2013 BMW X1 Key Replacement

The 2013–2015 X1 uses the same key setup, so everything on this page applies to those years too. The full picture is on the BMW X1 key guide.

2013 BMW X1: key facts

Key type: Smart / proximity key
Push-to-start: Yes
Transponder chip: ID46 (PCF7945, Hitag2)
Programming: OBD
All keys lost: We can originate new keys on site

Slot-key car without Comfort Access on most US trims: the KR55WK49127-family ID46 fob inserts into the dash slot. Add-a-key and all-keys-lost are documented OBD procedures for E-series CAS3/CAS3+ (Abrites BN014/BN016). One locksmith marketing page calls the 2013-2015 X1 'EWS4 with ID44' — the catalog fitment contradicts that; we confirm by VIN.

What kind of key does a 2013 BMW X1 use?

The 2013 X1 is a push-to-start car, but on most US trims it is not a true walk-up keyless car. The fob goes into a slot in the dash, and the car reads it there. The chip family for this year is ID46 (PCF7945, Hitag2), and that part of the data is verified against a hardware catalog. The fob family we expect to see is the KR55WK49127 type.

In plain terms: the fob is a real electronic key, not a plain metal blade with a chip. It carries a rechargeable battery, a transponder the car checks, and a mechanical backup key hidden in the fob. That backup key is for the door if the fob is dead. It will not start the car by itself.

Most trouble we hear about on this year is less dramatic than a lost key. A tired fob battery is common, and because the dash slot still reads the fob, the car will often start anyway. A worn dash slot or a cracked fob shell can cause the same kind of on-again, off-again behavior. Before replacing anything, it is worth finding out which of these you actually have.

Can you copy a 2013 X1 key, or is it all keys lost?

For this setup, you do not need an original key in hand to get a new one made. Adding a key is done through the OBD port under the dash, and the same goes for all keys lost. The documented procedures for the E-series CAS3 and CAS3+ systems cover both situations. No NASTF SDRM access is needed for this year, so there is no reason to send you to the dealer just to start the process.

That said, having a working key makes the job simpler. With one key, we are adding to a system that already knows a fob. With none, we have to work with the car's immobilizer from scratch, which takes more steps. Either way the car stays where it is while we work. You do not need it towed to a shop.

How we handle it, step by step

Here is how a typical X1 key job goes, whether you are at home, at work or stuck in a parking structure.

You call (213) 577-1366. We ask for the year, model and the VIN, which is visible at the base of the windshield on the driver's side.
We confirm the fob type and system against the VIN before cutting or ordering anything.
A technician comes to you in a mobile van, or you come to our storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd in Westwood.
We connect to the OBD port, then program the new fob so the car accepts it. If you have other keys, we check they still work.
We test the fob in the dash slot, start the car, and check the mechanical backup key and the door locks.

Locked out or need a locksmith now?

We answer around the clock, every day of the year.

Call (213) 577-1366

What affects the price of an X1 key?

We will not quote a number on a web page, because the real cost depends on a few things we can only see on the job. Here is what moves it:

Whether you have a working key. Adding a spare is usually the more economical route compared with all keys lost, which takes more work.
The fob itself: a genuine unit, a new aftermarket one, or a used one. Used fobs can come locked to another car and may not be usable.
How many keys you want. Doing two at once is often more efficient than coming back later.
Where the car is. A mobile visit to you costs different from you driving to the storefront.
Whether the problem is the key at all. If it is the steering lock or a worn dash slot, a new fob will not fix it.

One thing we confirm by VIN

Not every source agrees on this car. One locksmith marketing page calls the 2013 to 2015 X1 an EWS4 system with an ID44 chip. That does not match the catalog fitment we have, which points to ID46 and CAS3 or CAS3+. We do not guess. We check by VIN, and by looking at the car in person if needed, before we order or program anything.

One more fault to know about: steering-lock (ELV) problems can look just like a key failure. If the car says the key is not recognized but the fob tests fine, that is the first place we look. Sometimes the fix is on the car side and not the key.

California requires locksmith companies to hold a BSIS LCO license. Ask any locksmith, including us, for that license information before they start work. For more on this model see our BMW X1 key page, the wider BMW key guide, or all car key services.

Why call Wilshire Lock & Key for your X1

We have been in business since 1987, with a storefront in Westwood and mobile vans that cover 140 cities across Los Angeles and Ventura counties. When you call, one company answers and one company sends the technician. There is no dispatch middleman passing your job around. David, the owner and lead technician, oversees the work. The phone line is answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

If you would rather describe the situation in writing, use our contact page. For a lost key, though, a call is faster.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need my original key to get a new 2013 X1 key?

No. For this year, an original key is not required. Adding a key and all keys lost are both possible through the OBD port. Having a working key just makes the job simpler.

Will my X1 still start if the fob battery is dead?

Often, yes. The fob goes into the dash slot, which reads it directly, so the car usually starts even with a weak battery. The battery matters more for remote functions and for the fob's own response.

Is the mechanical key in the fob enough to drive the car?

No. The backup key opens the door when the fob is dead. Starting the car needs the electronic fob in the dash slot.

What chip does the 2013 BMW X1 use?

The verified chip family is ID46 (PCF7945, Hitag2). Because one source claims otherwise, we confirm the system by VIN before programming.

Do I have to go to the BMW dealer?

Not for this year. The programming is done through the OBD port and does not need NASTF SDRM access, so a locksmith can handle it.

My X1 says the key isn't recognized. Is the fob bad?

Maybe not. A weak battery, a worn dash slot, a cracked shell or a steering-lock (ELV) fault can all look like a key failure. We check these first so you do not pay for a fob you did not need.

Can you come to me?

Yes. We run mobile vans across Los Angeles and Ventura counties, and we also have a storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd in Westwood. Call (213) 577-1366 any time.

We cover all these cities

Reviewed by David, Owner & Lead Technician, Wilshire Lock & Key — in the locksmith trade since 1987.

Last updated 2026-10-11.