Posted by Pete Mutlow on November 10, 2009, 3:54 pm Message modified by board administrator November 11, 2009, 12:54 pm
Hi all,
I am thinking of adding another string to my bow by offering a key programming service. I would appreciate opinions on what should be charged for this service bearing in mind that it will be a mobile service. I do not want to rip people off nor do I wish to under-sell myself. Normally I would indulge in local industrial espionage to get an idea but no-one around here seems to offer this service. My initial thoughts are £55 but if its a non - starter £75. Am I being a cowboy or a charity?
Regards
Pete M
Re: Key Programming - Price
Posted by Keith Simpson on November 10, 2009, 5:25 pm, in reply to "Key Programming - Price" Keith Simpson
I think £55 is a fair price for mobile. We charge £44 and that's if the car is brought to us. Obviously Keys,Fobs,Transponders and cutting would be an extra charge.
Hi Pete. Key programming is an important part of the job and independents really need to be able to do this procedure, otherwise we cannot fit ecu's bsi's uch's, etc.
"BUT" have you got the equipment to do this yet. ?? if not, What equipment are you going to buy. ? and even when you have got the kit, can you get the access codes etc to allow you to do the job. ?
This Procedure can give you more headaches than enough on occasions as you can start with a car with 1 key working and after programming, you can end up with a non runner and a disgruntled customer. ( Not too bad if the car is in you workshop and left with you as it gives you time to find out whats gone wrong, but mobile could be a problem )
watch out for the e-bay customers that give you a key to program with the wrong chips in them that in the worst situation could actually destroy the ecu. .
We Charge £40 + vat if the customer comes to us, on older type vehicles, i,e fords and vauxhalls etc, but we only give an estimate on modern peugeots, citroens etc as you have no idea how long it might end up taking,
Always warn the customer on any Programming job that the procedure is straight forward but the result can be a running car with a set of keys or a non runner if it goes badly wrong.
i had a 307 where the customer had shopped around for the cheapest quote and muggins here quoted him £40 + vat. I Programmed the existing key, inserted the new key and the BSI Died and lost comms with the diagnostic machine completely. A New BSI was fitted and a Similar problem occured when trying to program the new key again ( Dealer supplied key ) but after disconnecting the battery it regained comms and i sent the vehicle away with 1 key, a new BSI and No Charge.
I Now think that the key was incorrect for that car, but how far can you go when the customer expects a £46.00 bill. ?
The best jobs are non runners with no keys and that way, you have nothing to lose as the result can only be to leave it in the state it was when you got there or a runner with a happy customer.
Tools like the MVP Pro or AD100 are a must to do these sort of jobs, but programming Fords on Coded Access is not always as simple as it first appears, Our Local Locksmith has Failed to program keys to Ford Fiesta's regularly and it ends up with a car that i struggle with the IDS to get Correct communication with to retrieve the outcode. ( As though it locks you out due to too many attempts )
AD Have not yet sorted out the Incode-outcode thing correctly, As they used to give you 3 attempts and then send a message to them as "incorrect code". They have now extended this to something like 13 attempts before sending it as an incorrect code, So Dont forget to take your coffee and sandwiches with you. .
P.S. Dont let me put you off as it can be interesting and profitable in the right situations but just be prepared for some snags and time wasting situations.
this is exactly what happened to me, bought a key coding machine, enquired about obtaining security codes and where to buy keys from and thought good up and running.
Problems soon cropped up like not being able to communicate with ecu's, wrong chips in keys even from dealers, customer supplied own keys and so on but the ones that were successful were all good easy money earners.
I tried to charge around £40 but sometimes felt very embarrassed when the customer is standing next to you and coding in a key takes 5 mins (mainly on Vauxhall's) and then you asked for £40 so quite often charged £25 + key if i supplied but being mobile i'd expect to pay £40+.
Another suggestion if you haven't is to phone dealers up as you'll be very surprised how some charge less that you think.
Re: Key Programming - Price
Posted by Pete Mutlow on November 11, 2009, 11:03 pm, in reply to "Re: Key Programming - Price" Peter Mutlow
Evening All,
Thank you all for your responses which has given me food for thought. Tony: Thanks for providing an insight into the joys of key coding. I am thinking of acquiring an AD100 and will start out attending non-starters initially until I get confident in the thing. As a re-mapper, I have already had a fried ECU with a duff file and do not want to go through that trauma again. Lee: As mentioned earlier, I shall concentrate on non-starters and will feel happy charging about £70 for these on the basis that the customer will be over-come with joy to have his car going and also have no towing charges incurred.
Customer came in today with an Audi Key / Remote bought from Ebay The Fob looked brand new with an uncut blade read his old key then checked the new one. Totaly different transponder Texas ID65 for Suzuki's. The best way not to get caught out is the read the transponder first.
Our local Vauxhall charged me £12 a couple of years ago. Peugeot quoted £25 last week. VW £60 couple of weeks ago. Smart £80 couple of weeks ago. Smart included the codes, only way it can be done and was actually a remote immobiliser coding rather than transponder. VW includes code(not revealed), others do not.
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