My son lost the key to the Golf....

[Spoddy]

I posted a question in the diesel section and GermanwithaVdub kindly replied:

it will cost you well over 200$ for a new key plus whatever they charge to encode it. you're best off buying a key from ebay or the net for less than 100 and taking it to them to code (only vw can code it, they have to dload the unique code from the vw computer system overseas).

My next questions are:

> $200 has scared the hell out of me but my son even more as he lost it..

Where on e-bay?

Are the E-bay keys as good as the original?

What about the cutting of the key or are they all the same - is it only the code that is different?

looking very much like the 1st service is going to be an expensive one....

[gpk_gti]

kids and keys!!! urrgghhhhh -hope you find it and save your spuds!!!

I think there is a member on here,, soccergk or something like that,who is in the states and sells keys.. ill look up the link for you.

http://www.vwwatercooled.org.au/newforum/upload/member.php?u=2309

and his shop-

http://www.keysforvw.com/products.html

hope this helps!

[mikinoz]

You will have to buy genuine if you want immobiliser coding etc and it to work straight out, without stuffing about.

Call your dealer and see the $$ I only had 1 key for the MKIV as the cost for another was unreal!

Sorry to hear!

[ozgriff]

This will help:
"where did you leave it last"

Now that is out of the way, my dealer said yes it will be over $200 and you need to provide your key identification number, they would have given you this with the car.

I wouldn't be buying a key for my dub off ebay, besides they may charge you for the flashing of the key, which also may put the cost back up to original.

[Spoddy]

kids and keys!!! urrgghhhhh -hope you find it and save your spuds!!!

I think there is a member on here,, soccergk or something like that,who is in the states and sells keys.. ill look up the link for you.

http://www.vwwatercooled.org.au/newforum/upload/member.php?u=2309

and his shop-

http://www.keysforvw.com/products.html

hope this helps!

Hi gpk_gti,

Thanks for the referral I have sent a pm to her but you might also be able to answer a question. Is the key and FOB that they sell programmable one?
I got the impression that they were just switch blade fobs for older VWs.

[gpk_gti]

sorry mate,really dont know.

just trying to think of a solution to your problem.try pming dub20v,he has a mate in vw who might be able to help you.

[Spoddy]

This will help:
"where did you leave it last"

somewhere between The Rocks and Circular Quay.... my son threw it into an outside pocket on his bag and ran to the station.... got to the other end and no key. He didn't zip up the zip....

We have contacted the Police and the Rail and left our contacts but no luck - it has been a week.

I know there are risks with e-bay but has anyone successfully purchased one that was coded by a dealer and works flawlessly

[Tim]

be very careful buying a key from overseas. As they sometimes work on a different frequency to the locally supplied ones. Could be a ver expensive mistake!

[h100vw]

My understanding of it is that you teach the car to recognise the new key and not the other way round. In theory, any other mk5 key of the correct part number can be matched to the car. That is the simple part and I reckon you could do that with VAG-COM.

The hard part is the immobilisation, for this the dealer hooks the car to the internet and downloads a code from VW which allows them to access the engine ECU and program the ECU.

In days gone by you could get the dealer to give you the code and do the job with VAG-COM. They seem to have cottoned onto the money they could make and don't do that anywhere in the world AFAIK.

I had to pay mates rates to get a spare key for a MK4 in the UK and with only a key and no remote it cost me 80 quid.

I hope your key shows up cos I reckon you are looking at the thick end of 500.

Gavin

[Spoddy]

I hope your key shows up cos I reckon you are looking at the thick end of 500.

Gavin

AAAAAAARRRRRRGGGGGHHHHHHH

[Tim]

a little bit relevant info for you

http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=3174407

[The_Hawk]

And here I thought the $65 blank + $120 odd to program my Mk3 key was bad.

[GermanwithaVdub]

if you do go the key from the internet route, make sure its the right frequency. i'm fairly sure the US has different frequencies, maybe try calling a dealership in the UK to check if they have the right one? i have a suspicion that jimmymac would be able to answer such questions... where is he lol.

[GermanwithaVdub]

And here I thought the $65 blank + $120 odd to program my Mk3 key was bad.

how about 20$ for 2 blanks for my mk2... and then 8$ each to cut them!!! 18$ a key... pretty rough huh

[Spoddy]

There is hope....

I have found an automotive locksmith who claim that they cover most of the European cars with the immobilisers, code matching, recoding, and cutting...

As soon as they reply to my e-mail I will let you all know if they can and how much... If they don't I will ring them.