2001 740i BMW, key stolen by repair shop due to repair costs disagreement. Best way/cost to change locks?

wait what happened and why do they have your key. did you pay the bill?

the key has a chip in it that responds to the computer telling it that the key that you put in the car is the right one and some one isnt trying to steal it. dont trust movies they lie about stealing cars pop a some wires under the dash and boom the car startsa and you drive it off. no even if you get different keys like tom said the car will have to be programed to that key and that can only be done at the dealer. best bet is that if the bill is under $200 extra they they were going to charge you in the first place pay it get the right key and find a different mechanic. believe me it will be the cheaper way in the long run

Doesn't make any sense to me!!!! There is something else here.

When you own a shop and a customer left there car and have you diagnose there car and you deine all repairs

Sorry!!! Decline all repairs and want to take your car, there is a diagnose fee to pay because nobody works for free

Like I was saying!!!! And then you decided to take the car and not paying the bill and the shop

Doesn't give you the key but it does give the car!!!! It sound to me that someone took the car without paying the bill

O.K. Everyone. It's interesting to get everyone's initial opinion before they know all the facts. Like watching a bum in worn out clothes, looking like he hasn't had a bath in months. Then he reveals his true self to be a millionaire with tons of class. Sounds like some people are going to judge me and the situation depending on their previous histories with cars and whether they own a repair shop. This should make for interesting feedback. Let me start from the beginning. I have dealt with this shop in the past for a minor repair (replace starter) and it was done inexpensively and on time for a 1999 Buick Lesabre. No written estimate and no signatures or paperwork offered or completed. (Florida Law) He said he could work on BMW's and I needed a number of things done so I dropped off the car June 25 with a list of things to be done and asked him to take a look and call me with an estimate. No paperwork was completed. I was orally quoted over the phone for what I requested and told I needed some other things done. (Full rotors and pads on all wheels, replace intake gasket to resolve problem with knocking and hesitation at 1500 rpm's, and a power steering pump)and was promised it back on July 4. The quote was for $1859. I did not get a call on July 3, so I waited until July 7 to pick-up the car. I showed up at 11:00 a.m. and it wasn't ready and the work that was done was Shoddy. I waited around until 1:30 while one thing was done, and in the meantime had already paid the bill of $1859 by Mastercard. (Big Mistake!) It was determined that more parts were needed and I would have to come back as I needed the car. I drove away and immediately noticed the hesitation and knocking at 1500 rpms and went back. We went for a test drive (he clearly didn't do one) and he noticed the problem and said it was the transmission. (Not the intake gasket that I already paid over $400 to have replaced). The check brake linings light came on. He reset it and it came on again. One request was to fix the lower driver's side trim panels which were loose and coming off. He tried to glue them back on, rather than replace the broken clips. The emergency flasher was recessed into the console from coming unseated. He fixed this, but when I went to use the door lock next to it, it came unseated and was recessed. The front passenger side seat controls panel came unhinged and I wanted it reattached. I arrived to find it was still not attached properly and the seat control knobs were missing. 2 hubcaps were missing their middle emblems on the passenger side. He mentioned to me that he had a set of front grills that he could put on for me as my grills were held on by straps. No mention of price and no confirmation from me that I wanted it done. (No paperwork) I drove away and he promised to order the missing parts needed. (body trim and clips and seat control knobs and rear passenger tire sensor?). The check brake light and check license plate warning lights came on. I noticed my odometer was no longer lit. On my list was to fix the ABS, DSC, and Brake warning lights on which also caused my speedometer and odometer to not work. The warning lights were gone. He said I needed a speed sensor connector which he charged $85 for but no part was listed. The speedometer still did not work and I now had no odometer reading at all. They then said it was the rear passenger side wheel that needed a different part and they would get it for when I returned. The emergency brake handle was replaced. The rear passenger door handle was not seated properly. He chose an appropriate nut to secure it with no cover over the nut. All 4 wheels had new rotors and pads. No labor and parts breakdown was given individually for this one item. Total cost $560. Stay tuned for the second part.

No repair order, No estimate??? What's the deal with the key and why you didn't call the consumer department? I bed is you call them they will sent and inspector and the inspector will get your key right away and call the credit card company and cancel the payment.

