Can anyone confirm that Jaguar keys once cut /copied, must be programed to the car by a dealer? Is it essential for the car to be at the dealer aswell?

If there is another solution I would like to hear it. Ideally some kind of mail system...

 

AFAIK you need to have all the keys and the car at the dealer to programme.

 

Or at least somewhere that has the same equipment... like my house.

A computer running Windows XP, Jaguar software (available on eBay, around $50), and a Ford VCM (about $1800+ on eBay. Chinese clones will not program keys, at least not reliably) and about 12 minutes is all it takes.

The way it works is every key is different and the car's computer needs to be told that each key presented to it is valid for the car. No way to do that through the mail.

 

Si I will have to ensure the dealer in Merida has this computer link. If so I get the key cut and it works. If not I guard my only key with my life !

 

I had a new key cut and programmed last week by a mobile "Auto Locksmith", he had to reprogram both keys. It took him about 30 mins total and cost me £70.

 

There are programs out there for lock smiths to program like mentioned. But useally only the bigger and more expensive locksmiths buy the software to program keys. You have to call around and it only beneficial if a dealer is not close cause many ive seen that do it charge about the same

 

That would be great, but here a locksmith is a guy with a file - for a mobile locksmith add a bicycle

 

for example, buy one apart, when do you need to reprogram the keys ? also when the battery is disconnected for a long time ? or when ?

 

You only need to program when you get a new key, but when it's done only the keys present will work, so if you have two working keys and leave the spare at home when prgramming the one the use and the new one you still end up with two working keys and thew original spare will be inoperative.

 

My local Jag dealership quoted me close to £300 for a new key and fob, that why I went down this route, £70 for the key and I paid £30 for a fob from ebay.

This dealership charges an hourly rate of £130!

 

But then you went to the dealer and had the key programmed to the car by the dealer -correct? How much was that?

 

No, the mobile locksmith coded both keys.

 

So theoretically, I could get the key copied by "your mobile locksmith" by sending it to him. Then the key works without my ever meeting him, or him doing anything to the car. Maybe he could even make it based on a key number obtained via my vin number...

This is the opposite of what everyone else is saying or am I missing something?

 

No, after cutting the key, he had to sit in the car and recode both the new key and the original key with a bit of kit plugged onto the obd2 port.