Another New to Me M35X - Smart Key?

[MM...Good]

SO.....
Haven't been on the boards for a while, but I had decided to get something to replace my '06 M35X and got a 2013 G37 convertible with all of 24K on the odo. Rather than selling my beloved M (only 106K on her), I gave it to my son who had it for 2 months before some a** hat in a lawn and garden truck backed into it and totaled it.
As luck would have it, I found an '07 M35X in the exact same color combo with 119K for $500 less than I got from the a** hat's insurance company. Its ALMOST as clean as mine was but also has the aero body kit and the premium package with rear reclining and heated seats and rear DVD player. My son is very lucky indeed, although I told him if this one gets wrecked, his next ride is going to be a Corolla with about 200K on the clock.

Unfortunately, we only have one smart key for the new M. I see replacements on EBAY for around $75. Can someone who has bought a replacement chime in about their experience in getting it programmed? Any issues and what did it cost? Dealership or locksmith? Thanks in advance and glad to "be back" in the club.

[Ilya]

I'm not aware of a locksmith being able to program our kind of key but I may be wrong. Regardless, I'd prefer the dealer to do it with the CONSULT device. It should be 1hr labor at the dealer which is ~$80 or so. Maybe slightly more.

[Larz]

When I had some work done a tire shop with my 07 M35, the arse-wipes left the key on the trunk %!!*^&!@%^$!!! I got in it, started it up, and when I left their lot (at spirited speed), the key flew into the roadway. It caused the key warning on the dash and returned to the shop. The techs found the key - in the road - smashed.
They sent me to a locksmith and paid for a new key and programming. The locksmith had a terrible time getting a key that would mate to my M. He told me the Inifniti M,s are among the hardest to match keys to. It took two trips to his shop, FOUR keys and 3 attempts to program that 4th key, but he did it.
So .... If I needed a key like you (and I was, LOL), I would be VERY careful about buying a key from Ebay, etc. This locksmith must have had about a dozen different Infiniti keys in his shop, but it still took 4 tries before one of those would mate to my car. He used a laptop and that other gizmo that mechanics hook up.

[EdBwoy]

...also has the aero body kit and the premium package with rear reclining and heated seats and rear DVD player...

Lucky indeed. I admire this car
Welcome back...ish.




When I checked into the key programming work my dealership had a special fixed rate for key programming. $125.
I called a brick-and-mortar locksmith and they quoted me the same pretty much.
I also called a guy advertising his services on Craigslist and he quoted $115.

The decision was simple. Drive one hour across town to the dealership and binge on fancy cappuccino & 2-day-old bananas at the Infiniti dealership. If things went wrong and the car won't start, I would take a loaner vehicle. No guesswork involved.

*They might try to tell you that they won't program or take liability for parts they didn't provide. No worries [I'll be back with an excuse].

• Do your due diligence and match the FCC ID to what you currently have when purchasing online and you should be fine.
• On the day of your appointment, bring ALL the keys that you would like programmed as only those present will be programmed. Whatever was left at home will be useless.

[I'm back]. If they give you a hard time for not buying their $600 key, say that this new key isn't exactly "random". It used to work but got lost and when a new key was programmed, you/the seller found the old key fob but it wouldn't work anymore.
Usually I just look them in the eye, and say, "It's OK. I'll take a chance since I'm paying."

[Costee]

Interesting thread. If I was near the OP, should have done this for him in less than 5mins. I believe the part number of your current fob is 285E3-EH10D. This has been superseded by 285E3-EH12A. The FCCID is CWTWBU618 (you could google all these numbers). I'd suggested you go for the updated version new or used. Check this:
https://northcoastkeyless.com/shop/infi ... h12a-used/
Note that this comes without the mechanical key (H0564-EG010).

[airmanhoward]

There is a local locksmith in my area that charged $80 to reprogram my fob not issues what soever.

[MM...Good]

Interesting thread. If I was near the OP, should have done this for him in less than 5mins. I believe the part number of your current fob is 285E3-EH10D. This has been superseded by 285E3-EH12A. The FCCID is CWTWBU618 (you could google all these numbers). I'd suggested you go for the updated version new or used. Check this:
https://northcoastkeyless.com/shop/infi ... h12a-used/
Note that this comes without the mechanical key (H0564-EG010).