Seems Krankenwagen is getting the picture now. I wrote to the consumer department and have filed a complaint. Should I e- mail the repair shop and tell them I want the key or else I will follow up with reporting them and making their life difficult. James R.; your comment was not helpful nor humorous. By the way, I did pay the original bill and I did take the car without paying the unauthorized additional bill. As Paul Harvey would say, "Now for the rest of the story". After taking the car with my spare key, a car chase ensued. I mean a real car chase with the owner of the shop and his mechanic trying to run me off the road, block my way, and get out of their car and chase me while I was in my car. It was 6 p.m. on a Friday, slick streets from rain and city streets with lots of traffic lights and lots of traffic. They broke numerous traffic laws and scared the shit out of me, because I still don't know if they had a gun or what? After about 5 minutes evading them, I called 911 and was led to a police station. They saw me on the phone and gave up the chase. I have never had to use the 740i in this way, but I can tell you it was up to the task. I didn't break any laws while evading them. The police went to the shop and they admitted to the chase. I did not press charges but filled out a statement. I definitely want my key back and I am definitely prepared if they approach me on the street. I have not heard from them since.

Tom: What would you have done in this situation?

Rhodes, learn to read: it's VermiFan. Someone, kick this guy off of this site as he is definitely illiterate or on drugs. Your comments are worthless and a waste of time to even read. Enough said....

Tom: the dude was paid $1850 already. Are you suggesting that I negotiate paying him more or do you feel I should re-negotiate the money he has already been paid? At this point, I just want my key back.

Something is a little off... I will say that obviously it's not a great shop. Sounds like they made some mistakes. Obviously the truth lies somewhere in the middle. There are shops who make the mistake of not documenting everything. When this is done wrong, the customer always wins. In your case, this is what happened. You made the mistake by running away, instead of simply resolving the matter. Are you sure you didn't give them verbal permission to go over the estimate if need be? Also the intake gasket not fixing the knock...that's your fault not theirs. You requested the work, they do it...they should of called you before and sold you more work to the real cause of the issue. In the end, it sounds like you went to a bad shop that takes good guesses at repairs without proper diagnosing. Terrible practice of not documenting estimates and phone calls. The solution should of been demand your key after the paying the bill. If they refused, you either file with small claims or call the police and say that someone has stolen your key and won't return it. They police comes, and asks the shop why? If they don't have a good reason...they give it back. Next time don't run away, I have a feeling these guys chased you because they felt you robbed them and either they're COMPLETE IDIOTS or they had a reason to think you wanted the repairs and should of paid. To give you an idea, I am a shop owner and I am ALWAYS weary when someone says things like "keep the bill under $3000." I will agree, and do everything required to my judgement under the bill, and then have been taken to court for all kinds of absurdity like "they didn't feel the car needed rotors, just pads" In this particular case, the customer REALLY needed rotors, we're talking completed rusted with huge lip, but he suddenly woke up that he didn't want to pay the bill...you can guess who won in court...

ok ok ok from a shop owner if you were not told about the added on charges from the previous charges they can not be applied by law. you have to as the customer agree to the work to be done and if you did not agree to the work or did not sign any aggreement that gave them the right to add the extra onto the bill then they are holding stolen equipment and you have the right to have a officer come down there and help you get the key. here is the other thing. you might have to take them to court. if you do the judge right away is on the side of the customer. believe me I own a auto mechanical shop. tell the judge that you did not approve the work that they did to get the extra amount added to the bill. there for they then have to show proof that they have you approval. you should have pressed charges but the police officer filled out a police report about the incodent of them chasing you. go to the police station it cost like 15$ to buy the report that the cop wrote up and take that to court with you to help your case. this is all the help I can give you bro. best of luck to you in the future.

I called the police officer to request assistance with getting the key returned but they declined to help. I therefore disagree with your opinion that I have the right to have an officer help me get the key. I may still in fact take the shop owner to court. This seems the only way to make this owner accountable for his actions. Thanks for taking the time to give you advice.

I've actually had police accompany my customer before to get his car back. The customer told them I stole the car, as soon as they came I told them he asked for work and doesnt want to pay and they left. I guess in the matter of a key (max value of $500) they don't care. Taking them to court is your only option. Make sure they have no documentation that you authorized anything beyond the estimate and you'll win, easy. Like I said in my first post, I'm shocked they chased you. Either you gave them an impression you'll pay or they're lunatics.

How did you pay the bill without them requesting the additional amount? I don't understand that part