K11 Owners Group

ronink1100rs · Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2011 3:23 pm Post subject: Replacement key cutting

I wanted to get a couple of duplicate keys cut (I had 2 BMW blanks) to back-up my new precut key from BMW. I found out no one (Home Desperate, any locksmith) etc. would touch them. They said they could not cut stainless steel keys.

The I happened into my local UPS store and voila!
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Bob T · Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2011 4:22 pm Post subject:

I just had one done at my local Ace hardware. I brought in my own blank that I had bought from Max BMW.

Don't know if it was stainless, but it worked fine.
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Jim · Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2011 5:16 pm Post subject:

What? Your local UPS store cuts keys?

Most hardware stores won't cut BMW keys because the harder metal tears up their cutting wheels. Most if not all BMW dealers will cut keys in spite of cutting wheel damage because they have no choice.

Usually when someone at a hardware store cuts a BMW key, it's because they don't realize they're cutting steel instead of brass - or else they don't care.
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Bob T · Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2011 5:53 pm Post subject:

granth · Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2011 5:54 pm Post subject:

I got mine done at the local shoe repair shop(in Britain more shoe repair shops than Hardware stores cut keys)
I even told him the keys were steel and he said it was not a problem,did them there and then,perfect fit. Smile

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drikko · Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2011 7:11 pm Post subject:

A lot of stainless steel is still magnetic, only the 304 or 316 or other 3xx grades aren't magnetic which I doubt the keys are. The 2xx grades are still magnetic but considered Stainless Steel. or something like that.
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Bob T · Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2011 9:18 pm Post subject:

Flying Duck · Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2011 10:21 pm Post subject:

I've got two local locksmiths that can cut steel keys. One is near the BMW dealer so that's where the dealer sends you. But that place is a ripoff. They used t o charge me $6 to cut one and then changed so that it was $9 if it was a motorcycle key. I complained to the manager and got it for $6 but I'm not going back there.

There's a good locksmith near my house that'll cut 'em for $6. That's where I go now.

I went to the supposedly best locksmith in Palm Desert to get one made for the K1 last week but they couldn't cut a steel key. Losers.
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hockeyshifter · Posted: Sat Apr 09, 2011 11:30 pm Post subject:

ok small lesson here on key cutting here
the keys are a type of stainless but not true stainless . true SS keys WILL NOT be attractive to a magnet. not enough carbon .
however the keys are a low carbon steel which need to be cut by a special wheel. any attempt to cut a steel key with a steel wheel will destroy the wheel.
hence the reason for the type of key cutters we now see at the big box stores. and most locksmith shops do not carry a steel cutter.
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