[MarcG]

My used Brera came with only one key and clearly I need to get another one as soon as possible.

There were no 'cards' included with any codes for programming and I don't actually know if I need one, or if Breras even come with one.

If I do need one, is there anything I can do? If I don't can I buy a key fob off eBay and get it programmed?

 

[159john]

The good news (assuming it's the same as the 159) is that you don't need any card or anything in order to get a new key. The bad news is that you can only get one through a Main Dealer......and they're expensive. I got mine for £205, but the quoted price was about £238. The Dealer will order the new key and then you have to take the car in for it to be programmed (about 30 mins).

An awful lot of money, but compared to the unthinkable alternative if you were to loose the only key, it's a bullet you'll have to bite.

I did write to the previous owner to ask whether they had the second key (address from the log-book), unfortunately to no avail; although I did have an interesting conversation with him on the phone about the car's history.

 

[MarcG]

I did write to the previous owner to ask whether they had the second key (address from the log-book), unfortunately to no avail; although I did have an interesting conversation with him on the phone about the car's history.

Thanks.

I thought about contacting the previous owner in the same way. But I'm not keen to let someone with a key to my car know where I live! (and I'm not sure how much I want to know about the car!)

There are a couple of keys on eBay, one buy it now for £30 and one with a few days to go at £15 plus postage. May just pick one of those up...

 

[Nev]

You need to go get the dealer to program the car anyway
so there is no real saving to get a key off eBay.


I'd get it done before you lose the one you have and then it really will cost you
an arm and a leg.

 

[MarcG]

You need to go get the dealer to program the car anyway
so there is no real saving to get a key off eBay.


I'd get it done before you lose the one you have and then it really will cost you
an arm and a leg.

£30 key, and looks £45+VAT programming here:

AHM-Alfa Romeo Specialist-Servicing & Repairs-JTD Diesel Remaps & Q2 Limited Slip Diff Conversions

Would like somewhere a little closer, but that seems to be a bit of a saving considering everything else I need...

But yes, you sufficiently scared me in my other thread to get it sorted!

 

[159john]

Thanks.

I thought about contacting the previous owner in the same way. But I'm not keen to let someone with a key to my car know where I live! (and I'm not sure how much I want to know about the car!)

There are a couple of keys on eBay, one buy it now for £30 and one with a few days to go at £15 plus postage. May just pick one of those up...

Totally agree - I didn't put my address on the letter, and just gave a phone number as a contact. Never had really worked out how I was going to get the key off him if he had it.....probably have gone and collected it in person!

As Nev says; there really is no way to avoid going through a Dealer for a new key - I explored all the possibilities before biting the bullet with mine.

Re finding out about the car.....I was informed that the previous guy got rid because 'it was nothing but trouble' and he lost all confidence in it! Stupid thing was that he had already had all the issues sorted before he offloaded it, and it's run faultlessly for me

 

[frazzmac]

it's run faultlessly for me

<rushes in with huge plank of wood> Quick, touch this! :lol:

 

[Chris]

£30 key, and looks £45+VAT programming here:

AHM-Alfa Romeo Specialist-Servicing & Repairs-JTD Diesel Remaps & Q2 Limited Slip Diff Conversions

Would like somewhere a little closer, but that seems to be a bit of a saving considering everything else I need...

But yes, you sufficiently scared me in my other thread to get it sorted!

That is £45 for programming a NEW key, not an eBay 2nd hand key.
Alfa will charge £70ish+ so its a good price.

 

[MarcG]

Alfa Servicing at MGC

Who and are only a few minutes from me can do it for £52.50. They get some breat reviews here:

MGC Servicing in Wilford - Car Servicing & Repair in Wilford - Touch Wilford NG7

Although the guy I talked to seemed to think I'd need a code card...

We should be able to code your key in if you have the Code Card/Car Pass. If not this will have to be ordered in advance from Alfa.

Our normal charge for key coding is £52.50

 

[MarcG]

Seems a key card adds £17.50 + vat to the price.

So all in, with the eBay key, it's going to cost me £104. Which is a bit better than £238 dealer list price.

(Anyone interested there is currently another key on eBay at about £18 delivered, with one bid on it...)

 

[MarcG]

Well that didn't go very well.

The key wouldn't take a code, which left the garage suggesting a key couldn't be reprogrammed...

 

[Alfa_Holic]

was watching your thread with interest as i need an extra key.

Got roughly the same price as you from the main dealer!

 

[MarcG]

was watching your thread with interest as i need an extra key.

Got roughly the same price as you from the main dealer!

Which suggests it should be reprogrammable!

 

[159john]

When I got my new key from the Dealer, I thought they reprogrammed my existing key such that it, and the new one would work, but the original lost key wouldn't. That would seem to prove that an existing key can be reprogrammed?

 

[alfa zulu]

as far as i know all keys can be "reprogramed" alfa just might have a "system block" on so only they can do this (main dealer) a few MD do this to safeguard there intellectual rights
if it can be programed it can be reprogramed, you just need to find someone who can.

similar to the transponder chips in key immobalizers (chrysler pt crusers for example)
code readers wont "read them" because chrysler have "protected" it.

main dealer im afraid.

 

[MarcG]

as far as i know all keys can be "reprogramed" alfa just might have a "system block" on so only they can do this (main dealer) a few MD do this to safeguard there intellectual rights
if it can be programed it can be reprogramed, you just need to find someone who can.

similar to the transponder chips in key immobalizers (chrysler pt crusers for example)
code readers wont "read them" because chrysler have "protected" it.

main dealer im afraid.

The place that tried have coded new keys before for Alfas.

Away on business for a couple of days now, will give the local main dealer a call on my return.

 

[Nev]

Keys are not programmed at all.

 

[MarcG]

Keys are not programmed at all.

Okay, but can you explain a little more to help us understand if it is possible to pick up a used key and get it working on a different car?

 

[Nev]

This probabbaly one of the most posted about topics on AO.

Threadsearh will turn up what you need to know:

http://www.alfaowner.com/Forum/alfa-147-156-and-gt/169423-key-programing-definitive-answer.html

 

[michaeld]

The ECU is programmed to accept the key.......hence you need something like Examiner...........you need to plug Examiner into the ECU (OBD port) so it cannot be done remotely. Hence you cannot buy "programmed" keys.