How to differentiate keys

wheresmy5 · 01-24-2016, 08:22 PM

Besides buying a bulky key fob holder (I haven't come across any that I like), what is the best way to differentiate the keys for 2 different drivers in a household? I've grabbed the wrong key on occasion and got my wife's settings and vice versa.

ezaircon4jc · 01-24-2016, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wheresmy5

Besides buying a bulky key fob holder (I haven't come across any that I like), what is the best way to differentiate the keys for 2 different drivers in a household? I've grabbed the wrong key on occasion and got my wife's settings and vice versa.

How about a mark on the back of one of the fobs??

wheresmy5 · 01-24-2016, 10:02 PM

Wanted something a little more refined than that.

COBodom · 01-24-2016, 10:47 PM

Maybe try those leather cases ?

BMW site has them, but they are very simple. You can find different designs on ebay.

http://www.shopbmwusa.com/Product/23...THER-KEY-CASES

ezaircon4jc · 01-24-2016, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wheresmy5

Wanted something a little more refined than that.

Well then...

This?????

bake · 01-25-2016, 08:50 AM

Older BMW keys came with these little color coded stickers that fit in an indented area on the back of the keys. That way you could identify each key. Not sure if they still come with that. I didn't buy my car new, so not surprised I didn't get the stickers with my purchase.

Bbb34 · 01-25-2016, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wheresmy5

what is the best way to differentiate the keys for 2 different drivers in a household?

Mine is used, slightly visible, dropped few times, and my wife's not, or, barely, it looks brand spanking new - which is how I like it too.

I'm not helping you at all I know

Aaron@Autosource · 01-25-2016, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ezaircon4jc

Well then...

This?????

Those are awesome, I've had one for 2 years and its still holding up perfectly. Super durable and takes only like 5 secs to install. Taking it off is a bit difficult unless you have a pry tool/screwdriver on hand.

wheresmy5 · 01-25-2016, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aaron@Autosource

Quote:

Originally Posted by ezaircon4jc

Well then...

This?????

Those are awesome, I've had one for 2 years and its still holding up perfectly. Super durable and takes only like 5 secs to install. Taking it off is a bit difficult unless you have a pry tool/screwdriver on hand.

Thank you all, will try the glossy case. Not ideal but better than the cheesey leather ones IMO.

On a somewhat relate note, mysteriously all of my presets disappeared this morning. Not a key fob issue as I ran into the house to try the other key fob, and presets still missing. Ironic that this happened a day after I posted this thread.

ezaircon4jc · 01-25-2016, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wheresmy5

Thank you all, will try the glossy case. Not ideal but better than the cheesey leather ones IMO.

On a somewhat relate note, mysteriously all of my presets disappeared this morning. Not a key fob issue as I ran into the house to try the other key fob, and presets still missing. Ironic that this happened a day after I posted this thread.

Your fob is angry that you want to "clothe" it and erased all your presets...

gatorfast · 01-25-2016, 08:05 PM

Keep your keys in different spots? Use a key chain?

wheresmy5 · 01-25-2016, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wheresmy5

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aaron@Autosource

Quote:

Originally Posted by ezaircon4jc

Well then...

This?????

Those are awesome, I've had one for 2 years and its still holding up perfectly. Super durable and takes only like 5 secs to install. Taking it off is a bit difficult unless you have a pry tool/screwdriver on hand.

Thank you all, will try the glossy case. Not ideal but better than the cheesey leather ones IMO.

On a somewhat relate note, mysteriously all of my presets disappeared this morning. Not a key fob issue as I ran into the house to try the other key fob, and presets still missing. Ironic that this happened a day after I posted this thread.

I'm pretty sure this happened because in the am I initially started the car with key b (no presets). Brought key a from the house, left key b in the house, shut engine off and back on but the car must have cached key b settings because the presets did not appear. However, in the pm when I got back into the car with key a, no issues... Presets reappeared.

snowmuch · 01-25-2016, 08:44 PM

My solution are ebay stickers

ezaircon4jc · 01-25-2016, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snowmuch

My solution are ebay stickers

I was looking for those... I thought I had that page saved...

ndinh · 01-26-2016, 12:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aaron@Autosource

Those are awesome, I've had one for 2 years and its still holding up perfectly. Super durable and takes only like 5 secs to install. Taking it off is a bit difficult unless you have a pry tool/screwdriver on hand.

