sthulin

Could the difference in part numbers be the two different styles of key? The RS5 keys are not identical, they have slight changes so you can tell them apart.

stanfna

I would be curious to know the full part number and cost of the key.

Thes6isWicked

Good thought and that's probably right!
Anybody bought used key online and had it re-programmed???
My dealer says once a key is programmed, it cannot be re-programmed....

Any experience with this?

BreedsAs

The part number for the key fobs should be on the fob. Used keys can definitely be programmed to new cars too.

For the member who asked, when the car is remote started, it starts based off the settings of the sacrificed key when it comes to lighting, odometer settings, etc.
It will adjust the seats and mirrors to the settings of the non-sacrificed key though when opened.

Nikon1

@BreedsAs - Did you get a “New Factory Key” from an Audi source or did you source a key from another source?

I’m not familiar with Audi’s system but with my Acura, I was able to purchase a transmitter enabled key from a locksmith and he was able to program that key with the ECU in the Acura.

Thank You

— John

BreedsAs

I decided to just use my second oe fob as the sacrificial lamb. I didn't see it as ideal to buy a whole fob for a car I'll only have for so much longer.
I can open my car from my phone anyways so if I ever lose my everyday key, I can get access into the car.

Nikon1

UPDATE: My installer talked to his Compustar / Drone rep today. The “new” cable for the 2018 S5 is now the one that ends in the AU3. AU1 was discontinued — and that from the factory rep.

My parts are on order. Rather than sacrifice the second key, I ordered one from my dealer — price for the fob, programming it and the car listed out somewhere in the neighborhood of $ 470 to $500 but there is an Audi “$150 off a $250 parts” coupon. Net cost will be around $330 to $350 — which is purely “peace of mind” money to me — but I still have the original second key should something happen to my original.

— John

BreedsAs

I actually may just do that then. It's odd that the AU3 replaced the AU1. I wonder what was changed.

Nikon1

Just a quick addition — I purchased an “Audi Specific” fob from an on-line retailer based on the FCC information listed on my fobs battery tray. The vendor never says these are ”Genuine” Audi keys; rather they are listed as “OEM” or reclaimed keys which are “refreshed and de-programmed from their original source and must be programmed prior to use. $169. I thought I’d try them as they take PayPal. 2 days later, the key arrived.

It looked like an Audi key — but no marking on the rear case for the S5. For that price and knowing it would be buried, I did not care. But when I took the battery tray out of the fob there were absolutely no markings, no FCC numbers - totally blank. And the actual key action was weak - not at all like the 2 factory remotes that came with our cars.

Stop 1 was my dealer, whom I have a great relationship with the service department, and my SA looked skeptical when I handed her the key but she said they would require both my originals and this key and they would attempt to program it. 45 minutes later — no deal, they could not program it or the car. Thankfully, it was “No Charge” for the attempt.

Stop 2 is a local indie lock & security specialist who does this for my installer. 25 minutes later the same story — no way it programs.

Back to my dealer to order the real deal. And now the fight with the internet vendor and PayPal.

In retrospect I should have done the dealer first — with the Audi Discount Coupon — and been that much ahead of the game.

—John

BreedsAs

Ok I'll definitely go the OEM route from the jump!