I have a 2015 XF which I bought used with only one key. A couple of days ago, my only key was stolen. I had the car towed to my local Jaguar dealership - I suspected any locksmith coming out would be wasting his time - and was told a whole mess of things would lock up and have to be replaced, the moment they opened the car without the key, which would bring the total (incl two new keys!) to just under $7000 dollars. I would just like to know if this seems right? Has every other XF owner who lost their keys had to pay $7000 to have them replaced?

 

Are you not insured for that?

Getting a second key when you already have one available is often around $1000 but you probably already knew that. Not having a key at all makes resolution a considerably greater challenge.

A replacement Smartkey alone is around $350 and the blank key blade then has to be cut. The key material exceptionally hard and not many locksmiths have the equipment to cut one. I doubt it's part of the standard equipment at a JLR Dealership. Here in the UK a cut key can be ordered from JLR through a Dealer by referencing the VIN but this may not be applicable in the US. Provided nothing has been broken accessing the locked vehicle without a key, there should be nothing more to replace. Locksets are available from Jaguar if the door lock has to be drilled out.

Once the Smartkey is physically matched to the vehicle with a correctly cut key blade, it then has to be programmed to it using JLR Diagnostics and all Smartkeys (I think the limit is 5) must be programmed together in the same session. Programming 'pairs' a Smartkey to a vehicle. It is possible to 'unpair' a used Smartkey which has already been paired to another vehicle but dealers will not do this and reports from members who have gone down this route themselves or with Independents are variable.

For obtaining two Smartkeys with cut key blades and hooking the vehicle up to diagnostics, a dealer is already likely to be up to $2000 in accumulated costs before starting to 'pair' with the vehicle. Not many technicians will be familiar with the procedure so time will clock up. A total cost of $3500 wouldn't surprise me for getting out of this predicament. A quote of $7000 tells me they really don't want the nuisance of this because standard maintenance work is a lot more profitable and straightforward but if you want to proceed, they'll make sure they're going to make a good profit.

Graham

 

Basically they've got your ***** in a rat trap, because you have no key at all. I have to say $7000 seems excessive, indeed, way over the top. You might care to contact JLR North America to ask what is a reasonable time for doing the job.

 

Thanks for the responses. This is the quote, broken down. The excuse is the fuse box and control module will 'lockdown' and have to be replaced if they open the car without a key. I am going through insurance so I don't really care so long as I get a fully functioning Jag back:-) I was just curious to know if every Jag owner that loses the keys have to go through the same deal.

I had it towed to the closest JLR dealer in San Antonio because their parts department said they had keys in stock and I was fully prepared to pay $750-$1000 to get one and have it programed before all this happened. Incidentally, the above quote doesn't include cutting the metal key inside the fob. Oh no, they have to send them to England for that:-)

 

Yeah. I've reached out to JLR US to ask them if this is normal but they haven't got back to me yet.

 

Good to hear you're covered by insurance.

Thanks for confirming JLR also supply cut key blades to US Dealers. I didn't know if that was just for Europe.

I would query necessity for the Control Module and seriously question the Fusebox replacement as they should be able to synchronise these and the new Smartkeys. However, as Fraser so colourfully observed, they have you at a disadvantage.

I hope JLR have all the parts available. Many items have disappeared from inventory since the Pandemic and the concern is not 'when' but 'if' they will ever become available again.

Graham

 

Quote: The excuse is the fuse box and control module will 'lockdown' and have to be replaced if they open the car without a key.

Unless they have an explosive self destruct inside I do not see how they will be unusable.
When such items are manufactured they obviously need programming when fitted to a new car. There is no engineering reason they cannot be programmed a second time.
I thought at one time I lost the 2nd fob for my XF. I was quoted $700 by a local non dealer fob specialist to supply another. It would only be the electronics of course, not the physical key. The moral of this story is if you only have one fob get it copied now.
I did find my 2nd fob luckily.
I once fixed a Merc fob belonging to a friend after he dropped it. These keyless fobs cost about $20 tops to manufacture even in Europe.

