Help...broken key in ignition

[AndrewBird]

I literally searched "Coping Saw Blade". :roll:

[fresh_TD]

Mine broke off in the door. I made an extraction tool from a coping saw blade. You know, those little hoop-like saws for precision cutting on thin wood? Just get some of the blades, break one in half, and you have a tool that can get in the lock and pull the broken key out.

Thanks....now at least I have few methods to try..can you post a picture of the blades you're talking about

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[goldenbb]

Mine broke off in the door. I made an extraction tool from a coping saw blade. You know, those little hoop-like saws for precision cutting on thin wood? Just get some of the blades, break one in half, and you have a tool that can get in the lock and pull the broken key out.

[fresh_TD]

I will try all the methods listed until I get that key out ;-)..

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[E30_Pare]

Do u have an early model? I had a broken key for over a year.... Remove the steering wheel and plastic covers. There is a tiny hole around the lock cylinder. What you do is take a pick or something pointy and stick it in the hole. Now take your broken key and turn the ignition until you feel the pick fall into the hole. Then you can remove the whole ignition. At that point you can just turn it upside down and tap the broken piece out.

Late models are easier. There's a hole on the face of the ignition, u stick something in the hole and turn the key till it comes out.

Take it from someone who's had 3 keys snap in the ignition. Easiest method.

[fresh_TD]

Damn, the locksmiths around you must be broke as shit and starving - the ones around my way would charge $50 just to drive out to your car, let alone do any work.

Lol...I hope they're...so I don't pay that much for the job

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[jalopi]

Damn, the locksmiths around you must be broke as shit and starving - the ones around my way would charge $50 just to drive out to your car, let alone do any work.

[fresh_TD]

Call a locksmith. Probably be like $20 with a new key. This is a no brainer for a pro with the correct tools.

I have a spare key already..just need to pull the broken one out...unfortunately I have to wait till next week, car is in the shop getting ready to get painted right now

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[AndrewBird]

Call a locksmith. Probably be like $20 with a new key. This is a no brainer for a pro with the correct tools.

[jalopi]

lol you caught me before I was actually awake, completely missed the "by hand" bit.

yeah, those tools I posted are pretty much flexy drill bits. Bet two little ones would work, only problem I could see is how easy small bits are to break

[Julien]

tiny drill bit. you affectively try to catch the missing section with the bit (by hand) and then pull it out

people have asked if this works.. yes it did. I read about it on a DIY a few years back. All you are doing is catching the key in one of the longitudinal grooves with the edge of the small drill bit (again, not on a drill, do it by hand).


anyways, worked like a charm for me in my e30

[fresh_TD]

wow that's tough. good luck OP...

if the steering wheel's locked it's in the home position and the lock cylinder can't be pulled out.

after you get through this, get steel keys. That's what BMW and G-d intended for E30s. Brass keys suck, and they are what you get at a hardware store type place. They're just coated. If you take a magnet to the key and it slides off it's brass.

lots of good key info here
http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=332441

Thanks bradnic

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[bradnic]

wow that's tough. good luck OP...

if the steering wheel's locked it's in the home position and the lock cylinder can't be pulled out.

after you get through this, get steel keys. That's what BMW and G-d intended for E30s. Brass keys suck, and they are what you get at a hardware store type place. They're just coated. If you take a magnet to the key and it slides off it's brass.

lots of good key info here

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=332441

[fresh_TD]

2 paper clips with 1/16"-1/8" bent at the tips, insert one above the key the other below the key (vertically). you might have to get in there along the sides of what's left in there if it's all the way in at the hilt and then wiggle them up. the tumblers will allow the paper clips to slide through, just pull back once clips can grab onto a notch or two.

this worked for me on a beat up deadbolt, hopefully it works on a car ignition.

I'll definitely try this method...sounds like it would work..we'll see

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[glnr13]

2 paper clips with 1/16"-1/8" bent at the tips, insert one above the key the other below the key (vertically). you might have to get in there along the sides of what's left in there if it's all the way in at the hilt and then wiggle them up. the tumblers will allow the paper clips to slide through, just pull back once clips can grab onto a notch or two.

this worked for me on a beat up deadbolt, hopefully it works on a car ignition.