Spare keys

[Snaga]

Right guys, my 8 only came with one key which is a bit of a pain. It seems ebay has every Audi key in the world, bar the one i want. Any ideas where i can pick up spares without paying the earth?

Part no is 4E0837220 D

[BigladUK]

Did you get a spare key ?

If so where from and how much ?

Si

[Adrian E]

Could ask a8parts - am sure they'll have a few hanging about unless they only sell with lock sets?

[BigladUK]

I'm hoping to replace my old ageing dirty keys with a nice new shinny one

Si

[RanjS8]

Careful buying keys off eBay...the key comes in two parts...the button bit which you pair to the car to open and close doors and set alarm...and the top bit with key in it....the top bit contains an immobiliser chip which is programmed to emit a code the immobiliser understands when you start the car...that chip can only be programmed once and a lot of the eBay jobbiea are keys which have already been paired to a car and so are useless to anyone else...

My advice would be to get the top part with immobiliser chip from the dealer and then get a local car locksmith to program the key to the car and supply the button bit...I did that for my vw caddy and I saved about 80 quid on labour from the dealer...

[BigladUK]

OK , that makes sense.

I was thinking I'd transplant my chip into the new one so couldn't figure out how /coding was necessary

I wonder if we can use the newer type key ( pick attached ) as mine is a 2008 and has advanced key as standard

Si

[IT]

Originally Posted by RanjS8

...the top bit contains an immobiliser chip which is programmed to emit a code the immobiliser understands when you start the car...that chip can only be programmed once and a lot of the eBay jobbiea are keys which have already been paired to a car and so are useless to anyone else...

I dont think this is the case. Here is my understanding, certainly for all VAG upto and including FL D2.

The key has a passive immobiliser chip, non powered, non configurable and set with a 1 time unique code.

The key is not coded, the car is coded to the key.

This is why when you want Audi to add a key, they ask you to take all your keys with you as the coding process first erases all the keys from the car (for security to remove lost keys) and then add each key one by one. This is why you need the immobiiser login code to add a key to your car, which after about 2000 Audi stopped putting on the keyfobs that came with the car, so very diffcicult.

The blade is obviously cut to your lock, but the blade can be laser cut from a blank by anyone with a proper copier.

So, a key can be reused, as long as its the right part number, with the right chip in it. There should be no limit as to the number of times it can be coded to a car, as coding it to the car is no mire stressful for it than doing a normal engine start....

Central locking is in the top part, and is completely independent.....

[ainarssems]

I think according to Audi immobiliser transponders are use once only. I think their coding of keys goes online with servers in Germany and previously used keys cannot be used on another car. But I am sure there is aftermarket solutions that can extract login/pin from the car and adapt any key even previously used one to car. Just need to search around for somebody who can do it. Probably cheaper then at dealers as well.

[HPsauce]

Originally Posted by IT

The key has a passive immobiliser chip, non powered, non configurable and set with a 1 time unique code.

The key is not coded, the car is coded to the key..

That sounds extremely similar to the system on my similar-vintage Focus.
(Blade, remote and immobiliser all effectively independent functions in one key unit)

There you can add/validate immobiliser chips (and clear all others) quite easily if you already have 2 that work, and it's even in the drivers manual!
The remote unlock is coded separately and while not in the Ford manual is pretty simple, takes seconds, and easily found online.

[roboblob]

I bought a second key from ebay got the blade cut at a local hardware shop and coded my car to use it ,no real biggy ,just needed to extract the pin number from the immobaliser.