Accidental Bimmerer 9 Report post Posted April 20 Hi, my recently acquired E91 only came with one key fob (+1 emergency fob). I might me in Christchurch this coming week; can anyone advise the best (i.e. price vs reliability) way to get a new one? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Accidental Bimmerer 9 Report post Posted Wednesday at 11:00 AM Well, I motored down to Christchurch last week and had two business days there to get some things done. Before leaving Nelson I sent messages to every locksmith in Christchurch who looked like they could cut & code a new key. I only got about 4 replies; one couldn't do it, one could for $220 plus the key itself, one from Dan (https://lockncode.co.nz/) for $380 total, and one referring to Dan. Dan it was. I called him late on the first day & he said come to his lockup at 4:45. It took a while through the rush-hour traffic, and on the way the Engine Management Light came on... Once reaching Dan I said I'm not sure whether to go ahead with the spend now, the EML has come on. He said no problem, I'm plugging in the computer anyway, let's see what it is. Turns out it was a transient VANEOS error, may or may not be serious. Cleared it anyway. Then he said that the FRM module had a different VIN on it, and showed as being out of an E90. Maybe that's why the rear wiper & glass hatch don't work... Dan said he knows a guy who can reflash the module for about $250, I said I'll wait & see. So he went ahead & coded then cut a new key, tested it ok, then tried it in the door lock... That's funny, he said, there's no resistance. Then he realised he could turn the lock without fully inserting the key! I don't think there's any wafers in the barrel, he said. Maybe that's why the central locking doesn't lock this door... Another big discussion, Dan explained how to get the door handle & lock barrel out with one allen key, could probably get it dealt with in Nelson. The next day while I was waiting for the radio to be recoded (see https://bimmersport.co.nz/topic/69603-e91-ccc-fm-frequency-change-in-christchurch/), I called Dan & asked him for the contact of the guy who could reprogram the FRM module. He checked first then texted me back 'Chris at Vantage Auto Diagnostics' (https://www.vantageauto.co.nz/). I went along to Vantage & spoke to Chris; very helpful & confident it could be done without risk, but in the end I decided not to spend the $250 just yet. Anyway, job done, lots & lots of extra advice from Dan (free, he wouldn't take a tip). Super helpful and highly recommended! P.S. I spotted a superbike in the loft while he was cutting the key. Turns out his business partner is an NZ champion & that was his winning bike. They'd initially met through bike racing including sidecarting. Dan is the one who gets to hang out. Nutter. 4 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
