An electronic key is a very convenient thing that combines interaction with a car. For example, it can be used to implement keyless entry and start the car using the start-stop button.
In an observational situation, when many car brands have left Russia, many dealers have closed, recovery can become a key, for example, in case of loss or breakdown, it can become a very serious problem.
Let’s try to figure out what can be done in such a situation, and what definitely should not be done.
How to restore electronic keys until 2022
In the event of a loss or breakdown of the circuit breaker, in most cases, car owners contacted the dealer, who was forced to restore the device.
The whole process was arranged as follows: the dealer filled out an application → the manufacturer issued a new key → then the dealer registered it in the car and untied the old one. In some cases, the factory could remotely register a new key into the car.
Such a procedure cost an average of 10-50 thousand rubles. The final price tag depends on the car brands, models, trim levels and the dealer.
In any case, a new key could be obtained without much attention.
it is officially impossible to restore an electronic key in Russia
After the disappearance of most automakers, Russian dealers lost contact with factories and foreign software, including the one needed to select a key in a car.
This is carried out to dealers refuse to restore keys because factories do not supply duplicates.
In particular, this situation is now observed with BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Volkswagen, Porsche, Skoda and Volvo cars.
This issue started in early 2022. Some people never got the keys they ordered last March.
How can I recover the electronic key
Some owners received a new key that addresses dealers in other countries, but in most cases, when they saw the Russian VIN code, they turned off the refusal, including in Kazakhstan and Turkey. It is similar with neighboring European countries and Belarus.
There is currently no universal recipe for restoring any electronic key. First, every car is different, and protective equipment often matters not only between brands, but among cars of different nationalities and the same brand.
Therefore, if you find yourself in such a situation, then first of all find out how your situation with the car is. Perhaps there is some loophole.
What you definitely should not do is look for specialists and services on Avito and similar sites that promise a quick recovery of any key, and even more so transfer money to them in advance.
On automotive forums, you can really advise a person who understands the issue, but he must first single you out and preferably in a personal meeting.
At the beginning of 2023 in most cars 2-3 years old it is impossible to bypass the manufacturer’s protectionto register the chip key yourself.
In some cases, the electronic key can be replaced with an alarm.
If the car uses a flip type key, then you can observe its replacement with an alarm. In this case, you get a regular key to start the engine, as well as locking and using the remote control of the car.
True, in such cases, you may lose some of the functions for which the chip in the standard key is responsible. For example, opening the trunk with a button and keyless entry.
It is also recommended that not all vehicles can install a keyless bypass alarm.
This can be done on many old foreign cars and modern cars of the VAG group (Volkswagen, SEAT, Skoda and Audi).
You can consider buying a Chinese key
AliExpress sells various electronic keys for old and new cars. They cost from 2 to 10 thousand rubles, depending on the car. But, as a rule, the newer the car, the more expensive the key.
After buying a blank, you need to go to a specialized service center that can register a second key in the car. For this a second source switch is required.
The second condition: circumventing the possibility of protection of the manufacturer. It all depends on the qualifications of the service center and the specific machine, so you first need to meet with a specialist, and then order the key.
Hardcore option with replacement of components (option not for everyone)
User Drive2 told how he managed to recover the electronic key on his 2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class.
After he was not helped by dealers and various organizations, he bought keys from the same car, an ignition unit, an engine block (brains) and a gearbox board at a disassembly.
The box board data was copied to the old board, then the ignition unit and engine were replaced.
Partially received for 105 thousand rubles, 50 thousand had to be paid for the firmware of the blocks and calculated the data with the board, and another 6 thousand rubles cost the work of removing and installing the board.
But after all these manipulations, the man got a car with heavy keys.
This method is not suitable for everyone, and not only because of the high price. The fact is that for all manipulations, experienced craftsmen are needed who know how to work with electronics and competently flash car blocks, and not every person finds such people, and besides, they are not in all places.
The key cannot be deleted. It’s impossible to restore it
In the observed situation, it can only be advised to observe its key and not lose it, because its restoration will not officially work.
Russian dealers have not offered such a service for more than a year, and foreign dealers refuse when they find out that the car is from Russia.
Workarounds for a combination of combinations, but often this is a compromise between convenience and functionality. In addition, they are not always different, their availability depends on the choice of car.
Source: Iphones RU
I am a professional journalist and content creator with extensive experience writing for news websites. I currently work as an author at Gadget Onus, where I specialize in covering hot news topics. My written pieces have been published on some of the biggest media outlets around the world, including The Guardian and BBC News.
