Rolf: repair of keys from outdated brands has risen in price to 800 thousand rubles

After a number of brands left the Russian market, key recovery became not just a technical task, but a quest with legal and software restrictions. Nikita Arkhipov, operational director for service at Rolf, told Rossiyskaya Gazeta about this.

“The complexity of key recovery depends on the ignition switch and copy protection solutions used. As a rule, the watershed runs through 2015. All vehicles manufactured before this date will likely have no problems ordering and programming the key. There are many analogues of the keys and equipment themselves. This can cost from 35 thousand rubles, including work,” the expert noted.

According to him, making keys for modern cars has become a complex and expensive procedure. For machines from 2015-2021, it is often necessary to install emulators, resolder modules, or bypass servers. Not every master can handle the job, and Chinese keys are not suitable for everyone. The price is from 70 thousand rubles, but the result is correct.

It’s more difficult with cars after 2021: they are tied to the manufacturer’s servers, sometimes ordering a key for a Russian VIN is impossible (Mercedes-Benz). They use duplicate keys or bypass blocks, which affects cost and reliability.

In the premium segment, prices reach up to 800 thousand rubles (a Mercedes-Benz record), the average bill for BMW, Porsche, Audi, Jaguar and Land Rover is about 300 thousand. In the mass segment (Volkswagen, Mitsubishi, Hyundai) you can still get by with “little blood,” the expert noted.

Previously, Chinese auto brands were named that are ready to leave the Russian market.