I Bought a replacement key body/case from this seller on Aliexpress after seeing someone in the German A3 e-tron Facebook Page who had bought one. I keep my keys on a carabiner on a belt loop and the cheap poverty spec key that came with the car always pops out and pokes me it’s annoying. It is ingenious how an Audi key case has been modified to fit a PCB from a different key.
*** The swap is nearly non destructive to the original key, you will be able to put your original key back together very easily at a latter date***
*** I think this replacement only really makes sense if you have Keyless entry as with this version it is a real faff to get the blade out***
This is the Seller I bought from ( I did not look around there are a number of other sellers selling very similar cases but just went with the one that the e-tron group member had had success with)
www.aliexpress.com/item/4001323213263.html
Versions
Be careful when ordering as there are nearly identical versions for different cars including the TT which has a near identical key !
Cost
I bought the case for £28.32 including delivery at the beginning of Dec 2020
Delivery
It arrived promptly ! It took 6 days at the beginning of Dec 2020… very fast !!!
Unfortunately it arrived with a defect in the unlock button (it looks like a hair was bought underneath the finish , the seller has been quick to resolve this and will be sending e a replacement button, with my order of the new version of the case . (This was a manufacturing defect and should of been caught by quality control)
The key came with a cheap set of phone tools which really weren’t unto the task, the included screwdrivers did also not include the required T5
Quality and Construction
Issues
Opperation
Tips
Instructions and assembley
The process is fairly clear what you ned to do from the sellers pictures. I ran into no real problems
Tools needed
Conclusion
Over all I think it makes a nice little cheap and simple improvement and something that really should have been included from the factory.
***New version ***
A new version has been released which seems to keep the key blade useable more easily I have ordered one and will update this thread when it arrives.
*** The swap is nearly non destructive to the original key, you will be able to put your original key back together very easily at a latter date***
*** I think this replacement only really makes sense if you have Keyless entry as with this version it is a real faff to get the blade out***
This is the Seller I bought from ( I did not look around there are a number of other sellers selling very similar cases but just went with the one that the e-tron group member had had success with)
www.aliexpress.com/item/4001323213263.html
Versions
Be careful when ordering as there are nearly identical versions for different cars including the TT which has a near identical key !
Cost
I bought the case for £28.32 including delivery at the beginning of Dec 2020
Delivery
It arrived promptly ! It took 6 days at the beginning of Dec 2020… very fast !!!
Unfortunately it arrived with a defect in the unlock button (it looks like a hair was bought underneath the finish , the seller has been quick to resolve this and will be sending e a replacement button, with my order of the new version of the case . (This was a manufacturing defect and should of been caught by quality control)
The key came with a cheap set of phone tools which really weren’t unto the task, the included screwdrivers did also not include the required T5
Quality and Construction
- Mine did arrive with a cosmetic defect
- It looks like some parts were directly taken from original key moulds and then modified
- Metal parts all feel solid, only time will tell to how well the finish lasts
- Plastic parts all clip together securely.
- The button to remove the bottom half from the top is stiff and I don’t think it would come apart accidentally.
- It feels solid and a reasonable weight still
Issues
- Even though there is a clear light tube for the LED it goes nowhere …. I don’t see this being much of a problem as the indicators on the car flash when locking and unlocking
- There are no gaskets or seals, the key will be nowhere near as waterproof as the factory key though all the plastic clips together very tightly
- The key blade is not integrated, and therefor is not really suitable for non-keyless cars
Opperation
- Buttons are a little stiff but I think this is a good thing to stop accidental pressing.
- The range doesn’t seem to of bee unaffected so far.
- To use the emergency key is a bit of a fiddle but in 3 years of ownership I have yet to use my key blade once.
Tips
- When removing the PCB you need to cut the top off the 2 posts circled (this is the only destructive thing you have to do and should not cause problems if you had to reassemble the key ).
- There is no need to remove the top of the case with the buttons, they are a pain to get back in)
- I used the nail from a cable clip as a drift pin to get my key blade out
- When reassembling your old key be aware of the orientation of the spring, and reassemble it it the open position twisting the case to put tension on the spring.
- The battery needs to be slid backwards the loop end of the case for it to stay in place
- I added a small piece of cloth tape to keep the battery cover in place so I did not loose it if I had to remove the emergency key blade
Instructions and assembley
The process is fairly clear what you ned to do from the sellers pictures. I ran into no real problems
Tools needed
- T5
- T6
- Small flat blade or spludger for prying
- Knife
- Hammer
- a small nail to use as a drift pin ( I found a cable clip nail worked perfectly)
Conclusion
Over all I think it makes a nice little cheap and simple improvement and something that really should have been included from the factory.
***New version ***
A new version has been released which seems to keep the key blade useable more easily I have ordered one and will update this thread when it arrives.
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