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£300 for a key! ... Anywhere cheaper?

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10K views 85 replies 25 participants last post by  JTSDAVE 
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#1 ·
Ive just phone Bauer Millet Alfa Romeo in Manchester to get a price for a new key as when I bought my car it only had one and they have quoted £140 for the key, £35 for the code and £80 labour PLUS VAT making it 300 quid for a key! :wow:........ does anyone know if this is the same price from all dealers or does it vary if I was to phone around - or is there another way of getting a key at a reasonable price!?
 
#2 ·
So far the best I have received is £270 (Northampton), though couple more local dealers to try. I have read on here about people getting it for £220 so there does seem to be a lot of variance in price. I'm in the same situation, having just brought my 147 and only being given one key. :(

Mangoletsi might be worth a shot (I have no idea where they are based or if its anywhere near Manchester though), they were a fair bit cheaper than both the Northampton dealer and Alfa's own website when I ordered my Ipod wire/ draw.
 
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#9 ·
A decent auto locksmith can do it for you using a second hand key. It can be done buy reading the key info from the body computer you get the code for the immobiliser code at the same time when you do it this way. Expect to pay about £100 ish for programming this way but most will keep the price the same regardless of how many keys are being programmed if your supplying your own. I have a couple of mint refurbed ones with new blade and chip if you fancy going this route. Have a ring around your local locksmiths and find one that can do eprom reading/Programing
 
#11 ·
yep mangos want £220 for a new black flip key for mine, inc vat. by far the best offer from a dealer iv seen:thumbs:
 
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#17 ·
Thanks for trying to help guys,

Tried Mango's last night and strangely they said £200 for the key & £40 for labour (approx) + VAT .... that takes it up to nearly 300 notes again (different sums to Millets but with the same results!?). :mad:

I'll phone around a couple more dealers but I'm guessing they have come to an agreement on a figure to charge (regardless of how they get to it!). :eek:

I have been told that they need to have the car to match the key - they dont need the original key - so if you only have one key and lose it you can get your car towed to a Alfa garage and they can still do you a new key. :rolleyes:

I havent got my log book back yet (private plate going on it) to chase the previous owner up but I'll give that a shot when I get the info. If I have no luck there I will try and find a local auto'locksmith that might be able to help & if not i guess I'll have to go to Alfa drop my trousers and bend over! :cry:
 
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#24 ·
Alright guys, now now - I do actally have one key yes, I was just after another for a spare if i was to lose one or incase this one breaks ..... I'm not daft enough to let the missus have one so she can take it for a spin!!!
Not having much luck with the local garages - they all just look at me as if i was daft.
 
#25 ·
I was talking to my Stepson today who mentioned that he had sorted a spare key for his Skoda Octavia by buying a new blank from Ebay and getting a locksmith he knows in Bury to cut a replica from his key and also code it - by reading the code from his existing key - I guess as mentioned by Minirib above....if Bury is handy to you I'll try to get the contact details - it could be worth a check if he can do Alfa keys as well......
 
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#31 ·
The Alfa is a little different copying the chips isnt an option as they are locked. The chips are specific to each car so you either need to make the chips up pryer to programming or buy them from Alfa who are taking the **** :mad: . A similar system is used on all fiat group cars now.
Had a chat with one of the dealers last night and apparently the prices went up again last week from £140 all the way upto £190. Bit of a steep price rise i thought and probably explanes the differing quotes
 
#26 ·
It's a lesson many learn the hard way - but these days you really need to make sure a car comes with two keys and if not, start negotiating a £200+ discount.

Although I'm suprised that an Alfa dealer charges £300, Merc keys are around £250 now - and these are car specific, have to be supplied from the factory, and cannot be re-coded (not without unsoldering chips and reprogramming them).
 
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#27 ·
Lesson taken on board - I usually buy from a main dealer but didnt this time! :cry:

rgwm - Bury is only round the corner from me, if you could get the details for that locksmith for me that would be great! Cheers :)
 
#29 ·
You CAN NOT code a second hand Key if you have the black flip type key. The immobiliser chip can only be coded once and never coded again and you can not but Alfa Romeo immobiliser chips from anywhere. Even auto locksmiths cant get them. Your only option is to go to a main dealer and buy a new key.
Please don't listen to the fairy tales you will hear on here, You will be throwing money away getting second hand keys and a blank key blade and trying and getting it coded. It can not be done.
Ring round loads of different dealers for a quote on a key as prices do differ and get an indi with a Alfa/Fiat diag tool to code the key for you that is if you have the key code. If not then that will cost you a further £20 from Alfa Romeo.
 
