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BMW 328i 2000 Key Coding


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Pentimento
Novice

Nov 29, 2016, 5:25 PM

Post #1 of 9 (1772 views)
BMW 328i 2000 Key Coding Sign In

I bought a BMW 328i from a guy who purchased the car from an auction. The car did not come with a key from the auction. So the guy I bought it from, purchased a BMW key but he never had the key coded to the car. Therefore, I can not start the car. The car's engine had almost everything taken apart so I have just finished putting everything back together. However, I can't drive the car because the car won't turn on with no coded key (I'm guessing?) I called BMW and asked the receptionist about this and she said I had to bring the car to BMW for them to code the key to the car. But of course, I can't bring the car there if I can't drive it and they won't give me an exact price for how much it will cost to get the key coded. I was told $300-500. I don't have THAT much money and I would also have to pay a tow truck to even deliver the car there.

I am in nursing school and don't have a job yet because my school is super demanding. I just received $500 from school and I obviously can't spend the whole $500. Especially if I will end up needing to pay for a tow truck.

Is there any way around this? I really can't imagine that it would cost $300-500 just to have a key coded to the car. Or was I given false information? Somebody please just help me so I can get this car on the road.


(I DID NOT RECEIVE THE ORIGINAL KEY. I ONLY RECEIVED ONE THAT THE GUY HAD BOUGHT FOR THE CAR AFTER THE AUCTION)



The key the guy gave me, looks like this http://i.ebayimg.com/...wMmBVgXHt/s-l300.jpg (except it has been cut)

However, the key is pulled apart, exposing the battery and the chip.

The guy I bought the car from isn't very helpful with information. This is what he texted me "The one that fits the ignition is not the one that matches the dme". So when the key is apart, one part goes into the ignition, the other doesn't, while one opens the doors and the other doesn't.

I'm really just torn with this car. I have done so much to it and I don't know what else to do. Please, help.


(This post was edited by Hammer Time on Nov 29, 2016, 7:49 PM)


Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Discretesignals profile image

Nov 29, 2016, 6:17 PM

Post #2 of 9 (1745 views)
Re: BMW 328i 2000 Key Coding Sign In

Why buy an auction car, BMW at that, in parts, not running, no master key, and limited funds? You might get lucky with a locksmith. Some locksmiths have the ability to code keys to the DME.





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Pentimento
Novice

Nov 29, 2016, 6:24 PM

Post #3 of 9 (1739 views)
Re: BMW 328i 2000 Key Coding Sign In

Because it's my dream car and when I bought the car, I had a job and wasn't in school. The guy also showed me photos of the inside and told me it only had the key issue. I put the engine and everything completely back together. So now it IS only a key issue. I got it for $500 which is pretty cheap. The guy also bought another key and had it cut which is most of the expenses in getting the key stuff set up. So I only need to find a way to have it programmed now. I think I actually found a place in my town to do it. (After I posted this) I just emailed them so I'm waiting for a response. link deleted ............ not allowed


The car is in good condition. The guy just tools stuff apart in the engine because he has another e46 and he was wanting to switch better parts to the 328i but the parts ended up not working because some of them were different and he had a lot of side projects so he decided to sell it instead of putting it all back together. But he also gave me all the extra parts from the other car that he said I could sell or do whatever with.


(This post was edited by Hammer Time on Nov 29, 2016, 7:47 PM)


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Nov 29, 2016, 7:46 PM

Post #4 of 9 (1720 views)
Re: BMW 328i 2000 Key Coding Sign In

If you think that key is going to be your only issue with that car, I have some swampland to sell you.

BMW's are nice when they are new but when they get a little old they become money pits. If you can't even afford to tow the car and have the key programmed, you have only just begun to sink.

NEVER buy a car at an auction unless you can afford the possibility of a large loss and if you're going to buy an old BMW at the auction, you can expect to take a large loss.



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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Pentimento
Novice

Nov 29, 2016, 8:24 PM

Post #5 of 9 (1705 views)
Re: BMW 328i 2000 Key Coding Sign In

Don't know why everyone on car forums always feels the need to put their two cents in. I don't care about what people think of BMW's or if their "money pits". I'm asking for information about a key. If you don't have the information about a key, then move on. I don't need to be told anything except helpful advice with the key.


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Nov 29, 2016, 8:29 PM

Post #6 of 9 (1697 views)
Re: BMW 328i 2000 Key Coding Sign In

Maybe you don't realize it but that is what a forum is. It's advice. We do this stuff for a living so when we say a 17 year old BMW from an auction is a bad investment for someone with no money, we know what we are talking about.

If you don't like the advice you get get you can always move onto another forum and and I will process a refund of everything you have been charged.

You already know everything there is to know about the programming. You have to pay for it. There is no shortcut.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



(This post was edited by Hammer Time on Nov 29, 2016, 8:36 PM)


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Nov 29, 2016, 8:34 PM

Post #7 of 9 (1694 views)
Re: BMW 328i 2000 Key Coding Sign In

Pentimento : Ditto with Hammer Time but worse! This is now a 17 year old money pit that no doubt experts declared so far gone it went to auction which strongly suggests it's just a heap of parts and not even a key which really is a huge obstacle. You still don't know if it runs at all if key was already fixed or what else it needs.


There's a strong reason this car was at auction which is usually because known repairs exceed the possible value of the car. With these cars and others like it you have to do biz with a dealer and pay the price or it isn't a car you should be seeking out at all,


T



Pentimento
Novice

Nov 29, 2016, 8:50 PM

Post #8 of 9 (1687 views)
Re: BMW 328i 2000 Key Coding Sign In

Don't know why you thought the car didn't run before. The car ran before. Only a key issue.


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Nov 30, 2016, 5:07 AM

Post #9 of 9 (1671 views)
Re: BMW 328i 2000 Key Coding Sign In

I'll bet this is why we believe the car didn't run before.

You said it didn't.



Quote
The car's engine had almost everything taken apart so I have just finished putting everything back together. However, I can't drive the car because the car won't turn on with no coded key (I'm guessing?)




~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.







 
 
 






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