My dad took my car to the dealership (stealership) today to get a new key cut and programmed. They fed him some story that they have to cut the key and program the key in line with satelites and German networks. They also claimed that you cannot program a remote yourself if you only have one working remote.

This is BS, right? How can they charge $300 for a key cut and reprogram?

 

Key cutting and programing is right. But You can program the remote yourself.

 

do a search on this forum... there's gotta be, like, 40-50 posts addressing your issue

 

Yeah, I knew that you could program it, I was just trying to see if their idea was BS. But I guess if that's what they want to charge for cutting.... they do have a sort of monopoly.

 

My dealer charges $5 for cutting!

 

Flip key, master remote keys are not cheap... + if it's a imobi. car, I have not heard of anyone who can program those themselves... curious to find out more on that.

S

p.s. We charge $20.00 to program the keys and n/c the cut itself.

 

Well I had the same response when I took my '96 a4 to the stealership... I thought it wouldnt be this much due to the year of the vehicle? Also I didnt think the '96 model came with a switchblade key either.???

 

$200 quote for me. The key shouldn't have to be recut since they should be able to transpose it into the new remote.

 

You CANNOT program a key to the immobilzer yourself. Yes, its is done via internet thru servers in Germany.

Depending on the YEAR on your car, Your key is specifically cut for your VIN, which means a replacement key is cut in Germany and mailed to the dealer.

Now you can program a remote yourself. Older cars are alot easier... the two piece key. The one piece key, is different and weird, i've done it to immobilizer and the remote automatically sychronized... and i've done it where it doesn't and has to be done via adaptation channel 21.

 

That's about what I paid...