STAUBER Best Lexus Key Shell Replacement - HYQ1512V, HYQ12BBT - NO Locksmith Required! Use Your Old Key and chip! - Black

Works great! Lexus quality is A1 except their keys - this generation is junk. These are a perfect replacement, only downside is they didn’t put the “LOCK” and “UNLOCK” writing on the key case so you can’t tell which button is for what.

Lexus sucks for providing ridiculously fragile and outrageously expensive keys. We bought a used 2005 ES330, and it came with one of the two keys broken. The dealers wanted hundreds, so I looked into buying a shell with a blank attached, which would also require paying to get the blank carved. That was still going to cost $80-$100 after all was done. In the process of researching that, I noticed this Stauber option. It had great reviews and was inexpensive enough to just give it a try. There is a square-shaped Stauber model, which I think was the original design, but looking deeper, I found this rounded model that looks more stylish (and fits some Lexus models better). I ordered this rounded model, used a pliers to nip off the plastic from the old key, and screwed the Stauber together around the button assembly and the key shank, and suddenly, I had a new key! Since the top of the metal key shank is rather small, I worried that the shell would not clamp well enough to hold it firmly, but the Stauber has tough plastic, has tight tolerances, and uses strong screws, so the metal shank does not wiggle where the plastic clamps it. There is some shim material provided by Stauber in case you need it clamped even tighter, but my key did not need shims. The finished key is not much bigger than the original, and looks/feels like it will not break as easily. Of course, the button assembly all works fine too. A bonus feature is the star screws, and the included star screwdriver - this enables tightening extra well without the threat of stripping the screw heads - great idea! This vendor could charge double, or even triple for this and it would still be a great deal. I should say that I would have been less likely to try it at a higher price, however, so this price does drive trial. If my other key breaks, I will look for the latest Stauber model to replace it immediately. I am also going to recommend this product to my independent Lexus mechanic (Stauber should advertise to them), and any Lexus owners that I meet. Thank you Stauber.

These were a fantastic replacement to fix my broken keys. Lexus quoted me $125 for a replacement key using the remotes from the broken keys and cutting the blade. With two broken keys, that was $250 plus tax. So now I have two working keys for $18. Everything fit well. The blade was a little loose, but Stuaber includes three shims to get the fit tight. The screws are star type, and Stuaber includes a small driver so you don’t have to go buy one.Aside from needing the shims to make the blade tight, the only problem I encountered was getting the Lexus plastic off the blade. You need a sharp knife and needle nose pliers are handy as is a cutting board or some such surface if the knife slips. Also, DON’T use an electric drill or screwdriver to drive in the four screws, or you will most likely strip them.The shell is a little longer than the original, and is thicker around the blade, making it stronger than the Ledust keys. Stuaber makes this shell in two models. The other is more square with the front screws sticking out the front like the back keys on this model. I chose this model basically for the looks and feel, as the front is rounded like the original.Basically, this shell is worth buying even if your keys haven’t torn apart when you try to crank the engine, and you might as well replace both shells to save you that irritation.

Sometimes a new product comes along and you wonder why on one has thought of it before. Like others who provided feedback, my wife's Lexus RX 330 key fob keeps breaking after a couple of years. Until now, you really only had 2 solutions. Go to a Lexus dealer and get new key FOB for two hundred dollars or buy a shell with a blank key and find someone to to laser cut the key for twenty dollars or so. Both of these solutions are poor because all Lexus key FOB's eventually break. Having a broken key means that you could be stranded.This product is quite ingenious because it utilizes the existing key. You do not have to take a blank key and try to find a locksmith who can do laser cuts (if you are lucky). The Stauber plastic shell seems much stronger than any replacement Lexus FOB's. I did take one star off because the metal part of my key is not shaped like a "T". It is straight which explains why some feedback suggested that their metal key will just fall out. My key is not the original Lexus key which could explain why the difference.I do not give up easily. I copied a post where the person drilled a hole in the plastic shell to add in a 5th screw to hold metal key. As a safety measure, I also put some J-B Weld glue to the metal key area on one side of the shell (see photos). I also used the 2 shims provided. I've tested the new key fob and it works like a charm. Now that I know that this is a great solution, I just ordered 2 more as backups. Thanks Stauber!