replicate keys by picture!?

[andrew_j]

A good friend who has a E39 M5 only got one key with it.

He got a replacement key from China cut that works by pictures of original. It cost $7.50 shipped albeit 3-4 weeks. It looks like original including plastic but does does not feel at plastic. Required programming .

 

[racer12306]

I've heard about this ability for years and much like people block out their tags, you should block out the key pattern in photos posted online.

It doesn't surprised me it can be done, except for the programming element it's just geometry.

 

[JohnnyJohnson]

The regular old keys are cheap unlike our great technology called the fob.

 

[Nukeman7]

That service has been available for a few years. It costs a lot more if you use a U.S. based company, but they are likely more secure than an overseas company.

 

[MasterSolenoid]

Isn't that how key machines work now ?
I thought that's how Home Depot did it (for padlocks and house doors).
They scan your original key and then make a duplicate from the scan.
(similar to what OP is getting to).

 

[andrew_j]

I was mostly impressed the key was complete duplicate including BMW logo and it actually worked for $7.50. This includes the keyless entry part. He really just wanted an extra key to get into car.

 

[zzyzzx]

If you have ever rekeyed a lock, it should be obvious why you could get a replica key with just a good photo.

 

[Zee09]

@AutoMechanic is the key expert here.

 

[GSCJR]

He's gotta find them first.

 

[2strokeNorthstar]

If you have ever rekeyed a lock, it should be obvious why you could get a replica key with just a good photo.

I did a lot of entry level locksmith work in the past. Especially when its the same key blank you work with all the time. You can pretty well guess the cuts by looking at it after doing them for years.

 

[michaelluscher]

I've eBay ordered a few keys in my time cut to picture
I prefer cut to key code where available
Many manufacturers hide it somewhere on the vehicle, or a sketchy site will sell it to you, or try getting it from the dealer (w/Proof of ownership)

Sad thing is, every cut to picture key I've ordered worked perfectly, whereas local in person copying is 50/50 success

I'm getting very good at the programming side of things, I just don't have the $2k to throw down on a decent Dolphin

Sounds like your friend got a real bargain

 

[bdcardinal]

I have cut Ford 8 cut keys by hand from looking at a picture of one. Once you establish which of the 5 depths one of the cuts is, you just go down the line.

I either cut them with a hand cutter, or I bust out the decoder book and figure out the key code based on the cut depths and punch it into our Ilco cutter.

 

[Carmudgeon]

Isn't that how key machines work now ?
I thought that's how Home Depot did it (for padlocks and house doors).
They scan your original key and then make a duplicate from the scan.
(similar to what OP is getting to).

Yep.

 

[dishdude]

Cuts are 0-9 deep and a good locksmith can tell by looking how deep the cuts are, especially something simple like a 5 pin residential lock.