Japanese Import step 1 obtain spare key

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#206207 14-Dec-2016 11:17

So haing recently bought a late model Japanese import , Honda 2008, it only came with one key.

A call to the local Honda dealership explains process and price of between $300-$500. Sought of what I expected.

But is there an alternative procurement process that is cheaper?

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#1687615 14-Dec-2016 11:19

Try Mr Minit. I tend to go to the dealer and they just cut / copy the key, costs tens of dollars, but I have NZ new cars.

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#1687616 14-Dec-2016 11:20

Contact your local locksmith, many of them can do extra keys for the later model cars with a transponder now, may be cheaper than the dealer, maybe not. From some of the horror stories I've heard, $300-500 isn't too bad.

Also a hot tip: if you're getting a key cut for an older car/house and your key is quite worn, get the locksmith to "code" it and cut the copy from the code. It costs a little more but that way you get a new key instead of a copy of a worn key. And if you ever want another copy, you just need the code.

Item

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#1687623 14-Dec-2016 11:30

Cost me around $280 from memory to get a guy to come out and duplicate my transponder key for a 2009 NZ new Mazda 6

Talkiet

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#1687625 14-Dec-2016 11:34

I needed a smart key for a 2009 Skyline. Literally none of the locksmiths can do it - they MUST be activated by Nissan in Japan and only the Nissan dealers here have the access to do that.

They initially wanted to charge me $1200 for it including key fob, key blank and programming.

I bought the key fob and blank from jp-carparts.com (about $280 I think) and gave them to Nissan in Chch and they programmed it for $100.

Hell of a local mark-up on the hardware!

Cheers - N

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#1687636 14-Dec-2016 11:53

In some cases "programming" overstates what they have to do. The car's computer will accept a number of keys at any time and the new key is read and registered as one of the acceptable keys.

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#1687662 14-Dec-2016 12:27

Talkiet: They initially wanted to charge me $1200 for it including key fob, key blank and programming.

At that point I'd be wondering whether it'd be more economic to change the lock itself to a third-party one! (I have absolutely no idea how much such a venture would cost)

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#1687673 14-Dec-2016 12:49

Behodar:

Talkiet: They initially wanted to charge me $1200 for it including key fob, key blank and programming.

At that point I'd be wondering whether it'd be more economic to change the lock itself to a third-party one! (I have absolutely no idea how much such a venture would cost)

Not impossible but in my case would have meant a new ECU/BCM and that could only be mated to the car by Nissan :-)

Several thousand :-)

CHeers - N

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#1687676 14-Dec-2016 12:58

We imported a 2014 Audi S4 from Japan, I heard the typical spiel a sales man gives you "They sometimes turn up in the mail a week or two later" Yeah thats a lie.

They come with what you see! Always when viewing a vehicle you expect it to come with everything you see there currently. If there is a key somewhere at home or the receipts are around somewhere just dismiss it.

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#1687679 14-Dec-2016 13:03

This.

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#1687690 14-Dec-2016 13:27

TimA:

We imported a 2014 Audi S4 from Japan, I heard the typical spiel a sales man gives you "They sometimes turn up in the mail a week or two later" Yeah thats a lie.

hahaha, really? I bet that has happened ... like ... never

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#1687707 14-Dec-2016 13:48

ubergeeknz:

TimA:

We imported a 2014 Audi S4 from Japan, I heard the typical spiel a sales man gives you "They sometimes turn up in the mail a week or two later" Yeah thats a lie.

hahaha, really? I bet that has happened ... like ... never

Haha, Yeah i know right. I looked at him sideways when he stated that and said to him, We all know that wont happen. After that he quickly realized that we were not idiots and more educated than him. Bartered him down for an absolute bargain.

Oh yea also, Dont expect anything to come with the car from Japan apart from the car a tiny bit of fuel and 1 key. Even if stated otherwise i doubt you will ever see anything more.

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#1687708 14-Dec-2016 13:53

Talkiet:

I needed a smart key for a 2009 Skyline. Literally none of the locksmiths can do it - they MUST be activated by Nissan in Japan and only the Nissan dealers here have the access to do that.

They initially wanted to charge me $1200 for it including key fob, key blank and programming.

I bought the key fob and blank from jp-carparts.com (about $280 I think) and gave them to Nissan in Chch and they programmed it for $100.

Hell of a local mark-up on the hardware!

Cheers - N

Yup, the housing around our old Toyota key broke, wife took it to local Mister Mint guy who said he couldnt do it because he'd have to order the parts and it'll be around $500.

Wife went on TM, bought new housing (2x) for $10, and swapped over the housings herself in 10s - the electronics were in a solid piece of plastic that just clicked into the housing.

She went back to the Mr Mint guy and showed him. He got quite nasty apparently :-p

XPD / Gavin

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xpd

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#1687710 14-Dec-2016 13:54

TimA:

ubergeeknz:

TimA:

We imported a 2014 Audi S4 from Japan, I heard the typical spiel a sales man gives you "They sometimes turn up in the mail a week or two later" Yeah thats a lie.

hahaha, really? I bet that has happened ... like ... never

Haha, Yeah i know right. I looked at him sideways when he stated that and said to him, We all know that wont happen. After that he quickly realized that we were not idiots and more educated than him. Bartered him down for an absolute bargain.

Oh yea also, Dont expect anything to come with the car from Japan apart from the car a tiny bit of fuel and 1 key. Even if stated otherwise i doubt you will ever see anything more.

Well, when we bought a WIngroad few years back, it only came with the one key/remote. Week later a parcel arrived from the dealer with another key and remote "just arrived from our supplier". :) So it can happen ;)

XPD / Gavin

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