 

Wow, that is a crazy price. Glad I have 2 keys for mine just in case. As an FYI, we also have a 2016 MB C300 and lost the only key we had. It cost $800 to replace and program the new key. They have some type of master codes which can be looked up and then programmed. The dealership we used only had one person who was allowe to do this.

 

But wait----You DO care how this turns out, especially if you sniff that a dealership may really not be interested in the "labor" of solving your key problem for you.

We may say a lot of bothersome crits about Jaguar, Mercedes, etc with our cars, but one thing we get a privilege from is (...not such a proud thing to admit) that these cars are produced with the wealthy in mind, and buying one DOES give you some clout with the company. That's why I like Fraser Mitchell's suggestion---reach out to JLR for a chat. I endorse this for ANY problem or accident you have with a Jaguar---call and chat with JLR directly, get in the habit of being NICE and courteous, and generating an advisory relationship with them. (Again, since this is a LUXURY product) the manufacturer has half the time BYPASSED a dealership I was working with, or countermanded the dealership's estimate or restrictions. Dealerships are interested in making a good profit, yes, but they also don't want to get in "bad" with Jaguar---customer dissatisfaction mentioned to JLR about a dealer DOES come back to haunt the independent dealership.

You said you're at the San Antonio dealership primarily because someone mentioned they'd have in-stock benefit---and so far San Antonio disappointed you on that. You also don't seem to have any past dealings with them, so they have no earned faith or good quality standing with you yet, AND it seems to most of us posters that their foot is down heavy on the "profit pedal".
I'm sorry, but I wouldn't want to reward San Antonio with the chance to work on my car and make money. Especially if they have to (NOT PROVEN yet, until you talk to JLR directly) go drilling holes in my car and frying-out circuit boxes.
Even if yes, JLR says the drilling and electrical replacements must be done, ... I'd still be willing to pay extra towing to get the car from San Antonio to another Jaguar dealership (maybe the dealership you've been going to regularly and feel more solid about). Your Insurance company will understand---they secretly LIKE for a customer who saves them a bit of pay-out money by being shrewd with dealerships.

Please talk to a JLR rep---it's THEIR car, not the dealership's. In the past JLR has altered the key fob dynamics to address common slips and user oops they found customers were falling into, so JLR may have a procedure all mapped out to cut blade-keys in their own shop (and maybe leave the car locked and undrilled in your own driveway).
For me, a "good car repair" is 80% handled by JLR, and 20% fitted by the Jaguar service dealership.

 

Please anyone reading this thread as we have seen it a THOUSAND times!! DO NOT DRIVE WITH ONE KEY/FOB!
You are waiting for a multi thousand dollar repair experience!
.
.
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What's wrong with this picture ..... any car using an electronic key can be easily stolen with a laptop and software available on the web. Not that this would help if you lost your key fob but how ironic is it that someone can steal your car or what's in it without a key and you must pay $7K if you lose your keys.

 

Kudos, milskover.
Keep in mind though, that the thief, once he's gotten your car without the legitimate fob opening it, has to transfer the car to it's final "owner" fast, or he has to keep on the run from Authorities.
The thief spends little, but he always will be the fraudulent owner. The $7000K is painfully the cost of being the HONEST owner.

Gives true definition to the phrase "It PAYS to be honest." It pays an awful lot.

 

If they are using the car for parts or they are just interested in what's inside they don't care. Chop shop and it's done. The "transfer to a final owner" is the hard part. I understand Jaguar is not easy to fool into giving anyone a replacement key fob and you must show proof the car is yours. With these crooks I'm betting they already have that all figured out. Your car is now in a country that doesn't track ownership well or is easy to bribe. No matter what man invents to foil thieves, if man made it then it can be defeated. Unfortunately none of this helps a legitimate owner that has no key.