Car Keys, what a freaking rip-off

[Fritz The Cat]

Recently bought a used Lexus ES330. All I got was a valet key and a remote fob that used to be a key before the key part broke off. Went to the Lexus dealer and they wanted $800 for a new master key. My jaw dropped and bounced off the counter. Then she asked are you sure you don't have a master key? It was then that I said other than the valet key all I have is this and pulled the fob out of my pocket. O she said, that makes all the difference in the world. With that it's only $105. This was for the blank and cutting from the VIN, no programming required. Now, if I want another master key for a spare that would be $500 for the blank, remote and programming. What utter BS. I bought a blank off Amazon and then went looking for a local locksmith to cut and program it. There is only one in this town that I could find and I believe I called them all. He wanted $160 to cut and program. What utter BS. Then I found the local ACE HW cuts these keys. I had to beg them to cut my blank, they initially told me it was against company policy to cut blanks other than the ones they sold but I was able to convince them to cut mind. The guy did not have a clue. He didn't cut it deep enough and claimed that my blank was thicker than my original. This was utter BS as anyone with eyes could see that it wasn't. He didn't charge me so no harm done but the key would not even go into the ignition.

Did much research and found a security key cutting machine on a Chinese website for $195 and on the same site I found the programming gizmo for $85. I ordered the key cutter not expecting much. It arrived yesterday. The instructions were gibberish but I was expecting that. The concept isn't rocket science so I was able to figure it out. Not only did I fix the key that ACE HW mangled but I also cut a new blank. Both keys worked perfectly. I was able to program the remote from instructions found on the Internet but I need to wait on the key programming machine to arrive to get it to actually start the car (program the immobilizer). But for about $300 I can now make and program my own keys any time I need to and made also make enough doing it for others to pay for the equipment and save them a ton of money.

  Modern car keys are a ripoff.

[Paxton]

So. How much are you charging? I'd want one for the wife's Mercedes and one for the granddaughter's Accord.
The older '02 Mercedes is worth $4K and the '99 Accord $700. Yes they both have keys but as usual you loose them at the worst moment!

[scooperhsd]

Holy cow - I thought my VW keys (for a 2000 New Beetle) were bad - Valet key is $95 + programming, the 2 parts of the remote FOB come to $150 + programming. When we bought the Beetle (used), It only came with a single FOB key. First thing we ordered was a valet key that I keep on my motorcycle keyring.

[R J]

That is the reason I negotiate an extra key for any new vehicle I buy.

Some dealers buck and I say OK, don't wantthe car/truck then.

That usually brings them around.

[Fritz The Cat]

I can cut em' but California is a bit far to go to program them, lol.

I suspect that Lexus is the top rip-off dealer of all car brands other than the exotics. But any way you cut it you're not receiving good value for what you pay. Back when I was young I could get a dup car key for about 2 bucks, blank included.

[Paxton]

Well.
I am happy to say that copies for each of my listed toys run about 5 bucks, including blanks.

[jshram]

Jaguar XJ8 - $500.   

[Grumpy]

I feel your pain, the wife lost one of the keys to her PT cruiser. cost $185 to get a new one and programmed. Funny thing is if you have 2 keys, the car will program another. Just involves putting one key in and cycling the ignition on and off 4 times, then insert the second key and do the same. Car will beep 5 times, insert a new key and the car will write the codes to it. I did that, bought a spare off Ebay for $40 and programmed it. Now she has 3 keys that work as original, keeping the spare in case she misplaces one again.

[Fritz The Cat]

The Lexus uses a "Laser Cut" key. Has nothing to do with a laser so I don't know why they call it that but anyway, the "bumps" are cut on the inside and backwards, not the outside like a normal key. There is also what they call a sidewinder key which has the "bumps" cut on the surface of the key pointing outwards but not all the way thru to the other side. Both of these keys require a machine that's kinda like a router to cut. An ordinary key cutting machine won't cut these. No doubt this was done to enhance the profit to the dealer. Never mind the thieves your car key was intended to keep out of your car, the real thieves are the car dealers (stealers). 

[Atl-Jerry]

I know a guy who has 4 teenagers who share a car.  He taped an original key to the bottom of the steering column then gave each one a "regular" key from the hardware store.  Never had a problem.

[Robert]

Typical range 400 to 800 for all the new electronic keys programed. Some are as high as 1000.00 I am interested in the China programing tool, but another suggestion is find one of the techs at the dealer and maybe they'll do it for under 100.00. Programing keys to the car can be messy and if you screw up the consequences can be expensive.

[Fritz The Cat]

One problem that can really complicate the programing is ambiguity. All the instructions you'll find on the web will generate questions and doubts. Clear and concise directions are extremely rare. It took me several tries to program the remote even with numbered instructions. I finally got it to work but not exactly how I was interpreting the instructions. I'm assuming that the key programmer will take the guesswork out of it, at least the youtube video leads me to believe it will. It guides you step by step. It also allows you to remove lost and unused keys from the ECU. This is a plus for sure. I assume that somewhere out there there is at least one key that will start the car that is not in my possession.   

[Tropic traveler]

Working in Ford parts since 1989 I have seen the whole "evolution" of the ignition key from a $2 simple duplication to the fiasco it is today. I wish I could put up a billboard to warn all prospective used car buyers about buying a car with only one working key. Every Ford product has at least TWO working keys when it is sold new. If the seller only has one working key... NEGOTIATE THE COST OF A SECOND KEY INTO THE SELLING PRICE! 
A sobering reality into the so called "laser cut" thing, it is actually a side mill cut & the new machine to make the side mill cut costs Ford dealers $8-10K  . The price of the blanks is ridiculous too.

Ahh the good old days of $2 keys are long gone.     

[Paxton]

Do the new Valks and/or Gold Wings use this type of keys? ???

[robin]

What is the web site where you bought the machine to cut the key?

[BnB Tom]

Do the new Valks and/or Gold Wings use this type of keys? ???

  NO 

[Fritz The Cat]

What is the web site where you bought the machine to cut the key?

This is it. It's gone up 15 bucks since I bought it but still a helluva deal. I wouldn't run it commercially but for the occasional key, it's perfect.

http://www.dhgate.com/product/dhl-110v-60hz-or-220v-50hz-339c-automatic/187367878.html#s1-1-1|3119893556

It's all metal and built like a tank.

This is the programmer I have on the way -

http://www.dhgate.com/product/2014-silca-immbolizer-sbb-v33-key-programmer/99510911.html#s1-3-7|4167780900

Also, just noticed that it says automatic. It's not, it's totally manual. Don't know what "automatic" means to them.