Car Key Replacement Tips For Your Mini Cooper

The days of turning the key to operate your car are slowly disappearing as technology improves. Today, we use remote programming. These can also malfunction and require professional assistance. A mobile locksmith who is trained and skilled is the best choice for quick replacement of your car keys.

You can also purchase an extra key from a dealer, but it must be programmed to your car before activation. Locksmiths with access to your VIN and registration or title are able to do this.

Keys stolen or lost

Mini Cooper owners choose their Mini Coopers due to their high resale value Low maintenance requirements and great gas mileage. However, just like every other vehicle keys may be lost or not work. If this happens, a good locksmith will assist you.

Most modern vehicles use remote key fobs that allow you to open doors and to start their engines. They have an immobiliser feature that stops the vehicle from being driven without the correct key. It's expensive to replace the fob if it is lost.

Newer car models have an electronic chip embedded in the key fobs, which communicates to the transponder located in your vehicle's engine. The chip is unique and has a code that is only compatible with the code in your car. If you require a replacement chip, it must be programmed for your car by an authorised dealer, or a locksmith with the right tools.

It's expensive to replace your keys at an auto dealer, but it is often the only choice. A professional mobile locksmith can come to you and make a new key for cheaper, particularly if have your car's registration or title in hand to prove you are the owner.

Unlocking Your Car

The horrible realization that you've locked your keys in your car could cause a lot of stress and leave you stuck waiting for a tow truck or a friend to unlock the door for you. There are fortunately clever techniques you can employ to save yourself time and money.

The first step is to find a long, thin rod. You can use a wire clothes hanger or make use of a rod made from a strong piece of plastic, or a shoelace. It should be thin enough for it to pass through the door's seam and sufficient in length to reach the lock button.

Create a slip knot on the string (a sliding knot that tightens tightly when pulled). The loop from the slip knot over the lock button. Move gently back and forth the string with the slip knot over the lock-button in back-and forward motions until the knob on the inside of your door opens.

This method won't work in every case however it's an excellent option for many cars. This method is particularly useful if the locking mechanism of your car is located on the side, instead of at the top. If your car has a knob at the top of the door, this method may also be able to assist you if you have the right tool available. Just be careful not to hurt your vehicle during the process.

Resetting Your Key Fob

If you lose the key fob, or change the battery, you may have to reset it. Most of the time, this won't impact the function of your key, however in the event that it doesn't work right away it's possible that you have installed the new battery incorrectly. It's a good idea to bring the battery to the dealership to have it installed so that they can make sure it's matched to your car.

You'll need to ensure you have a working key to use while trying to reset yours. After that, sit in the driver's seat and set the new blank key somewhere near. Push the small silver tab on the back of your key fob to remove the key for mini cooper (my review here) from the metal and remove the battery from its location. Replace the battery with a fresh one, and ensure it's facing up (the negative side is on the outside of the fob).

Once you've replaced the new key battery Turn the car on. Press the locks and unlock buttons on each of your fobs to program them using the computer in your vehicle. After all fobs have been programmed you can return to your car and lock it in the same way as usual. Make sure to turn off the ignition to end the programming process because if you wait too long between actions could cause your car to erase all of its commands.

Replacing the Locks

It's not easy to be locked out of your vehicle and also costly to replace keys. The dealer will charge about $150 for a replacement key fob, but locksmiths may charge more. It is best to keep your spare keys in a secure place or purchase a smartlock for your mini cooper that allows you to unlock it using your smartphone.

It is possible to replace the door lock actuator yourself however, it requires some patience and hard work. The first step is to pull out the old actuator by reaching inside and pulling it out. Take off the rod that's attached to the manual lock. It's a rod that has black plastic on one end. This rod goes into an actuator's clip. This can be a challenge to locate and put back to its place, which is why it's a good idea to keep the window closed while working on this.

Then, take off the cover and remove the old battery. Then install the new battery and replace the cover. Then, put the actuator back on by making sure that the star end of the control rod fits in the fitting on the top of the actuator. This is a tight fitting, so you might need to use some force to bring it in place. You are now able to lock and unlock your doors by pressing buttons on the keyfob. If they don't work, you'll require a certified locksmith or the dealership for assistance.