You are right in that early CS keys are not easy to duplicate but they are
surprisingly still available from the BMW dealer.  The one I bought last
October for my '71 2800CS was less than $5 , including factory machining for
my door lock.  I was pleasantly surprised.  I also rekeyed the ignition
cylinder and trunk cylinder to match the door locks by simply moving the
internal tumblers around to make them all match.  It is not quite the "work
of the devil" innards and was quite easy to disassemble and rekey.

I agree with you that the CS locks are "even more interesting" and it's nice
there is not electronic gizmos involved.  It is also nice it is easy to work on.

I also completely agree with the general thesis of your note that Vanagon
keys are much nicer than the absurd things used on current BMWs and other
new vehicles.

It's nice to hear from another CS owner.

Ed

 , On Wed, 28 Oct 2009 17:29:44 -0700, Al Knoll <anasasi@GMAIL.COM> wrote:

>No electronical gizmos.  No mumbojumbomagicjuju required to open the lock,
>start the car, and so on.  Replacements are inexpensive.  Try replacing the
>key to your BMW X5 someday.  Kewl electronical gizmos enclosed therein.  The
>local roadside rescue service will not have a good solution here.  Even more
>interesting was the BMW 3.0CSI key a gadget with various pits drilled to
>various depths to match the work of the devil innards.  However all metal,
>no electronical gizmos but not easy to duplicate.
>
>Some things are best left simple, like incandescent lightbulbs which don't
>contain mercury like the cfls, and do not need a hazmat disposal site. And
>the venerable but rare steel vanagon key.
>
>Newer aint always better.  I like my cast iron cookware.  Cooks fine, lasts
>a loooong time, keeps away the demons of iron deficiency anemia
>automatically, handy to whack the occasional burglar, hold down the tent in
>a wind or just admire for the now unobtainable craftmanship, vanagonically
>speaking of course.
>
>Pensionerd.