I bought a 2001 XK8 the owner only had the black key. Do I have to go to Jaguar for another key or is there a cheaper route to go? Thanks

 

Your key has a chip , and I don't think you are likely to find an alternative. I believe they will have to program both the new and your existing key.

 

Lost my duplicate black key last year and my local (Jacksonville, FL) Jag dealer charged an OUTRAGEOUS $263 for the key blank and programming. It's the only place to get one made due to the chip. Take your current key plus the green key with you if you decide to do it. If you lose your only key no locksmith will be able to help you, which is why I sprung for the duplicate.

That's why I don't go to the dealership for ANYTHING unless absolutely necessary.

Sambo

 

$268.00 is not bad! I Just went over $350.00 replacing a lost key in Ashville NC. this month. I did a lot of hunting for a cheaper way to go, but did not find one. It turns out that this type of new keys are all expensive, even the one for my KIA was $300 or so.

 

So ordering a blank off ebay and taking to dealer really not saving much?

 

Depending on model year ....

keysinthepost.com

about $40 with cutting.

It would still need programming.

 

Same here, about $270 to replace a key at the dealer. Hey, it only took an hour, it works, and I have that all-important peace of mind from having the spare.

Steve

 

Just to show how much progress Jag has made over the years, I needed a key for my '97 and it was under $60. No chip in the early cars.

 

Early cars easily stolen. Later ones, not.

 

Like you, I only have one key (2006 XK8). I ordered 2 chipped keys off ebay for $14 each - they don't have the fancy Jaguar logo on them.
I searched internet and read an article on decoding Tibbe key cuts. Jaguar is 8 cuts of three possible depths "8x3". There is another fellow on ebay who will cut the keys for $18 each. I am trying to convince him to do it from the Tibbe code without sending him my only key and I think he is coming around. When I have the 2 new chipped and cut keys, I will take them and my original to reprogram the security system for all the keys. My local independent Jaguar repair shop will do it for under $100. There are locksmiths who will come to your place and do it for probably a similar price. Jag dealer might not charge much over $100 to program them, either (I don't know).
That is if I haven't got a working WDS by then so I can do it myself. Won't take many trips to a shop or the dealer to pay for a WDS!