Is this a genuine Valeo key case?

[SD1too]

All of us at some time or other will suffer broken lock and unlock buttons on our key cases. Fortunately e-Bay has many sellers offering cheap replacements but:

• The moulding quality can be very poor.
• Some don't have functional clips to retain the PCB.
• Some don't have a transponder receptacle which keeps it secure.

I bought one of these earlier this week. It had all three faults listed above. The PCB could not be secured because it had straight posts rather than the proper hooked clips, the transponder fell out of its box and the LED lens was partially obscured by black plastic. This case did not match the e-Bay photos so the seller agreed a refund without any trouble and I sent it back.

After meticulous further research I ordered from this seller. What a difference! This appears to be the genuine article because:

• It has the Valeo logo stamped on the blade.
• The date clocks and internal markings are the same as the OEM case.
• The PCB clips have the correct triangular tops which snap over the board.
• The transponder sits tightly upon two platforms between side bolsters within the open box.
• The LED lens is unobscured.
• The moulding quality is excellent.
• Under a strip of black tape on the back cover was ... Valeo!

You may notice that it has an abrasion mark on the outside wall of the transponder box as if a transponder had been previously fitted and removed; very strange. In all other respects it looks brand new.

So, if you don't want to engage in modifying shoddy mouldings I would recommend that you buy only from those who show photographs of the internal detail so that you can check that the case has the proper retaining arrangements for the PCB and transponder. I highly recommend the seller I have linked to above; he answered my questions promptly and delivery was rapid.

Simon

[marinabrian]

No, they are a good quality copy and no more Simon

If you look at the blade part where it enters the plastic secured with the roll pin, the blade width is reduced on these, meaning they are designed to be used with Land Rover Discovery II fob housing also

They're much better than the cheap tat ones, but they're not Valeo.......I have two on my coffee table as we speak purchased from the very same seller

I would use these when I refurbish a key, but I wouldn't supply one as a Valeo original, as they're not

If you are intending to use these if your PPD "Rover" unlock button has disintegrated, use the original plastic part attached to your blade, and it will fit securely into the key shell.

Brian

[SD1too]

Originally Posted by marinabrian

If you look at the blade part where it enters the plastic secured with the roll pin, the blade width is reduced on these ...

Not on the blade I've just bought. It's width is 8.22 mm as opposed to 8.17 mm for my OEM blade, so it's very slightly thicker. What's your response to that?

Notwithstanding this, the point of my thread was to assist club members to find the best possible replacement case. You seem to be suggesting Brian that the Valeo logo on the blade and back cover is fraudulent on behalf of the manufacturer. The seller made no claim as to its authenticity and indeed the back cover (but not the blade) had the Valeo logo concealed.

I hope that some will find my post useful.

Simon

[Blink]

The third pic has a bit of tape over the logo, so the seller appears to be saying 'don't assume it's a Valeo'.

Anyway, from my experience - the best way to tell a real Valeo from a non-Valeo is the action of the buttons. A real one has perfect spacing between the top of the microswitch and the underside of the button press - hence you get a decisive 'click' when the button is pressed. A non-Valeo doesn't have the correct spacing and the buttons are slushy. All of the fobs I've tried so far (which is quite a few ) have had slushy buttons.

[DMGRS]

I had the same case for my ZT, and they were fantastic

[marinabrian]

Originally Posted by SD1too

Not on the blade I've just bought. It's width is 8.22 mm as opposed to 8.17 mm for my OEM blade, so it's very slightly thicker. What's your response to that?

Notwithstanding this, the point of my thread was to assist club members to find the best possible replacement case. You seem to be suggesting Brian that the Valeo logo on the blade and back cover is fraudulent on behalf of the manufacturer. The seller made no claim as to its authenticity and indeed the back cover (but not the blade) had the Valeo logo concealed.

I hope that some will find my post useful.

Simon

Ok Simon you win, of course it's a genuine Valeo key housing made in China for Valeo, with the Valeo logo covered up by the counterfeiter

Well here is the closeup of the "Genuine" keyblade from the eBay supplier you linked to viewed in profile




The black plastic part of the fake blade is incompatible with the HU92 blade as used in the Rover 75 original key as it is designed to be used with the Land Rover key blade as pictured here.........





And here is an actual real genuine Valeo keyblade........



And from another angle here



The fake Valeo casing you linked to is quite satisfactory to be used as a refurbishment case, provided you are able to extract the blade from the old key along with the small black plastic part, something you omitted from your original post

I've been sourcing key housings for eight years, and I dare say have probably bought larger quantities than most members here, and I can tell you Valeo key housings were never supplied to the public with blank blades, nor were they ever fitted with blank transponders.

