spare keys- advantage to unique/dealer programmed keys or not?

[scot850]

Fair enough that you may not value a lifetime warranty on Volvo parts on a old car, but there are people here still running cars way older than 2000 model year.

Jim, I wrote that if you buy a Vida/Dice unit you need help to get it to be able to program the transponder. Forgot the name of the guy that does this. I will have to find the thread on the key issue I wrote earlier to get the name the Mike (precopster) gave.

Neil

[precopster]

He posted on this thread Neil ^^ Doublebug is the guy.

You can program new keys with a Dice and doublebug's help for the post 2004 models because of the newer style CEM. It's possihle on the older style also but requires removal of CEM and pin shorting on one of the ICs to enter boot mode.

He actually helped a customer of mine with a 2006 XC70 who had lost all transponder codes in CEM but car had been blocked by Volvo corporate due to.a configuration change the Volvo server didn't like.

We wrote 2 x new keys with ID48s for that customer.

Doublebug has also cloned countless ETMs and a couple of ECMs for me. He's quite a talented man!

[abscate]

Neil - I don't value it not because the car is old, but because I think your chance of collecting on it are rapidly diminishing. Lets face it, marketing terms like 'lifetime' have to be parsed and understood to be limited. The writing looks good, but the chances of finding NLA parts will mean the warranties are ReichsMarks.

[mrbrian200]

Had business in the neighborhood, literally around the corner, from Autobarn Oak Park dealer. Dropped in. They said $500 for key+fob or $250 for key only. He explained that the key + fob = two separate programming charges. Woof.
That alone might make me pause before telling friends/relatives "They're decent cars go buy one!". I'm already at the stage "unless you're fairly skilled and do most of your own repairs". Average people looking at 7+ year old cars (typically with tight budgets, can't be late/miss work too awful often, and checking the oil level dipstick is about the limit of their ability). Boy I dunno...

[mrbrian200]

Turns out the locksmith in Chicago Ridge (Transponder City) is programming unique keys/remotes with VIDA (not cloning).
They were (including programming and laser cut on site) $325 for a flip key/remote, and $125 for a valet type key. The keys are genuine new genuine Volvo parts (not 100% sure on the remote, but it looks OE). However! That price is dependent on whether they happen to already have a 3 day subscription to VIDA open (they did this week between Thursday-Saturday). If you don't coordinate with them or are in an emergency, if they have to open a subscription just for you, they would be the same or possibly a little more than the local dealer (Oak Park Volvo) that quoted me $500/$250.

So for $450 I got brand new remote keyfob and a valet (to use with an aftermarket remote start in the future). He also cleared old keys in the CEM at N/C. He said the car was programmed for 5 keys (I got 1 when I purchased the car).

[abscate]

My indie does valet keys for 40 bucks. You do need to schedule into the 3 day VIDA window.

There are no 7 year old cars that don't need routine maintenance and usually some refurbishment to be reliable transport.

My 17 year old Volvojust rewarded me for paying attention and educating myself about how it works by letting me fixit with basic handle tools 120 miles from home