Compare BMW 1 Series key programming job quotes from specialist garages

Looming hundreds of feet up in Munich's skyline is BMW's headquarters, a vast and impressive building designed to look like four engine cylinders - the configuration that drove much of the brand's early success.

BMW has come a long way since 1927, when it produced its first car, the Dixi, shortly to be renamed the BMW 3/15. In 2022, it was awarded 'Best Manufacturer' at the AutoCar Britain's Best Car Awards, and the same year, it triumphed at the WhatCar? Awards, winning more accolades than any other brand. The M5 special edition, celebrating 20 years of BMW motorsport, is one of the rarest M automobiles in the world.

See how BMW's maintenance prices compare to Audi and Mercedes in this guide.

In the late ‘90s, some car manufacturers started adding a specialised microchip to car keys to give their vehicles an extra level of security. If the vehicle doesn't detect the chip, it won't start. But what happens if you lose your keys? Who can programme car keys?

You need to find an emergency car locksmith who offers a car key programming service. This process involves reprogramming a blank chip to match your vehicle's current settings and putting it into a new key fob.

Most locksmiths offer mobile car key programming since you probably can't come to them without a working set of keys. Instead, they bring all the tools and equipment to you.

Do all car keys need to be programmed? This question is common among drivers; the answer is that almost all modern car keys contain a transponder chip and therefore have to be programmed.