ok. Where I'm at.
As previously mentioned my PIWIS crashes when I go into the key programming area. I have a few more images of PIWIS II and a few PIWIS III images.
Just haven't gotten time to build some new laptops and see what I can finagle.

I also know it calls home when the dealer is programming keys so a bootleg one would probably be useless. I have looked into a few different programming tools but I'm going to hold off until I talk to the dealer.
So, back to real keys.
I purchased a BQ key off ebay that's supposedly for cars with enter and drive. it came locked but I was able to clear it with the KeyDIY unit. I have so far been unable to use the Darkhorse key programmer to do anything but read keys and give some general info.
If you travel down this road again, save the money and go with the cheaper KeyDIY unit. Also, just an FYI if you try to use the KeyDIY cables with the darkhorse unit, it bricks your key.

Here's a picture of the ebay key. The system board is not a clone of the Porshe key, and it's a pile of junk by the way. it fell apart when I took the sides off. I'd probably do a hard pass on them in the future.


Clear ebay key. Easy as pie.

Cleared keys eeprom in ASCII

Could these dumps contain the programming key for the Dealer to use to program them? That's what I'm going to try to figure out. First I'm going to see if my dealer is willing to program a cleared real key and present him with the two key choices and ask about the enter and drive keys.

eBay key. Might work but junk.

ebay key has a very weak transceiver you can only get a good read when you put the key part in the reader. The Porsche keys will read in either direction.

Locked BQ key.

it has the eeprom info of a BM key so I'm going to assume this key will only work with cars that do not have enter and drive.

TMC - That's the Ebay key right? Agree it looks like a pile of junk, but seems like it's giving off the right signals?

yes, as far as that's concerned it looks right. I stopped in last week for windshield wipers and my service advisor said half the time they don't program. I bet it's because it's the non-enter and go key.
I'm due for a minor service, my service writer said just bring the keys by the next time I'm in and they'll see if they can program the (real) ones. He and I pretty much dismissed the ebay key.
My C63 is getting serviced Wed, once that's back I'll make an appointment for my Cayenne and see what happens.

the dealer here said they can't program them 90% of the time but they would try - at which point i was thinking...at 90% failure why don't you just say "no we don't do it" - so do they actually try to program them? - the ebay guy i bought mine from says they (dealers) do not try to program keys they didn't sell

The ebay guy is correct. The dealer won't touch it if it's not OEM.

Makes sense - though earlier in this thread a member mentioned a shop down south that is programming keys. My thought was buy an Ebay one and have him program (or at least try). Would have been awesome if TMC had been able to DIY with his PIWIS but I'm guessing there's something else needed which that aforementioned shop may have.

My PIWIS 2 crashes in the key programming mode. There are a couple of other ways to skin that cat but it's seriously cost-prohibitive if you're not going to lots of keys.
I can unlock real keys though, and (I think) that's half the battle.
I have screenshots of the EEPROM dumps of the programmed keys, the blank keys, and my keys.
Once the dealer programs a real one for me I'm going to take another dump, compare them and see if anything jumps out at me.

my thinking on this is these keys can be programmed two ways - one is the official way ..the dealer orders you a key through your VIN - the key comes from germany - it's blade is cut in germany according to your VIN - the dealer then hooks car up to the official porsche system and the key is attached to the car - two is the unofficial way ..a locksmith (or someone with a porsche key coder) removes the BCM from the car ..opens it up ..solders wires to it ..links it to key coder ...then direct programs the key to the car ..puts the BCM back in car and the key works - with the second method the porsche system doesn't have any knowledge of the key, but the key still works - the only difference is the porsche system doesn't officially recognize the key (but the car does) - i guess if car ever needed to be "reset" to factory settings (if that's a thing) the unofficially added key would not work - so i'm thinking any unlocked key can be programmed (ebay or as TMC did it) - just need the coder to hook up to the BCM to let car know it has another key - at this point i'm leaning towards buying a coder and trying it - does what i'm thinking make sense?

Yea, but they do have a kit that doesn't need soldering on the BCM, it screws on top and makes the proper connections allowing you to program your key. I was also reading up on a tablet that pairs with a programmer that connects to the ODB2 port and writes the key to the BCM without having to remove it.
I've also read you can program the keys yourself with a PIWIS 2 if you can get the immobilizer code. What I don't know is that something that should have been included with a new key or a code that's Vin specific, that the dealer could provide you with if they wanted to.

yea TMC - this is the one i've seen.....yanhua mini acdp

I just reached out to the shop in SoCal that was referenced earlier to see what they thought (since I will be driving down there next week). Will revert back with any responses.

Bought an OEM key from ebay, should be here soon and then I'm taking to Top Tech in LA - owner, Kirk - seems like a good guy. Will either have a functional key mid-next week or will be out $60 and maybe some labor...

~$800 for a $8 key.

don’t even get me started - Tesla key costs a lot less, is more secure, and they sent a tech to my office to program 2x keys for free.

I called the local dealer who said it can’t be done - best bet is $650 + 5 day lead time if they can get from ATL or longer if it has to come from Stuttgart. Realized LA is insane and Top Tech is 2 hours from where I am at. So will restart the chase when I get back to Monterey.

The only reason I started this key thing is that I wanted a remote start. It's spring now. PORSCHE is kinda messed up in this regard. They have customers who're cold as hell but make them jump through hoops for a key.