered from our original key WILL IT WORK? as the seller claims. I am sure QSilver will have some input. If it works I think it may be a good deal. (I don't want any one or me to get ripped) Your input please.

[brandon5069]

seeing as BMW has to cut the blade I don't think they're willing to part with just part of a key...

[gurmukhbhogal]

Brandon, There are locksmiths in my area who can copy the blade I have done it before. I have a key copied and it does every thing but start the car because it doesn't have the transponder

[brandon5069]

that sounds like a sweet deal...

I don't know anyone that will cut a bmw key...

rock on :buttrock!

[Gumbi4u]

We cut and program keys at the shop. No biggie.

[e39dream]

There are guys selling just the rubber buttons if you look around. I am going to try that method, every part of my key is fine except the buttons.

[Qsilver7]

The biggest problem I see in this situation is finding someone who can cut the key blade. If you live near Gumbi or can find a local keysmith that can do the "sandwiched" double cut that our keys have...then swapping over the guts (and the transponder which is LOOSE inside the case of the old style key).

But like e39dreams said...if you can find the replacement rubber pads...you could accomplish the same thing with only the cost of the "pads" and not have to find and pay for having the key blade cut. YOUR BMW DEALERSHIP DOES NOT HAVE THE CAPABILITY OF CUTTING THE KEY. If you purchase a key from your local BMW dealership, it comes to them already cut from BMW NA (in New Jersey).

Here's an image of the item being sold on ebay:


http://remotesupply.net/images/ebay/bmw/BMW_KEYSHELL-4T-RUB.jpg

[1st3series]

Where can i find just the rubber buttons?

[95325i]

Where can i find just the rubber buttons?


I have seen them on Ebay. The only issue I have seen was that most of the rubber buttons are located in England or Germany and shipping to the US is quite a bit. I have not looked recently but in the pass this is something that I have noticed.

[Qsilver7]

Yep...the rubber pads usually can be found on any of the Euro eBay sites...and can usually be picked up for between $15-$30 total shipped to your residence here in the states.

I just went to the ebayUk site and typed in "BMW rubber key" and got 14 hits: http://shop.ebay.co.uk/i.html?_nkw=bmw+rubber+key&_sacat=0&_trksid=p3286.m270.l1313&_odkw=bmw+key&_osacat=0

Some of the sellers ship to the USA and you can click on the P&P and Payments tab (next to the description tab) to check if the vendor ships to the USA. And you can google a pounds to dollar converter to translate the costs (or if you have a Mac running OS X 4.1 or higher...you can add a "converter" to your DASHBOARD)

[Vipsa]

I have the rubber pads from the UK and replaced my worn out ones about 6 months ago. A word of caution, the new buttons are not perfect and while they are better than my completely worn out old ones, they are nowhere near the OEM qaulity and fit. The new buttons are larger than the original ones and the unlock and trunk open are smooth. They're larger so that they fit over the opening and don't get pushed in when you push them. I say if you can find someone to cut the key for you, I'd do that instead of dealing with the button replacement. Here's some pics of the new buttons. Notice how the unlock and trunk open are sinking in the middle because of their size.

[gurmukhbhogal]

I just bought one of these BMW Key Shell blank. When I receive it, have it cut and transfer the guts into it, I will keep you posted.

[gurmukhbhogal]

Well Guys, I reveived the Key shell, had it cut by the lock & key smith, teansfered the transponder and it works :alrightlike a charm. The quality of the key is very good. The only difficulty is that there are only a few key smiths who have the machine capable of cutting such a key. It requires a laser cutting machine to do it and the charge here in Canada $40

Now I have a set of new spare rubber buttons to sell that I had bought on GB and never used. Any body interested PM me, will get rid of it at cost.

[Qsilver7]

That was a pretty good deal all the way around...congrats! :)

[NNY528I]

The biggest problem I see in this situation is finding someone who can cut the key blade. If you live near Gumbi or can find a local keysmith that can do the "sandwiched" double cut that our keys have...then swapping over the guts (and the transponder which is LOOSE inside the case of the old style key).

But like e39dreams said...if you can find the replacement rubber pads...you could accomplish the same thing with only the cost of the "pads" and not have to find and pay for having the key blade cut. YOUR BMW DEALERSHIP DOES NOT HAVE THE CAPABILITY OF CUTTING THE KEY. If you purchase a key from your local BMW dealership, it comes to them already cut from BMW NA (in New Jersey).

Here's an image of the item being sold on ebay:


http://remotesupply.net/images/ebay/bmw/BMW_KEYSHELL-4T-RUB.jpg


When I ordered a replacement key from BMW it was shipped from Germany, Not BMW NA.

[Qsilver7]

When I ordered a replacement key from BMW it was shipped from Germany, Not BMW NA.

Interesting...I wonder if it depends on which key it is...and/or if BMW NA has the particular key ordered in stock?

I ordered one of the plastic wallet keys last year (8/14/08) after getting off work and driving over to the dealership before they closed...it was a Thursday. And the dealership called me around noon that following Monday to tell me the key arrived from NJ by UPS.

http://www.bimmerboard.com/members/q/original/Spare%20Key%20Receipt.jpg

[NNY528I]

Interesting...I wonder if it depends on which key it is...and/or if BMW NA has the particular key ordered in stock?

I ordered one of the plastic wallet keys last year (8/14/08) after getting off work and driving over to the dealership before they closed...it was a Thursday. And the dealership called me around noon that following Monday to tell me the key arrived from NJ by UPS.

http://www.bimmerboard.com/members/q/original/Spare%20Key%20Receipt.jpg

Will have to find my bill from the key I bought but it took like 1 to 2 weeks to come in, it was a full replacement key.