Golf Mk 3 keys

Honest John Back Room » The Back Room Archive
What is life like with your car? Let us know and win £500 in John Lewis vouchers | No thanks
View Threaded
Mon 4 Feb 2002 11:27
Golf Mk 3 keys - Steve
We have a 98 Golf TDi estate and have lost the first key. Still have the spare but thought it would be a good idea to get another. Just phoned the supplying local VW dealer; first we have to take the car to them, then they interrogate the electronic brain; then they fax to VW Miton Keynes - who fax VW Germany. FAx comes back with the order code for the key. The dealer then orders the key. Once it has arrived they require the car for another 1/2 day to "progamme" the key(s).
So, 2 visits (mon to fri only of course) and a bill of £40 for the key plus 1/2 hr labour for programming.
The service receptionist was very cheerful about it all - lucky you don't have a FIAT sir, it would cost you £1,000.

Is there an easier way to get a new key?
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 4 Feb 2002 11:39
Re: Golf Mk 3 keys - Ian Cook
Steve

I don't know if there's a cheaper way to get a key for a VW but, if it's any consolation, it's a similar outlay for a Citroen (actually about £65) but it doesn't involve faxing HQ.

I guess it's part of the price we pay for better vehicle security - and there's a message for all of us, isn't there? Look after car keys, because the days of cheap replacements (cut at the local shoe mender) are over.

Ian
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 4 Feb 2002 12:21
Re: Golf Mk 3 keys - Alwyn
This is no help to you, just a moan, but our Mondeo had to be re-programmed because we need spare keys. If we had two, we could re-programme a third ourselves.

Odd that this can be done in a few minutes via the ignition switch by me, but a dealer, probably using the same route into the cars "brain", wants the car for "between one and a half and four hours Sir, depending on what we find"

I firmly believe this is not true and is probably used to justify a nice little earner for the dealer. We paid £75.

When I worked for the Electricity Board, we could reprogramme chips in a few minutes.

It has been suggested that big intruder alarm companies can carry out this work for far less money but I don't know if that is true. Worth a phone call?
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 4 Feb 2002 18:49
Re: Golf Mk 3 keys - Rob S
There was a recent thread on dealer only keys and the expense, we had to get a new key for our '99 Sharan and the total bill was broken down as:

Key £54
Transmitter £56
Fitting £22

All plus VAT!

It was a similar process of faxing details all over the place, all in the intersts of added security - or so VW claim. Those of us with a touch of cynicism in our character might think this was just another way of keeping business to themselves. As I said on the previous thread, check you're insured in case the key goes missing.

Rob
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 4 Feb 2002 19:02
Re: Golf Mk 3 keys - Rob S
And it took them nearly 4 months to supply me with the key! On other VW threads I have mentioned how poor 2 out of the 3 VW dealers that I have come across are, the excuse for the delay was that there were 2 people on sick leave at VW HQ in Milton Keynes........is this really credible?

Rob
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 4 Feb 2002 22:01
Re: Golf Mk 3 keys - Steve
Thanks I had better get on and order the new key.
I have checked out the procedure to get a new key for my e class Mercedes(VW is my wifes car). Phone merc dealer with chassis number, wait approx 4 days and collect new key - with remote locking total bill about £45-50.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link

From which small car to buy at which price point to the best UK-built cars, our Top 10s have the lot. Click now for your shortlist.

Unsure of what to buy? Our Top 10s are here to help you....