I looked at these also because they look pretty cool but the only thing is that you can't remove the valet key which I tend to do quite often. I ended up getting a set of these in black and red. They definitely don't look as nice but they protect everything including the buttons.

cityjohn · 01-31-2016, 04:31 PM

When I bought my car (used) I got two keys; one of them has the panic button painted with red inlay. I just thought all BMW keys were like this.

I do remember that my E36 and E46 came with the colored stickers, though.

ezaircon4jc · 01-31-2016, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cityjohn

When I bought my car (used) I got two keys; one of them has the panic button painted with red inlay. I just thought all BMW keys were like this.

I do remember that my E36 and E46 came with the colored stickers, though.

When I bought my 535i it only came with one key so the dealership coughed up the second one for me. My original key looked like the one on the left and the replacement the one on the right. I liked the red panic button so I "painted" the panic button on mine red!!

lsturbointeg · 02-01-2016, 09:09 AM

Nice...all are great ideas!

mko9 · 02-01-2016, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snowmuch

My solution are ebay stickers

Got a link? My eBay search-fu failed me.

01-24-2016, 08:22 PM	#1
wheresmy5 Second Lieutenant 58 Rep 206 Posts Drives: 2019 540i xDrive M Sport Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: East Coast iTrader: (0)	Best way to differentiate keys Besides buying a bulky key fob holder (I haven't come across any that I like), what is the best way to differentiate the keys for 2 different drivers in a household? I've grabbed the wrong key on occasion and got my wife's settings and vice versa.
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01-24-2016, 10:02 PM	#3
wheresmy5 Second Lieutenant 58 Rep 206 Posts Drives: 2019 540i xDrive M Sport Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: East Coast iTrader: (0)	Wanted something a little more refined than that.
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01-24-2016, 10:47 PM	#4
COBodom Lieutenant 598 Rep 454 Posts Drives: 2024 540i Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: US iTrader: (0)	Maybe try those leather cases ? BMW site has them, but they are very simple. You can find different designs on ebay. http://www.shopbmwusa.com/Product/23...THER-KEY-CASES __________________ Current: 2024 540i MSport Prior: 2021 540i MSport, 2018 540i MSport, 2015 BMW 528i MSport, 2012 BMW 528i
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01-25-2016, 08:50 AM	#6
bake Colonel 602 Rep 2,196 Posts Drives: 2011 F10, 2013 E93 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: New York iTrader: (9)	Older BMW keys came with these little color coded stickers that fit in an indented area on the back of the keys. That way you could identify each key. Not sure if they still come with that. I didn't buy my car new, so not surprised I didn't get the stickers with my purchase. __________________ *Bake* 2011 Alpine White on Black 535i M-Sport 2013 Space Gray on Fox Red M3 Vert
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01-25-2016, 08:05 PM	#11
gatorfast Major General 4995 Rep 6,862 Posts Drives: 718 Cayman Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: SoFla iTrader: (4)	Keep your keys in different spots? Use a key chain?
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01-25-2016, 08:44 PM	#13
snowmuch Second Lieutenant 107 Rep 254 Posts Drives: 2016 Macan Turbo Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Calgary iTrader: (2)	My solution are ebay stickers __________________ C300->C63->535->S4->M4->Macan->Macan Turbo
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01-31-2016, 04:31 PM	#16
cityjohn New Member 12 Rep 26 Posts Drives: 2012 528i Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (0)	When I bought my car (used) I got two keys; one of them has the panic button painted with red inlay. I just thought all BMW keys were like this. I do remember that my E36 and E46 came with the colored stickers, though.
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02-01-2016, 09:09 AM	#18
lsturbointeg Lieutenant General 9154 Rep 14,522 Posts Drives: 2011 535i Jet Black Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Asian lost in OH iTrader: (0)	Nice...all are great ideas! __________________ ~F90Conversion~21"3Piece Forged AvantGardeWheels~KWV1Coilovers~CQUENCE slotted/drilled rotors~GoodridgeStainlesslines~MeisterschaftQuadEx haust~Akrapovic 4"tips~VRSF DP~VRSF CP~TurboSmart BOV~K&N filter~CarbonFiberExteriorComponents~GladenAlphaCo mponents~MatchUp7BMW~Punch P300-12T~ Follow me on Instagram: lsturbointeg
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