Are keys really $600+??

New user here. Just bought my 2004 996 cabrio and I'd like to have the security of having a spare key. I've searched the forums and found that the price of a replacement key is the sum of the cost of the key itself plus dealer programming resulting in a $600 reduction in your net worth. I bought a key for my wife's 128i, and it was a paltry $300, shipped via air from Germany. Now, as a long time Corvette owner, I'm familiar with the 'Corvette Tax,' and the 'BMW tax', but this is ridiculous! To make it more confusing, I see key components, like the key shaft, the fob case and the electronic internals on auction sites for less than $20 apiece, with the implication that all you have to do is assemble them and take them to your Porsche dealer who will gladly program the Frankenstein's monster that you hand them and give it back to you in working order an hour later for a mere $150, resulting in a ~$200 expense, which is much more palatable (but probably very unrealistic). So has anyone here cracked the code to getting a 'reasonably priced' Porsche key? (I'm not a total tightwad. I got the LN AOS when my original came up short on the pre purchase inspection!) Thanks in Advance!

I paid $715 for my extra key. Only a Porsche dealer can program it.

Quotes source post: 19776278

I went through same exercise when I received my 1999 996 Cabrio. Two years later... I still have one key.

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Ay! Caramba! I'm definitely buying a tile for my existing key! (Thanks for the reply!)

Sorry to intervene, but here in Greece you can get a key for 20eur which includes the key cut and the immobilizer circuit. This is what I did. Obviously it has no button to unlock the doors remotely, but works fine as a spare key. I am sure that any locksmith in your area can make such a key (otherwise holidays in Greece next year with your keys...) I also got this to refresh they key fob on the single key I have: ​​​​ https://www.ebay.com/itm/155482905262

Thanks isalos. Just bought two keys from EBay. Will now a buy round trip flight to Greece to get them programmed as it’s cheaper than going to my Porsche dealer.

Quotes source post: 19776636

​​​​​​This is my key with the immobilizer circuit ​​​​​​ https://magicmotorsport.shop/en/silc...en-hu66te.html I think to successfully program it you also need the car nearby.

https://rennlist.com/forums/996-foru...s-awesome.html

Is it worth $600? Yes, if you want a Porsche key with all the remote features and buttons.

Quotes source post: 19776537

That price is reasonable enough to tide me over until I get comfortable with the idea of selling one of my kidneys to get the REAL key. Like others have said, I don't want to risk losing the only key and having to get towed to a Porsche dealership to pay even more money to resolve my dilemma. Thanks!

Paid $640 for a new key from the dealership back in 2021. It seemed reasonable once I found out the cost of losing my only one. And I still prefer the look of the almost 27 year old key

Like isalos, I had one key that worked well and another that would only manually open the door and turn the ignition. I went to a local locksmith and he cut and programed a key for just $95 that was the same - no remote function but works in the ignition switch. It makes a good spare key that I have hidden in the frunk so if I need it I can remove the tow hook hole cover and pull the frunk latch cable. Oops, if you are a car thief, please ignore.

Yes $600 is a lot for a spare key, but think about this . If you only have 1 key and lose it with car locked and alarm armed it could cost you ~$2000 to get it towed to the Dealership, They can't open it either so have to dig out the emergency hood release, then they can't access the "armed alarm control/Immo" so the Immobilizer will have to be replaced and reprogrammed along with 1-2 new keys and remotes that the final bill will be about $2K !! If you don't care about security and having an extra remote, there is a hack you can do to have as many spares keys as you want for $25 bucks each....... The convenience of the remote and the Security of the codes/programming is what cost's so much...also the Porsche Tax..

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This is my first Porsche since I was in College 50 years ago (356A coupe). So I have a great affection for these cars, and I appreciate the fact that losing the only key to the car has terrible implications, both in terms of inconvenience and expense. That's why I want a 'spare' key. I'm just reeling at the idea of spending $600+ for a key I may never need. As you (and others) suggested, I might go for the cheap hack of having a key that will unlock the car and allow me to get on with my life while I search for the misplaced key!

