It has already been established that the 13-15 RDX has an inferior quality plastic key fob. Even the silver paint rubs off with normal use. Since the facelifted RDX seems to have much better quality key fob (? real metal), I'm wondering if the pre-facelift key internals can be transplanted to the new "key shell". If anyone has done such a mod, please let us know. I'm all for it.

 

That sounds like an interesting 'fix'. When I traded the '13 a couple of weeks ago, my fob was almost completely worn to black...looked better than half and half! DW's fob stayed in one place in her purse for most of the three years and looked almost new. They didn't match; but looked like a positive/negative sort of combo Hope y'all get that one figured out. The new FIAT fob looks like it will hold up pretty well...BUT, it has that pesky KEY thing we have to insert into the ignition Talk about RETRO!!!

 

I think a lot of people who go from "retro" to keyless are in for some shock. It took me about a day to get used to not using my fob the "old fashioned way" and lock my car with the lock button on the driver's door. I really wasn't aware that the Acura key fob was that cheaply made. Not that that would have been a deal breaker, but I would have gotten a cover or something earlier. Good news is I am the only driver so the second fob will really be new looking.

 

too bad Acura doesn't do something similar to what Mini does. The photo below is the fob for an 8 year old Mini. When I got the car last year, the outer trim was completely worn/trashed, similar to the paint wearing off the Acura fob. But on the Mini's fob, that outer edge just comes off, and you can buy a metal ring that snaps around it. Mini sells them, but there's a large aftermarket source as well. In this case I got a green metal one that made this fairly well used fob make presentable again - all for $6 . And this is the "comfort" option for Mini, so it behaves just like the RDX in terms of keyless access to ignition, doors, etc.

andy

 

Anyone who has access to both the preface lifted RDX and the post face lifted RDX keys, can you do a favor please. Please post side by side pictures for size comparison as well as button placement. Also post internal pictures please. I don't know how to open my key fob yet. I'm serious about this mod. There is another thread discussing putting on a covering jacket for old key fob but if we can do this internal transplantation it would be an elegant and permanent fix.