Car Key Replacement Tips For Your Mini Cooper

As technology advances the days of turning the key to operate your vehicle are fading away. Instead, we have remote programming options. These can also malfunction and require professional assistance. A mobile locksmith who is trained and skilled is your best option for fast replacement of your car key.

You can also purchase a spare key from a dealer, however it must be programmed to your car before activation. This is only done by an authorized locksmith who has access to your VIN and registration or title.

Keys stolen or lost

Mini Cooper owners choose their Mini Coopers for their high resale value, low maintenance requirements and high gas mileage. Like any other car Mini Cooper keys may be lost or not work. If this happens, a good locksmith can come to your rescue.

Modern vehicles come with remote key fobs that can be used to unlock doors and even start engines. These fobs are connected an immobiliser system that prevents your vehicle from driving in the event that the correct key isn't available. It's expensive to replace when you lose it.

Key fobs for newer models of automobiles have an electronic chip that communicates with the transponder in the engine of your car. The chip is unique and has a code that only matches the code of your car. If you receive a replacement chip, it will need to be programmed for your specific vehicle and requires an authorized dealer or a locksmith with the appropriate tools.

It's costly to replace your keys at a dealership, but this is usually the only option. A mobile locksmith can create you a key for lower cost, especially if your registration or title is on hand as proof that you own the car.

Unlocking Your Car

It can be a nightmare by discovering that you've locked your keys inside your car. You may be stuck waiting for someone to arrive and unlock the door or for a tow truck to arrive. There are some clever techniques that you can apply to save time and money.

The first step is to locate a long, skinny rod. A wire clothes hanger is ideal, however you could also use the rod from a strong piece of plastic or even a shoelace. It should be thin enough to pass through the door's seam and long enough to reach the lock button.

Make a slip knot in the string (a sliding knot that tightens as it is pulled). The loop from the slip knot on the button for the lock. Make sure to gently wiggle the string using knots placed over the lock button in back-and-forth movements until the knob inside the door opens.

This method might not work for all situations, but it is a good solution for many automobiles. This trick is especially useful in the event that the locking mechanism of your car is located on the side instead of the top. If you have a knob on the top of your door, you can use this method as well to lock it if you own it. Be sure not to harm your car during the process.

Resetting Your Key Fob

If you lose your key fob or replace the battery, you may have to reset it. This will not affect the function of the key, however it's possible that you installed the battery in a wrong way. You should bring the new battery to the dealership to be installed to verify that it's the right one for your vehicle.

When you're trying to reset your key, you'll need a working one. You should sit in the driver's chair and place your blank key near by. Press the small silver tab on the back of the key fob to pop out the metal keys, then remove the batteries. Replace the battery with a new one, and ensure it's on the right side (the negative side is on the outside of the fob).

Once you've replaced the new key battery, turn the car on. Press the lock and unlock buttons on each of your fobs to program mini key fob them using the computer in your vehicle. When all the fobs are programmed, then you are able to return to your car and lock it as usual. Turn off your ignition to complete the programming process. If you wait too long, your car may lose all its commands.

Replacing the Locks

Locked out of your car is a big issue, and it can be costly to replace the keys. Locksmiths can charge upwards of $150 for an ignition key. The dealer will charge around $150. It is best to keep your spare keys in a safe location, or purchase a smartlock for your mini cooper that allows you to unlock it using your smartphone.

It is possible to change the door lock actuator yourself however, it requires a bit of patience and work. The first step is to pull out the old actuator by reaching inside and pulling it out. Take off the rod that's connected to the manual lock. It's a rod that has black plastic on one end. The rod connects to an actuator clip. This component can be difficult to locate and reinstall in place, so it's recommended to keep the window open while you work on this.

Then, remove the cover and the old battery. Then, install the new battery and replace the cover. Then, place the actuator back into position with the control rod in the center, making sure that it's positioned so that the star end of the control rod is in the fitting at the top of the actuator. It's a tight fitting, so you might need to use some force to get it in place. After doing this your doors should then lock and unlock when you press the buttons on the key fob. If they don't, you will be required to call a reputable locksmith or the dealership for help.