A recent article at MSN Money reports on the high-priced repairs of high-tech cars. The author says:

"The $1 key becomes the $1,000 key. Technology has even transformed one of my most deeply ingrained habits: losing keys. I made copies by the dozen for our old Ford Explorer, never paying more than a buck apiece at a local hardware store. My husband curtly informed me that I will have to reform when it comes to our Volvo, whose keyless entry fob costs a cool $350 to replace. That's cheap compared to replacing a keyless ignition device. Nerad's got one of those because he's testing a $103,000 Mercedes-Benz that recognizes the key fob he carries in his pocket. Should he lose it, a replacement would cost about $1,000."

Complete article is at: http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com...arRepairs.aspx

Is that correct? I ask because I hoped the next generation of the TL would have keyless ignition. It's bad enough paying $50-$75 to replace a current TL key, I sure don't want to pay $1,000! I'm careful about things, but anyone can lose a key.

 

well keep your TL for a long time, and you won't have to pay $1K for losing the key.

 

Coming from a volvo, the cost of replacing that key is around $400. Don't doubt the $1000 replacement price.

 

Most keyless ignition fobs cost $250 - 300 to replace. A couple run as high as $450, but that's the most I've heard of.

Mercedes is always the exception to any rule, and theirs may indeed run that high.

 

Is this REALLY how much it costs to replace? And is that the price for a key & fob or just a key?
I just bought a used TL and the previous owner only turned in one key & fob when he traded it to the dealer. The dealer said that he would try to contact the other guy to see if he still has it, but I'm not holding my breath.

 

It's my understanding that it cost like $200 to reprogram once you have spent money to even get a new fob and key.

 

when I had my gs400 in 2000, a single new key fob costs like $300. I read on clublexus that if you lost both of your key fob's... then lexus would have to reprogram you ignition computer which would cost something like $2000. Good thing I didn't lose my keys!! I'm sure those keyless entry systems are just as much or more to replace!

 

This is a funny post to me... Because when you look for the 2007 TL post, every other post say, "the new G35 has pushbutton start and keyless entry, so should the new TL".

I disagree. A nicer,folding milled key perhaps (like a VW) is all I would want...

When you look passed the veil, it's not so nice.

Outside of the replacement costs ($3-600), those keys are RFID based... which has all kinds of security vulnerabilities.

Research "speedpass". It's the same technology, and it's dying and ugly death due to security reasons. I'd hate for my car to be stolen because I had to have this rather trivial piece of technology on my car.

 

I'd like a much cleaner key and fob as well. But I'd also like to see all vehicles with the ignition on the dash and not on the tree. My wifes CRV has it on the dash, and my old Atlima did as well.

I got rid on my speedpass when the card it was attached to expired, thankfully never had a problem with it.

 

if anything at least an integrated key + key fob. The 04+ accords have the lock/unlock/trunk on the key itself, which is a lot cleaner. that would be a good idea to put the ignition on the dash because i hate it when I drive my dad's camry in some shorts and i feel the keys bounce off my leg.

 

i would just like to be able to put the keyless system from the RL in the TL , but i doubt it would be worth the effort to see if it would work...