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#32 ·
Not true dealer is not the only option. The chips are megamos id48 the same as used in most VW`s they can be unlocked and re-used if you have the right equipment. where they differ from most but somthing thats becoming more common is that they carry a precode that is specific to each car and needs to be present on the chip before the car will except it for programming. The data for the chip precode is stored in the cars body computer and can be extracted buy a good auto electrician/locksmith the immobiliser pin code is also stored in the same file. If you still wish to believe it cant be done then i can get the camcorder out next time i do one.
 
#30 ·
Although I'm suprised that an Alfa dealer charges £300, Merc keys are around £250 now - and these are car specific, have to be supplied from the factory, and cannot be re-coded (not without unsoldering chips and reprogramming them).[/QUOTE]

The Alfa key is no different than the Merc key you are talking about.
 
#33 ·
bought a blank on e bay for my GTV about £25, took it to my local shoe repairers who also did keys he reproged for about a tenner so sub £50 inc vat
I only had one key not the master so he reproged from that
 
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#36 · (Edited)
The chips used in the alfa systems are as follows

Code 1 (145 146 164 GTV)
Chip= ID33 blank=PCF7931
Can be copied all day long

Code 2 (156)
Chip= ID44 blank=PCF7935

Code 3 (156)
Chip= ID46 blank =pcf7936 (Precoded Specifically to each car)

Code 2 (147 GT 159)
Chip= Megamos ID48 (precoded Specifically to each car)

TEG/ Smart Keys (GT 159 Brera/ Spyder)
Chip= ID46 Blank=PCF7941 (Precoded specifically to each car)

Mito
Chip= ID46 Blank=PCF7936 (Precoded specifically to each car)


The ID48 chip is the only one that unlocks easily all the others can be unlocked but buy the time you have hunted through the immo files for the password you may as well have used a new chip. Chips are available from many sources its the equipment that will cause the problem. Without the ability to prepare the chips you may as well try and program a brick to your car. The only one that realy causes a problem is the code 3 156 but there is somthing in the pipeline for copying these.

A good set up to get you going would be
A good Programmer/Cloner with eprom & MCU functions My preference is Zed-Bull Qx Plus there are others
A good Immo Calculator program ICC Calc is one of the best
Equipment for reading eproms/MCU`s X-Prog and Omega Kit are a couple of examples
An IC rework station for removing and re-installing chips from immo boards preferably hot air or infrared
Either Ad100 pro or Fiat examiner if you have acces to one

Cost i s the issue that little lot would set you back just over £7000 (assuming you had ad100 pro with fiat soft only)but with alot of practice it would enable you to program chips for almost all cars
 
#39 ·
alfa 156 spare key

Hi, I have the same problem just 1 key. I asked around and I found Timpsons (shoes and keys people) quoted me around £170 with key and they would need to do it on the car, I stay in Glenrothes ,fife so Im sure they can do the same where you are? I,m still thinking about it though. Hope that was any help. :)
 
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#41 ·
Yup aslong as its the earlier three key system then copy away after that you need the fancy soldering iron :) or get shafted buy the dealer.

And to demonstrate how expensive fiat group are heres some comparisons as to what im currently paying trade
Alfa 147 £175
Fiat Stilo £142.72
Ford Focus £28
Peugeot 308 £35
Vauxhall Astra £38
Citroen C4 £40
Renault Megane Card £77
VW Golf £50
Toyota Corolla £60

Nothing comes close:eek:
 
#42 ·
A bit of a jaunt but I got my key done at WADS in Wolverhampton £200 all in ! They are Alfa specialists not main dealers and probably better have used them since. It will be cheaper if you have already got the code card. In my experience most auto locksmiths wont be able to do it that includes the big guns. I spent 2 weeks searching for the cheapest. Hope this helps
 
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#43 ·
Yes it will be cheaper if you already have the code card but part of the problem is that alfa are regularly raising the prices of the keys.
I will ask around and do a list of locksmiths that are happy to deal with alfas. I have some stocks of the red 156 remote keys and can do new blades and chips for 156 code 2 of the shelf i will lis them in the classified section later
 
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