Thanks for the link. The FCC code does, in fact, match my current fob so that should work. I spoke with my local Infiniti dealer and they will program the "third party" fob for $72.50 which is a 1/2 hour at their not so reasonable $145 hour rate. They said they would sell me their new OEM fob for a mere $266, including cutting the valet key. Stealerships!

[Larz]

I've said this before and now you lot have me wound up again, LOL. I understand that ANY business has expenses - payroll, buildings, land, utilities, insurance, etc. And, that business MUST make more than it pays out to remain viable. I own two LLC's so yah I get that.
However, I cannot work out what sort of troublesome practices, precarious market conditions, or impending challenges a dealership faces that requires them to:
1) charge you nearly 40% more for the same OEM part you can purchase online direct from InfinitiPartsOnline .com
2) charge $160 per hour just for labor when the tech who provides that labor earns only a small portion of that fee
3) charge a 'supply shop' fee of $25-100 when the tech needs a bolt or washer etc.

As a business owner, I had tried very hard to work this out in a way that does not besmirch the company. In the end I come up with only one reason:

GREED

[kydegan]

I agree with you completely Larz.

Local Charlotte dealer wants between $350 and $400 for a key and fob. I have been looking to other resources.

I've said this before and now you lot have me wound up again, LOL. I understand that ANY business has expenses - payroll, buildings, land, utilities, insurance, etc. And, that business MUST make more than it pays out to remain viable. I own two LLC's so yah I get that.
However, I cannot work out what sort of troublesome practices, precarious market conditions, or impending challenges a dealership faces that requires them to:
1) charge you nearly 40% more for the same OEM part you can purchase online direct from InfinitiPartsOnline .com
2) charge $160 per hour just for labor when the tech who provides that labor earns only a small portion of that fee
3) charge a 'supply shop' fee of $25-100 when the tech needs a bolt or washer etc.

As a business owner, I had tried very hard to work this out in a way that does not besmirch the company. In the end I come up with only one reason:

GREED

[MM...Good]

I've said this before and now you lot have me wound up again, LOL. I understand that ANY business has expenses - payroll, buildings, land, utilities, insurance, etc. And, that business MUST make more than it pays out to remain viable. I own two LLC's so yah I get that.
However, I cannot work out what sort of troublesome practices, precarious market conditions, or impending challenges a dealership faces that requires them to:
1) charge you nearly 40% more for the same OEM part you can purchase online direct from InfinitiPartsOnline .com
2) charge $160 per hour just for labor when the tech who provides that labor earns only a small portion of that fee
3) charge a 'supply shop' fee of $25-100 when the tech needs a bolt or washer etc.

As a business owner, I had tried very hard to work this out in a way that does not besmirch the company. In the end I come up with only one reason:

GREED

Yeah - I hear you. FWIW, I've got a great relationship with my contact in the dealership service department. He told me the parts manager was a douche and overbills for any parts they sell. My new to me M is overdue for new plugs (it has 119K) and he told me if I could source them myself (think Rock Auto) and bring them in, they'll install them for me so I'll do that when they program the replacement fob. I know the labor rate is high and I could probably do the plugs them myself, but I'd hate to jack something up. I don't mind throwing him a bone as he has helped me do some due diligence on the cars we have purchased as it relates to service history.

[MM...Good]

Interesting thread. If I was near the OP, should have done this for him in less than 5mins. I believe the part number of your current fob is 285E3-EH10D. This has been superseded by 285E3-EH12A. The FCCID is CWTWBU618 (you could google all these numbers). I'd suggested you go for the updated version new or used. Check this:
https://northcoastkeyless.com/shop/infi ... h12a-used/
Note that this comes without the mechanical key (H0564-EG010).

Thanks for the link. The FCC code does, in fact, match my current fob so that should work. I spoke with my local Infiniti dealer and they will program the "third party" fob for $72.50 which is a 1/2 hour at their not so reasonable $145 hour rate. They said they would sell me their new OEM fob for a mere $266, including cutting the valet key. Stealerships!

Just to close the loop on this, I received the key from Northcoastkeyless last week (it looks to have been barely used) and had my local Infiniti dealership program it today. Total cost all in was $171.50 - $99 for the key and $72.50 to program it. It works great. I have not had the valet key cut as I never use it, but a local locksmith would do it for less than $10. Thanks again for the link!