Hello all,
I received a new unprogrammed key FOB when I purchased my CGT, and I have not taken the time to visit the Bentley dealership to let them program it for me. I am a little worried that it may be an Asian replica and not an original from Bentley. Is there any way for me to check if it is an original or a replica? Is there a major difference in quality between the two keys?

 

They say count the lines on the wings (9 and 10) as a knock off will not be the same, a bentley fob is 73g's as well.

 

Thank you, and you're right, they don't quite match. The second key feels 'cheaper' at a closer look. So will Bentley even help me with copying the original? Is there another way to get it copied? I only have the original and that copy, so it'd be nice to have a functional 2nd key.

 

I need a 2nd key myself. Been quoted around $1100-1300 between new keys and programming service. Found someone offering to make one for $495 but came with a generic key fob and if I paying that much id rather just go through Bentley.

 

One of the few official Bentley dealerships in Sweden (a couple of hours from where I reside) quoted me $120 USD for programming the new key FOB for me. I was pleasantly surprised by that quote. However, I don't know how they would react once they find out that it's an Asian replica.

 

I am pretty sure they would refuse the service. $120 sounds cheaper than what I was quoted but our of the $1100 or so, about $900+ of that cost was getting the actual keys from Crewe.

 

Most reproduction key FOB's are just shells which accept the internal electronics from an old unit. Open your FOB battery cover and check to see if there are electrodes for the battery.

 

Thanks! I will have a look today.

Crap, I just read on eBay that the new FOB needs to have the same frequency as the old one? My CGT is an import from Japan, which has a lower frequency than the rest of the world, for some odd reason. It's even stated in my Bentley build sheet. So I'm guessing that even if the new FOB does have the electronics inside, it is probably not the same frequency as the original, as the previous owner probably didn't know this. I'm wondering if it's even possible for me to find a new FOB with that lower Japanese frequency? Or if I am able to somehow switch to the higher frequency, which would be terrific.

 

Yes, I can verify the Ebay/Asian fobs are just shells. I've purchased a few of these. They're meant to replace the outershell if yours is worn or damaged or old style. They are pretty good for that reason and they are fairly high quality for what you pay. They assemble and the case splits in the same way as factory, but they're meant to accept your already programmed circuit board AND your matched cut key with the security chip. The blank key in these shells could not be cut as it contains no security chip. Also, these replicas do not have the red emergency/panic button.

These do work well if you have a first year car with the old style fob and want to update. I've done a few of these conversions for friends. I've had a few laying around in a drawer for a couple years now.

 

+1 they are just shells.
if you find someone, who will translate the internals from the old one to the new one, there is nothing on the shell itself to adjust or reprogram. It will work as is.

 

I can see the green circuit board if I remove the battery cover, so it appears to be legit.

A key-copying place told me that they could check my keys to make sure that they were the correct frequency (since my Bentley was imported from Japan), but they said that they would need the car there in order to copy the keys. Apparently they have to 'reprogram' all of the keys together, so they were a little hesitant as Bentley is fairly uncommon. And they didn't want something to happen to the original in the process.

Does anyone have any experience with copying keys somewhere other than an official Bentley dealership?

 

Hello All,
I just want to add my thoughts, and findings, I did not find any security chip in the factory key-blade itself, therefore the blank key-blade should be able to be cut to match your original key-blade, as far as I know, all security features are on the key-fob circuit board itself.

Pictured below is a factory key-blade that I disassembled, I removed the 2 black rubber pads that are on the key-blade, no chips there, then I removed the drift pin that holds the key-blade in the rotator, no chip anywhere on the blade.

Johnny

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Pictures of the Siemens numbers, and Bentley part number.

Johnny

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Thanks for that update, Johnny.

I received these three keys from the previous owner, as well as a Chinese knockoff FOB that was unprogrammed and uncut.

I just tried starting the vehicle with the loose metal key (seemingly cut as the original), and I receive a "IMMOBILIZER ACTIVE" warning. If I have the original FOB in the vehicle, I still receive that warning when I try the loose key. Could the metal key need to be attached to the FOB case in order to work?

I also received a "valet key", pictured with the Bentley key chain. It says "V66TK ITALY" on the key. That one won't start the car either, and displays the "IMMOBILIZER ACTIVE". Weird?

 

….with all the ups and down I’m reading here…looks like I’ll be spending $1100 for a second key at the dealer…what with putting a dollar amount on headaches!