Re: Key replacement question
I just went through this and wound up with a key that will at the very least unlock the doors & trunk. Helpful if you lock your key inside... I ordered a key off of ebay & had to send the first one back because it was used!!! It was already cut, was worn out and rattled. They did send spare batteries & postage to make up for it.
Anyway, what it seems to boil down to is that you really do have to order the key from a dealer because there's a remote part that you can program, & there's the chip part that comes from the factory. I couldn't program my ebay key with the instructions from the forum. If you find a dealer with a good price, please let me know. I was quoted $140 for the key and $100 to program it. He even said it with a straight face.
You need to tell the locksmith you have a switchblade type key, like for a Mercedes. 2 locksmiths told me they could cut them, I drove over, but they couldn't. I finally found a mobile locksmith who did it. He said you only get one chance to cut the key correctly. He had thought he could also program it, but it was not in his book.
Good luck.