Replacing a lost key

[SteveM]

My wife has lost her key. Part of her birthday present was a "Tile" device to prevent it happening again (she is happy because it helps her find her phone also; I did not get into trouble for possible passive-aggressive behaviour!). However, I still want a replacement. The manual says: go to the dealer. The dealer wants £350, which looks like the sort of rip-off that only a monopoly could sustain. Obviously I wish to avoid awarding this behaviour, if at all possible. A Google search suggests I can buy the key for £88, but unprogrammed. Then there are various links to programming stuff, which I have not researched in detail. Before I go on a possibly fruitless search, I thought I would consult this forum, which seems to be a font of useful knowledge. We surely can't be the first people in this position. BTW, I am not too worried about the lost key being deactivated, so please skip telling me about that.

 

[Reckless1957]

Key can only be programmed by dealer ordered from vin number from MG as it has key blade inside also. Most manufacturers charge the same amount always expensive, best insure next one.

 

[Diggsy]

Check your car insurance doesn’t cover lost keys

 

[ReintjeWA]

I think some locksmiths are able to (re)program new car keys, but I wouldn’t know if they can do MG4 keys specifically.

Considering it is the thing that lets you use the car I think the price isn’t too bad, a good incentive to take better care of an important item. But if you just want the second key as a back up, perhaps using the app would suffice?

It might also be worth checking your remaining key fob has the physical key blade inside it, some people here have reported only one of their keys comes with it, others say both key fobs have it.

 

[Kithmo]

The high cost is based on security. The dealer has to delete the key you have and the key you lost from the car, to prevent anyone who found your lost key from stealing the car, then reprogram that key and the new key to the car using the VIN.

 

[Tuareg]

It might also be worth checking your remaining key fob has the physical key blade inside it, some people here have reported only one of their keys comes with it, others say both key fobs have it.

Both my fobs have a key blade

 

[SteveM]

Both our keys had the blade.
In my cynical view, the high cost is simply because they have you over a barrel. Yes it's worth £350 to be able to use the car, but that's hardly the point. There is very little cost to the dealer/MG, some minor database adjustments, maybe half an hour of programming time and a £5 worth of hardware (at least it would be that sort of money if it were a regular consumer item.) I was expecting £50- £100, the sort of charge an insurance company, or bank, might make for admin.
I am looking into the insurance documents (thanks for the steer); the policy says yes, but then implies they will only pay out (up to £500) if the lock is changed. I'm not sure if that is just poor wording, or a way to avoid anyone ever making a claim; a physical lock change would be absurd for a lost key and presumably cost a lot more.
I'll post again if I find a better way.

 

[Reckless1957]

They have to cut new blade, provide new fob, program both the old spare key and the new key to the car, £350 considering the work and parts is good in my view.

 

[Muffler]

Would be interesting to see if just the blade could be ordered and for how much. May be possible/cost effective to mix ‘n match i.e. blade from dealer and fob from elsewhere. Anyone with SIPS/VDS3 access can do the programming part, I believe.