Replacement/spare keys

[5littleones]

Hello,

Me again, the newbie who just acquired a '03 986S ... went to the dealer over lunch to see if I could get a second or third set of car keys. Only got one key for the car. The parts dealer at Fremont Porsche told me about $400/ea!!! :o I told him I'd think about it more!!

So ... is there a way of getting some spare keys cheaper?? I see that Sunset Imports has a set of Remote Heads for ~$100 ... but still need the key itself. Then someone would have to program the heads for my car ... thoughts on the latter two parts, on where I can get them done cheap?!

Appreciate all your help here. GREAT SITE!!

[rhregis]

I was faced with the same dilema 2 years ago. I purchased the heads and blanks from Sunset and had them programed and cut at the dealer. It was much cheaper. If you have a couple of dealers around you shop for the best price. Good Luck!

[Richard Hamilton]

If you only need a spare key for emergencies, why not just get a 'service' key or non-remote key? It will still need the immobiliser transponder coding, but is a lot cheaper than a remote key. That's what I did - seemd a shame to have a £200 ($400?) key sitting in a drawer, just in case. My service key has been sitting there for over 3 years and I've never had the occasion to use it!

[Tool Pants]

Replacement keys are expensive.

When I bought my 1997 in 1999 it was missing the valet key. which Richard is calling the service key, and it is cheaper than the remote.

For the metal part of the key I gave the local parts guy my VIN and the key was cut at the Porsche parts warehouse, which back then was in Reno. Turned out the local dealership had the key cutting machine but they did not like to use it. When you order a key that is cut based on your VIN it is called a "stipulated" key. It comes with a black plastic plug on the top that you throw away. So if you deal with Sunset they can get you a stipulated key. You may have to fax your registration as proof of ownership.

Then I bought the valet key head. Then I needed to have the key programmed. Back then in the old days the dealer faxed a request to Porsche for the key learning code. Then I brought the car in and the valet key was programmed with the PST2. Porsche will only give this code out to a dealer. If you go to an independent then the independent has to go through a dealer. Back then it was a flat $50 to code a key.

Finally, the missing keys should be deleted from the immobilizer in case they show up some day.