My RR came with just the one key, and despite only needing the one, it's always good to have spares for an emergency, but then they are expensive from a dealer ( I believe £200 ish each ), and that's too much.

There is also the issue that somewhere out there is at least one working key to my car, and possibly more. So not great from a security point of view, but also something we can remedy.

It's well know the early L322 key system and security is direct carryover stuff from the equivalent year BMW. So in this case the BMW EWS 3 system is used, same as BMW E46 and similar year cars, so there is a wealth if info on the web for this.

I'd seen a guy on YouTube making his own keys using a simple tool from eBay for around £20 and fancied giving it a go myself
Cheap keys can be had from eBay, AliExpress, etc in the same style, or others with a flip key function. Transponder chips are... cheap as chips , but easier to pick a key with a transponder already in - some come with, some without. I paid $17 for a copy of the original key and the same again for a flip blade key, both with transponders.
Cutting a blade was £10 at my local key cutting shop.

Speaking of keys, they come in a couple of different types depending on the where the car was sold. UK cars need a 433mhz key. The other option when buying a key is 315mhz, which I think is US market cars and others.
The key blade can vary if buying a flip blade key, we need a key with a HU92 blade.

So to work...

I opened the original key on my 2002 FF and found the transponder with the number PCF7930AS. Most of the copy replacement keys seem to come with PCF7935AA transponders, and these worked fine for me.

So with a replacement key and transponder already fitted, we can now get down to programming these. This will involve purchasing a key programmer and removing the EWS box from the car to read the relevant info from.

WARNING ! Screwing up you EWS will have serious ramifications ! Break this and your car won't be starting and possibly means spending thousands.

I purchased the AK90+ key programmer off eBay for £20.95 from this vendor - missed the ' buy it now ' and just purchased it - doh ! Anyway, it took just over a week to arrive from the land of China .

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/163642962811

I bought a couple of keys with transponders too, one a cheap copy of the original key, plus a flip blade key.

The copy of the original key is cheap and cheerful looking.



Back opened up.



Transponder chip in the corner.



The flip blade key is much bigger and about 3 times the weight ! Comes with a BMW logo for the other side. I purchased a 14mm badge off eBay to fit.









Opened up with the transponder in place, actually glued to the board.




All three keys.



Here's the key programmer , 3 keys , EWS box and some spare transponders I purchased.




You'll need to remove parts of the center console to get to the EWS box.
Use these guides to show you how.




&



The last vid misses out mentioning removing two screws on the side. This requires pulling aside the wooden side trims to get at .
The other two at the top ar hidden quite well too.




Once you have done that, you can pull the console back and upwards to get to the EWS box on the right side. Unplug this and remove the 8mm bolts securing it.


The programming part has been documented on YouTube a whole bunch of times and in more detail than I can type here, so I'll add the links to how I did it.

To add the software.



Key programming in detail.



Another good guide.



One more



Watch each one as they contain hints and tips.

Random things to mention.

The silver paint on the dash panels above the center console is very delicate - careful when removing the console.

Reading the EWS chips required pushing the reader down quite hard. Without doing this all I got was ' pin no touch' .

When looking at the EWS data, I saw there has been 4 keys assigned to the car. The original key I have was number two.
Not sure how many were assigned from new, but from the BMW vids, it seems 3 is normal for BMW.
The programmer gives you the option of switching off the other keys and writing this back to the EWS. I've turned off keys 1,3 and 4 and will sleep a little better.
That won't stop anyone manually opening the car, but the transponder shouldn't allow it to start. Least, that's my understanding.

Save a copy of the EWS data as a bin file. You won't need to remove the box to program any more keys.

Some keys use a much smaller board inside the key allowing the transponder to move about. The ignition lock can be sensitive to this, so make sure it's secure in the spot as per the factory key.

When syncing a second key, this needs to be done immediately after doing the first. I tried without doing this and no go after 20 times. Worked first time after syncing the original and immediately doing the new key. See 21.35 in here.
&t=538s

Anyway, using the vids linked above, I was able to make 2 new keys quite easily.

Time and costs.

10 mins to remove the console.
5 mins for software install
5 -10 mins to read EWS and program key, turn off others and write.

AK90+ Programmer £21
Key ( Each ) around £15 with transponder.
Key blade cut £10 each
LR badge £2

Please remember, damaging the EWS can be very expensive to rectify.
I'm no key expert, everything above is from watching the linked videos and carrying this out today. This isn't a ' how to guide' from expert knowledge, more ' how I did it'.

Cheers

Last edited by BMG on 11th Aug 2024 12:05am. Edited 4 times in total

Excellent write up should put this post in the wiki  Last night I lay in bed looking up at the stars in the sky and I thought to myself, where,s the f**king ceiling!!

Very impressive..... Well done. Current:
- 2017 L405 3.0 V6 Autobiography
- 2013 L405 4.4 TDV8 Vogue [For Sale]
Sold:
- 2004 L322 4.4 Vogue (BRC LPG)
- 2002 L322 4.4 HSE (having fixed timing chain guides)
- 2000 P38 4.6 Vogue (BRC LPG)
- 1981 2-door In-Vogue
- 1980 Ex-Army SIII LWB
- 1976 SIII LWB
- 1968 SIIA
Stripped for parts:
- 2003 L322 4.4 Vogue

thank you BMG - good to know, as I am on the lookout for 2 new flip keys

Last edited by pcourtney on 10th Aug 2020 9:01am. Edited 1 time in total

I wasn't aware at the time, but this guide seems to be for only the early BMW era cars, despite later cars still using the same 3 button key. This wont work on later cars.

mine is 2004 BMW engine EWS3 - I thought it was post 2005/06 cars that used the later EWS4 system where you don't need to get to the EWS under the gear lever to program more keys

Last edited by pcourtney on 8th Apr 2024 8:43am. Edited 1 time in total

Yep, should be fine. Get the kit mentioned and some chips of eBay and it's all pretty simple to do.

the youtube video "To add the software" is no longer working, what is the link please

Look on YouTube, several vids on there on the software install.

Excellent Write-up.
Do you have a solution for a lost key (if it was the only one you have?).

If you have lost all the keys I don't think it makes a difference,so long as you can read the EWS box. You can then should be able to create new keys and delete old lost ones.

Thank you BMG. I thought you need the original key to read the data and connect to EWS box to verify the transponder signal. As long as all the information will come from the EWS, then no need for any key other than to access the car and then remove the center console to get to the EWS box.

I had ordered the AK90+ and new key with circuit board and ID44 chip, so I will be looking forward to receive that. I will attempt to document the process like you have to benefit whomever gets in this predicament.

On side note, one of the members on this board has given me a tip to contact one of the sponsor of this board to see if they can do a replacement key. That maybe the easiest path if they do, else I have plan B thanks to your writing and the tips you provided.

Kind regards,
Khalid

I just noticed your car is a later car and not that of the BMW era. The steps and advice I gave only relate to the early BMW engined cars. Sorry for the confusion.

Thank you for your note. Yes, I do have the 4.2 supercharged engine (JAG) and I loved it.

I am still awaiting Duckworth reply if they can make a full working key as it will be 2 weeks or more before I get the AK90 and the chips. If they cannot make the key, then I will explore, and I will use the notes you made as a general guideline. I will tinker with the center console next weekend to see the equivalent of the EWS and what is there. I will update the post accordingly.

Kind regards,
Khalid

Don't waste your time, that write up doesn't work for your vehicle