Well, your locksmith was close to the truth.  You would only have to take one lock out which take one minute or less.  Usually they want you to take the driver's side out.  Anyway, at the level with the handle there is a bolt that you can turn out with a larger or standard philips screwdriver after you have peeled the rubber seal back a bit.  Once the bolt is out, you can shift the handle a little forward and it will come out at once.  Your locksmith will make a new key faster than you would go through any red tape with the dealership about codes and stuff.  And way cheaper too.  
Zoltan
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Randy Weersing 
  To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM 
  Sent: Monday, May 28, 2001 2:29 PM
  Subject: lock problem

  Hello.......New member here. I have a 82 Vanagon with 85 Jetta 
  power......love it! I was glad to find this group. I have a problem with keys 
  someone out there must know the answer to. Although still going strong after 
  216k miles, my van's key is worn out. I have to fiddle like a safecracker to 
  get the doors to lock and unlock. A local locksmith told me I have to take 
  out all the locks and bring them in for him to fit new keys. I'm not buying 
  that........must be an easier way. Just copying the old key is no good 
  because all I get is a copy of a worn out key. Isn't there a code or 
  something I can use to get a new key made? Thanks for any help. 

  Randy, Elmira (near Eugene) Oregon 

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