My mind did a quick search and suggested that he try using handphone with his relative who has the duplicate key in KL, but he did not think it would work because of the sophisticated security system, and would not even try because he had a bad experience before. When there was an attempt by someone who tried to start his BMW big bike, he could not start it using his own original key!
It took almost two hours for his relative to get from Shah Alam to Ampang to get the key before he could make his journey to BG! So it was a long agonizing wait for the duplicate key and I left the shop before his help arrived, hopefully. I even thought of whether it was worth the trouble to have someone travelling from BG to meet the other halfway but it would only save the time and cut the journey of the other person, and not the waiting time of the owner here.
Is there any BMW owner or technician who has any bright idea to solve this particular problem? Would the method as suggested by someone in the internet using mobile phones work?
It took almost two hours for his relative to get from Shah Alam to Ampang to get the key before he could make his journey to BG! So it was a long agonizing wait for the duplicate key and I left the shop before his help arrived, hopefully. I even thought of whether it was worth the trouble to have someone travelling from BG to meet the other halfway but it would only save the time and cut the journey of the other person, and not the waiting time of the owner here.
Is there any BMW owner or technician who has any bright idea to solve this particular problem? Would the method as suggested by someone in the internet using mobile phones work?
Just added:
I forgot to add that with my basic knowledge of older cars, I would be tempted to block the exhaust pipe to force the engine to stall. But because of the unknown possible adverse effect on the car's sophisticated electronic-controlled fuel system, I did not suggest as my earlier suggestion was turned down by him because of the fear that it might become a bigger problem with the locking system. I have yet to find out if any of the girls stayed back after shop closing time at 4.00 pm. I expect the waiting time to be around 5 hours and I dread to think of the effects on the idling engine in terms of overheating.
BMW does offer a light graphite duplicate ket that one can keep in the wallet without feeling its presence. But such a key may cost up to RM1000 or more, This is handy in such situations.
ReplyDeleteWell, what's RM1000 if one can afford to buy a RM300,000 car...
ReplyDeleteIt is one thing to have a duplicate key, but quite another when being human means even a duplicate could be misplaced when needed.
ReplyDeleteThe car is being used daily by his wife, yet she could make what appeared to her husband as a silly mistake on this fateful outstation trip.
A lady has suggested that if the car owner subscribed to the security system which could immobilize the car after a theft has been reported, then he could have done the same to immobilize his own car (but presumably notify them of his predicament) until his duplicate key arrives. But I can imagine the same problem of a good system having checks which could prevent the owner from taking possession of the car without going through hassles.
ReplyDelete