I have a small quantity of real cases which I sourced directly from a legitimate source, and which I will be keeping for personal use.

In terms of your "extensive research" I've also linked to this seller in the past, for the benefit of fellow owners, it's there if you care to look

Of course I'm just there to wipe people's eyeballs, all traders past and present are don't you know......I seem to recall charging the last "punter" £10 to refurbish their key with one of these housings, fitting a new battery, two replacement tactile switches, and including return signed for post

Anyway I have answered the question in your thread title, no this is not a genuine Valeo key case

Brian

[SD1too]

Originally Posted by marinabrian

Well here is the closeup of the "Genuine" keyblade from the eBay supplier you linked to viewed in profile ...

Incorrect Brian. The blade from my supplier does not have the thickness reduction you have assumed. Here's a photograph of it including the Valeo logo:



So by your own argument, the above is a genuine Valeo keyblade.

Secondly:

Originally Posted by marinabrian

The black plastic part of the fake blade is incompatible with the HU92 blade as used in the Rover 75 original key as it is designed to be used with the Land Rover key blade as pictured here.........

Incorrect again Brian. The black plastic part of the Valeo marked blade supplied to me is identical to my original OEM part, secured with a roll pin. It is nothing like the part you have pictured above.

Note also that the back cover of your Land Rover assembly has identical Valeo and CE markings to the back cover of my replacement. Isn't it odd that you say that one is genuine and the other isn't when all others for sale on e-Bay have plain back covers.

Also very significant is the high quality of the moulded case. I suggest that a copy could never be produced to that standard for the price charged. The supporting evidence is the commonly offered shoddy interiors with dysfunctional PCB clips, transponder boxes which don't retain the module, partially obscured LED lenses and absent date clocks and plastics ID.

You, of course, choose to ignore all this because it doesn't fit with the image of universal superiority of which you try so hard to convince us all.

Simon

[SD1too]

Originally Posted by Blink

The third pic has a bit of tape over the logo, so the seller appears to be saying 'don't assume it's a Valeo'.

Hi Simon,

I asked the seller about the tape before purchase. He offered no comment other than the parts were supplied to him like that. We should therefore not make any assumptions.

Originally Posted by Blink

Anyway, from my experience - the best way to tell a real Valeo from a non-Valeo is the action of the buttons ..... A non-Valeo doesn't have the correct spacing and the buttons are slushy.

Thanks for this. Having had a case with hopelessly inadequate PCB clips which didn't hold the microswitches on the board in contact with the push buttons, I suspect that this might be the explanation behind your experience.

Alternative supplier
There seems to be healthy interest in the part to which I linked; the supplier says he has only three remaining and the price has increased.
Also worth considering might be this one which, from the photographs, has the correct PCB clips and transponder box although it does have other indications that it's a copy.

Simon

[MissMoppet]

Originally Posted by SD1too

You, of course, choose to ignore all this because it doesn't fit with the image of universal superiority of which you try so hard to convince us all.

Simon

I do wish you hadn't said that. I've never met Brian but I do value enormously the immense amount of expertise and knowledge imparted FREELY to anyone who is stuck on trying to keep these motors on the road. He must have saved me a great deal of sweat and money over the years I've owned my R75. I for one am extremely grateful.


PS On your advice . . . I've ordered up a "Valeo" key from this seller. Hope there's not a sting in the tail.


Dave

[marinabrian]

Simon, it is interesting that "your" eBay seller Robert Szabo, just happens to be the same as "my" eBay seller Robert Szabo, trading under the banner of 1320_king, from whom I bought two of these cases on the 30th of January this year

So the answer to the question you posed in your thread title is no, the cases you have bought are not genuine Valeo.

It should be remembered that these people are not manufacturers, they are resellers of Chinese knock offs, and your "Valeo" key is simply is of a different supplier to "your" eBay reseller.

An original Valeo key is just that, they are not supplied to the public, and the finish to the plastic is different to the copies.

So just because Mr Szabo has sourced his copies from a different supplier, doesn't make them any less a copy, the fact the logo is covered in tape is a giveaway

Take a look at the blade in this picture and compare it to the blade in the key you received, specifically look at the "Valeo" logo, although the angle is different to the blade you photographed, the logo is identical to the complete key in the upper part of this picture......



And here is your keyblade, the picture quality isn't particularly good, but can you spot the difference in the "Valeo" logo, as opposed the the separate blade in the picture above?



They are OK to use as cases to refurbish a clapped out key, however you are not bringing anything new to the membership

Your answer has been provided, you don't need to labour the point unless you have an answer to why eating a custard tart is different to eating a custard slice, although both contain custard

Brian