Why do car keys cost so much?

JonathanRyan said:
I was doing a website shoot for a locksmith. I asked if they wanted any particular bits of kit included and they pointed to a new shiny machine and said "loads of that". Why, what's so special about it? "It cost 90 grand.".

We totted up and the back wall of machines was something over 250k. And that was one wall of a high street shop.

So the more interesting question is "why do the machines cost so much" :D

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That Triaxx would cost £14k tops, and the Idea would be about £9k tops. Cant see the model of the other one but I'd imagine its a Unocode which would be about £8k.
 
Pads1980 said:
That Triaxx would cost £14k tops, and the Idea would be about £9k tops. Cant see the model of the other one but I'd imagine its a Unocode which would be about £8k.
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I knew there would be somebody who could recognise the machines :)

The ones they were really pleased with were a brand new "Am-San" which did something that they explained 3 times and I still didn't get, a Gravograph M20 and a BD Lazer. It's possible they were walking the prices up to impress me ;)
 
srichards said:
They have to program to the car itself. It means a monkey plugs in a laptop into the obdii port and they delete the key you lost/doesn't work any more and add the new one. If you have a working one I think you can get them cloned. If it was easy even more of these VWs would be stolen without keys...
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Why a monkey?? I assume you think your superior?

I work in the Motor Trade and I can tell you for a start the Dealer level software for the later vehicle key/control modules cost thousands. The Guys that do it are trained Technicians and some are Master Technicians, then of course you have the Locksmiths/Key Replacement Companies that also have invested heavily in the Software across all manufacturers and they all have overheads as a business.

Considering what a vital part of your car the key is, I would say its worth every penny!!
 
Asked £165 by dealer; local shoe repair key cutting service guy apologised that he had to charge £35 instead of the usual £30 as the blanks cost more than other blanks! He was cloning my master key seems he could not copy a second key which came with the car.
 
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Oxford_Matt said:
Why a monkey?? I assume you think your superior?

I work in the Motor Trade and I can tell you for a start the Dealer level software for the later vehicle key/control modules cost thousands. The Guys that do it are trained Technicians and some are Master Technicians, then of course you have the Locksmiths/Key Replacement Companies that also have invested heavily in the Software across all manufacturers and they all have overheads as a business.

Considering what a vital part of your car the key is, I would say its worth every penny!!
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take a breath :)
Everything in context, you see a 'vital part' but many of us remember buying Ford cars at a time when there was a 1 in 7 chance your mates key would open it.
 
Phil V said:
take a breath :)
Everything in context, you see a 'vital part' but many of us remember buying Ford cars at a time when there was a 1 in 7 chance your mates key would open it.
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Those cars would have been just a simple key for a simple lock that the majority of manufacturers fitted and was around 30 years ago or more. I knew someone with a Vauxhall that the ignition key could fall out whilst driving along and the car would still drive quite happily even without the steering lock activating. Keys with PATS and more complicated cutting patterns and variations have moved on along way since then. So he is right it is a vital part and as such even £200 would be quite cheap.
 
nilagin said:
Those cars would have been just a simple key for a simple lock that the majority of manufacturers fitted and was around 30 years ago or more. I knew someone with a Vauxhall that the ignition key could fall out whilst driving along and the car would still drive quite happily even without the steering lock activating. Keys with PATS and more complicated cutting patterns and variations have moved on along way since then. So he is right it is a vital part and as such even £200 would be quite cheap.
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Show me where I said he was wrong... o_O
I was adding context to diffuse a situation in a lighthearted manner (see the disarming comment and smiley). I'm well aware of the history and timescales I was there ;) I've got an Austin Healey in the garage with a 'Ford' key hanging out of it but frankly my drawer key from work would probably do the job too. Meanwhile on the drive I've got a Citroen where the coating of the key is disintegrating and I'm trying to find a way of replacing the casing without having to replace the key.
 
Oxford_Matt said:
Why a monkey?? I assume you think your superior?

I work in the Motor Trade and I can tell you for a start the Dealer level software for the later vehicle key/control modules cost thousands. The Guys that do it are trained Technicians and some are Master Technicians, then of course you have the Locksmiths/Key Replacement Companies that also have invested heavily in the Software across all manufacturers and they all have overheads as a business.

Considering what a vital part of your car the key is, I would say its worth every penny!!
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Well put!

When it all goes well it looks so simple to the uninformed. Where the real skills come in is especially when it doesn't go well, or various components don't talk to each other anymore.

Some seem to think it is just some mechanical copy. Very odd.
 
Phil V said:
Show me where I said he was wrong... o_O
I was adding context to diffuse a situation in a lighthearted manner (see the disarming comment and smiley). I'm well aware of the history and timescales I was there ;) I've got an Austin Healey in the garage with a 'Ford' key hanging out of it but frankly my drawer key from work would probably do the job too. Meanwhile on the drive I've got a Citroen where the coating of the key is disintegrating and I'm trying to find a way of replacing the casing without having to replace the key.
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My apologies missed the smiley. :).
If it's the key itself that is losing coating chances are it was to disguise the soft material the key was made from. Is the key showing signs of wear? What were once sharp clean edges now rounded off? If so you'd be wise to just replace the key now or you'll find yourself locked out of your car one day or unable to start it or get the steering lock off if it isn't an electric lock.
 
nilagin said:
My apologies missed the smiley. :).
If it's the key itself that is losing coating chances are it was to disguise the soft material the key was made from. Is the key showing signs of wear? What were once sharp clean edges now rounded off? If so you'd be wise to just replace the key now or you'll find yourself locked out of your car one day or unable to start it or get the steering lock off if it isn't an electric lock.
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It's the plastic 'jacket' that's worn around one of the buttons. I think I can buy a new case for a tenner, but I'm not looking forward to it.

Flipping French though, there's no keyhole on the drivers door, so if I need to open the door with the key I have to do a lap :(
 
You can find much cheaper mobile guys to do it, without the dealer price tag at your house
 
Phil V said:
It's the plastic 'jacket' that's worn around one of the buttons. I think I can buy a new case for a tenner, but I'm not looking forward to it.

Flipping French though, there's no keyhole on the drivers door, so if I need to open the door with the key I have to do a lap :(
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Have you looked on ebay, I know you can get silicone covers for Ford key fobs, probably have other makes too. Odd that the drivers door handle has no keyhole but the passenger door does. Sounds like the French being tight. Ford have drivers side keyholes only regardless of lhd or rhd.
 
I went on a locksmith course recently, Ford's (or was it Vauxhall's - dont remember, it was all pretty boring) apparently take even longer, there's actually a deliberate delay in the s/w to ensure a thief wont be interested. Unfortunately that means we all have to wait that time for a new key, ho hum.
 
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