Car Key Replacement Tips For Your Mini Cooper As technology advances and technology advances, the days of turning the key to start your car are slowly disappearing Nowadays, we can use remote programming Even these are susceptible to malfunction and require professional assistance If you need to replace a car key quickly an experienced mobile locksmith is the best choice You can purchase spare keys from a dealer, however it must be programmed to your car prior to activation This is only possible through locksmiths with access to your VIN and registration or title Keys lost or stolen The owners of Mini Cooper cars often choose them for their great gas mileage, low maintenance requirements and high resale value Similar to other cars Mini Cooper keys could be lost or stop working If this happens, a good locksmith can assist you Modern vehicles have remote key fobs which can be used to unlock doors and start engines These fobs are connected an immobiliser system that stops the vehicle from operating in the event that the correct key isn't available It's costly to replace it the fob if it is lost The key fobs in the latest models of cars are equipped with an electronic chip that communicates with a transponder inside the engine of your vehicle https//wwwthekeylabcouk/mini-car-keys/ contains a code that is unique to your car If you need an upgrade chip, it must be programmed for your car by a dealer who is authorized, or a locksmith with the appropriate tools Getting your keys replaced at a dealership can be expensive but it's usually the only alternative Locksmiths on the move can make keys for you at lower cost, especially if your registration or title is available to prove that you have the car Unlocking Your Car You could ruin your day by realizing that you have locked your keys inside your car You could be waiting for someone to arrive and unlock your door, or for a tow-truck arrive There are some clever tricks that you can employ to save time and money The first step is to find a long, thin rod A wire clothes hanger works well, but you could also use rods made of plastic that is strong or even a shoelace It must be small enough to pass into the door's seams and long enough to reach the lock button Make a slip knot in the string a sliding knot that tightens tightly when pulled Place the loop of the slip knot in front of the button for locking The string can be gently wiggled with the knot that is placed over the lock button using back-and-forth motions until the knob inside the door opens This trick may not work for all situations however it's an effective solution for many cars It's particularly useful for cars that have the locking mechanism located on the side of the door, instead of at the top If your car has a knob at the top of the door, this technique could help you if you have the right tool on hand Be careful not to damage your vehicle in the process Resetting Your Key Fob It's possible that you need to reset your key fob in the event that you change the battery or lose it Most of the time, this won't impact the function of your key, but in the event that it doesn't work right away there's a chance that you've installed the new battery incorrectly You should bring the new battery into the dealership to be installed so that they can ensure that it's the correct one for your car If you're trying to reset the key, you'll require another working key You should sit in the driver's chair and place your blank key somewhere nearby Push the small silver tab on the back of the key fob to open the keys made of metal, and then remove the batteries Replace the battery and ensure that it's in the correct way up the negative end should be on the outside After you've replaced the key battery Turn the car on Press the locks and unlock buttons on each of your fobs to program them with the car's computer After all fobs have been programmed you can return to your car and lock it in the same way as usual You must turn off your ignition to complete the program If you are waiting too long, your car could lose all its commands Replacing the Locks Getting locked out of your vehicle is a big trouble, and it can be expensive to replace the keys The dealer will charge approximately 150 for a brand new key fob, but locksmiths can charge more The best way to prevent this is to store your spare key in a secure place, or to purchase an electronic lock for your mini cooper so that you can unlock it using your mobile It is possible to replace the door lock actuator yourself, but it takes a bit of patience and effort The first step is to take off the old actuator by reaching inside and pulling it out Remove the push rod that is connected to the manual lock It's a rod that has black plastic on one end The rod connects to an actuator clip It isn't easy to locate and then put back in place this component and it is recommended to keep the window closed down while you work on it Next, remove the battery cover and remove the old battery Then install the new battery and replace the cover Finally, put the actuator back on, making sure the star end of the control rod is in the fitting on the top of the actuator It's a tight fitting, so you might need to use some force to bring it in place You should now be able lock and unlock your doors by pressing the buttons on the keyfob If they do not then you'll need to call an expert locksmith or dealer for assistance