here some pics of my new key. what you guys think?

 

Very nice, how much & where can we get this?

 

Volkwagen/Audi style

 

Very nice, I need to get one, how much does it cost and what was the timeframe of ordering ??

 

looks pretty cool. I wish the emblem was a bit bigger. I was thinking about getting one of these too. Did you get the key cut at the dealer??

 

I like it.....i like it a loooot

 

looks like my old mercedes key

 

Getting a new key's been on my to-do list too...

 

yes, like a mercedes key, but bulkier.

 

That's nice. Source, please.

EDIT: Found it. Search eBay for "SC430 flip key" (without the quotes) and it comes up. It's about $30.00...and is just the shell...does not include the electronic guts. The key has to be cut by a locksmith (who can do "laser cutting" - it took me a couple of phone calls in the past to find someone who can do this type of key cutting so, call ahead before you make a trip to your local hardware store)...and I'm assuming it has to be programmed by the dealer for the immobilizer chip.

 

Keep us updated man. I wander how much is the dealer going to charge to program the key!

 

you can program it yourself. if you search, instructions are posted in this forum.

here's a slightly different one with the electronic guts included:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/02-04...QQcmdZViewItem

 

alright guys. i ordered the key from ebay. i got the one that ships from australia. http://cgi.ebay.com/Flip-Key-Case-fo...3A1%7C294%3A50there are also others from china. so they range for about $20 to $35. these keys do not need to be programmed. all you do it open your original key and take out the guts (buttons+transponder) (its all one piece) and place it into the new switchblade type key, and just get the key cut a local locksmith that can cut lexus keys ($25-$45). the thing about our sc430's is that we have the shorter key blades and the ones that these people on ebay are selling are the longer keyblades. you must get the locksmith that is cutting your key to shorten the blade to match your original blade.
just go on ebay and search for "lexus flip key" and they will come up.
pretty much it comes out a total of about $60-$90 depending on who you buy it from on ebay and who you get it cut bye.
about the key itself. the quality of the plastic does not seem to be as durable and classy of that of the original lexus one. it does feel a little cheap, but i dont really mind. about the lexus logo, it is not a real engraved logo, but rather a thick sticker which you place on the key itself.
shipping was pretty fast. the one from australia took no more than 10 days to arrive here in los angeles via airmail

feel free to ask any other questions or PM me.

 

Might I ask, how does one program a new key for our cars? Does the dealer have to do that? I'll go search the site now, but I noticed this discussion and thought to ask.

Thank you, and pardon me for briefly derailing the thread.

 

I had an '07 Mazda RX-8 with a switchblade key that I really loved. This doesn't look to be quite as nice/durable looking, but I'll most definitely be going with something like this. I'd be curious to hear from others who have bought the other slight variations on this key so that we can determine which one seems to be of the highest quality.