Quotes source post: 19777154

Yes, your ignition hack for the pill' is one of the best 996 hacks on here imo. Thinking of maybe breaking the clutch switch wire with a hidden micro switch. Or maybe the fuel pump relay control wire...? Some circuit with low amps... If one can find the right circuit to break in the engine bay or in the frunk, a hidden micro switch in either would work... What do you recommend.?

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Thanks .. Yes I like the key hack also ...I have 2 1999 996's and a 2002 986, so I have 9 spare keys to manually unlock and drive the cars, all of different styles......lol...no way I was gonna pay Porsche Tax prices... Yes the clutch switch circuit could be hacked with a switch for more security as well as the fuse panel that is also close and handy with many fuses that could be hacked with switches for security... One of which is the power to engine electronics which is fuse C1 or fuel pump which is fuse C4...

Thanks for reminding me, I have a Targa so my main key has 3 buttons and the spare only 2 for the front and rear lids....I keep the spare safe but switch it out every 3 months to use it and than switch out to the main. I have a fear if the spear isnt used it will lose the programming

Neither of my keys work anymore, other than in the pure sense of unlocking a door and starting the engine. I am ok with that.

Wow, I must have got a deal. Mine cost me $500 at Porsche of Atlanta.

So if i understand the transponder hack. Simply remove the little pin from the key. Glue it behind the ignition lock surround. Then any laser cut copied key will work to turn the car on/off. I assume the door lock mechanism does NOT need a transponder to function, right?

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Exactly

can anyone confirm this works w/ the TT?

Yes if you glue the transponder pill to the ignition surround it works on all Bosch ME8 cars. However it disables the anti theft aspect of the transponder so the car can be stolen with a screwdriver.

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Thanks. I don't see why this couldnt work if I glued the pill inside the VW switch blade key? Presumably it'd be close enough when fully inserted?

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Yes my " transponder pill hack" will work on all 996's It does "disable" the Megamos Encrypto Secuirty System...but on my cars that is exactly what I wanted to do... With my "transponder pill hack" the alarm system still functions and sounds off and the Remotes will still function and you still need to use the laser cut key to turn ON the ignition or open the doors.... If you need more security you can always just unplug the clutch switch and/or remove fuse C1 or C4 each time you leave the car...or install hidden switches for each of them.. No matter what a thief with a "flat bed" can still steal your car in seconds..

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You can.....I have several of the VW "switch blade" type keys cut for my 996..... But you cannot have any other pill in the close proximity of the key surround....IE .. if you glue a programmed pill to the surround, any key that has a different pill will not start the car...

Quotes source post: 19780381

got it, yeah my other old porsche key is kinda messed up and i wanted something alittle more stout! I think if I were to glue the pill to the ignition key, id probably put some tape over it as well to secure it. A friend of mine has a 3D printer..maybe I should get this piece scanned and have a pill holder molded in?

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A 3D printed pill holder would be cool, but I just used a two-part clear epoxy.... been holding fine for a decade...

Most locksmiths can cut the key blade to match the existing one ($20-50). ECU Doctors had the fob on sale a few weeks ago for $199. My dealer cost to program is about $150-200, depending on time taken. The last time I had this done, two years ago for my C4, I paid a total of about $500 for two new Porsche key fobs, got the blade and the cut at Keys in the Post and then went to the dealer to get programmed. I don't think that is possible anymore. Just remember, no matter where you buy it from, you must have get the key code along with the new key fob. If you don't, you bought a useless key chain ornament.

I just helped a fellow Rennlister program two new remotes to his car today......He was lucky enough to have his cars IPAS codes and has a PIWIS 2 and I walked him through the steps to successfully program them to the car... It's been over a decade since I had done one , so I was little rusty on the process but it all came back to me like riding a bicycle....lol

Skip, Many thanks for walking me through the procedure to program my new key fobs. Mark

This thread was very educational! I finally went to a locksmith who -for a mere $60- laser cut a new key that will only unlock the doors. That's all I need for now. But PorscheTech3 planted the idea in my brain to someday hide the magic pill behind the ignition surround so I can use either key interchangeably. This forum is outstanding, and the members are amazing, including the member who said, "Kwitcherbellyachin' and pay the $600!" Thank you all!