Cutting spare keys

[Mr B]

I need to get some spare keys cut for my wife's Elan (S1 M100). Normal key cutting places do not seem to have the blanks to cut - does anyone know the origins of the door and boot locks so that I can get some cut?

Cheers

[muley]

Andy,

Not sure about the door, but the boot is a bit wierd in that it is a US GM blank from around the time that Elans came out. Confusingly, according to my key smith only 1 of 3 blanks is supposed to work, but in reality they all do.

It took me months to track down a capable key smith - good hunting!

Jim B

[algirdas]

Dear Andy:

I recently endured the Lotus M100 key nightmare and it is not over just yet. The door and boot keys are the same on my car and they are a GM blank which is readily available here. If you need me to get some blanks and mail them to you, I will, but I should warn you that the cost of the postage will probably exceed the cost of the key blanks.

The glovebox lock is a sidewinder key and the only way to get a key made for it was to remove the lock and to take it to the locksmith. At least that was my experience here.

The ignition key remains a mystery. After six failed attempts including key blanks obtained directly from Lotus, I'm thinking I'm going to have to have them made in England next time I am passing through or remove my ignition lock and take it to the locksmith.

Also, I seem to recall reading a thread on this website about a place in England that can make keys for you. If I find it, I will post it up.

Sincerely,

Algirdas

[Mr B]

Many thanks for your offer of blanks - i may take you up on that if I cannot find any over here. For your information, the ignition key wasn't a problem - the first place we went to was able to cut a new one for us.

Cheers

[euroticcustoms]

the door and trunk (boot) key are GM door keys. GM used these round head keys for the doors of almost every Chevrolet, Buick, Cadillac, Pontiac, and GMC car, truck and van between the early 1970's to the late 1990's. Keep in mind however, that GM used a different key for the ignition switch; it looks similar to the door key but has a square head. Hopefully you'll find a smith who can cut a GM key

EDIT:

Also, in case somebody else runs across this thread sometime down the road, my Elan didn't come with the original ignition switch key. It was cut on an Axxess blank. Axxess keys are sold in Wal-Mart here in the US...not sure about across the river. I'm also not sure exactly what make of vehicle the blank is for, but the key looks japanese...possibly Isuzu, Subaru, Mitsubishi, Nissan? In case anybody ever needs to get a key made* AND the ignition key works in the glove compartment lock.

Paul

[Darren]

Any Timpson shops on the high street will be able to source you all the keys/blanks that you require (in the UK that is).

http://www.timpson.co.uk

You'll most likely have to wait a couple of days for the boot key to come in, as it's a US GM part but it's deffo in their key catalog, as I ordered mine from there.

The manager will most likely do you a deal on two keys, as I believe that's his minimum order ie they'd rather sell you the two than run the risk of never moving them.

So don't delay, get to Timpson's today

Darren.

[ailwyn]

When I got my S2 I had 3 keys, 1 Lotus key and 2 keys with what looks like the Opel (European GM) emblem.

IIRC all 3 seem to work in all locks, doors, ignition, boot, and glovebox, but I will check tomorrow.

Ailwyn

[Mr B]

Cheers - tried Timpson's the other day and they were totally confused - will try again!

[quiksilva]

Mr B
if you are near town there is a place on city road opposite shepherdess walk called ENTA security (past moorfields hospital going towards kings X)
they did three sets of door/boot lock keys for me for very little wonga ( they had to order a minimum of 50 blanks in for this), PM me if you need extra info

andy

[Doug]

Algirdas,

we went thru this about 1 1/2 years ago and found the US has keys like the S2, but the SE has different keys a bit.

Anyway the US ignition is a common key in the UK so can get cheap blanks (forget the spec of it though--maybe search the forum for info -- it was a thread by Carl [also in Colorado mind you!!])

as you know it's the glovebox key that's a nightmare, and the Lotus replacement g-box latches are all keyless FYI.

-Doug