Quote Vw Manual on keys For reasons of security replacement keys are only available from Volkswagen dealers
Key Tag
The key tag contains the key number which is needed to obtain replacemnt keys Volkswagen dealers can ONLY order replacemnt keys if you have this number..
Electronic Immobiliser
The electronic immobiliser prevents unauthorised persons using your vehicle
The micro chip is located in the head of the key which automatically deactivates the immobilisers when the key is inserted in the ignition lock assembly.
The system is automatically activated when the ignition is switched off
Thus the engine can only be started with a correctly coded genuine Volkswagen key, troublefree operation of your vehicle can only be gaurenteed using genuine keys at all times...
NOTE
It has been known elsewhere to be able to avoid getting an expensive key cut at your local VW dealers when your original key breaks by removing the chip and affixing it to the new £5 shoe shop cut key, or by secretting the said chip somewhere close by the ignition barrel and simply using the new cheap cut key in the usual fashion, some say that it only has to be in close proximity to the barrel to work, others say it has to be touching it, i have personally tried all methods to th extent of taping the broken chipped key to the ignition barrel non of my methods worked so i deem this to be total fabricated nonesense possibly you might be lucky but beleive me when i say by leaving the chip full time in the vehicle you are making it in anycase so easy to steal making your insurance non invoid......
Word is certain branches of Timpsons and other key cutters are now coming into the 21st century and can indeed cut chipped keys if you know of one anywhere in the country do please let us know as £90 + the vat is just ridiculous a price to pay for a key...when i had mine i serachd endlessly and was unable to find a supplier at a reasonable cost maybe you know better??? that is one local enough to not require my only key to be sent to them for recutting a very dangerous system if you only hav eone besides i needed it so as to be able to drive it....so post away companies in my view were simply carrying to much of a risk....
Doing what we ended up doing having only the one chipped key at the end we got a £5 spare that locked and unlocked all doors glovebox etc and we used it to open and lock it with religiously whilst only ever using the chipped key to start her thus prolonging the life of our only chipped key at this point
I am glad i have now gotten a non chipped key version and rely on non electrical parts for my security that are far less likely to fail...