Recently, I did remote start in my ED using a Smartlock Bypass. Tonight I showed my old man who owns a BF XR6, and he's sold on the idea. Seeing as I am buying his car at the end of next year, I am keen to do it for it, seeing as I will end up with it anyways.

So, does anyone know if this is possible, and if so, how to do it?

AU (Early AU still used Smartlock) Smartshield onwards Fords are totally different, the key contains a chip which contains the codes required to start the car.

I have heard you can get the Smartshield removed via aftermarket programing, I only ever worked on BA's etc with WDS and that was just for fault finding and updates, I never had the time to play in the months back at the Ford dealership, I played with the WDS and M-MDS at the Mazda dealership all the time (playing being the major word), I don't remember being able to remove the engine immobiliser on Mazdas (wasn't looking for it either) , but you may have been able to on a Ford, depending on what either the WDS or MDS is plugged into brings up different features not available on other models etc

Someone will surely be able to confirm this.

You can get a module from petroject that will do it

I've not looked at a smartshield column before, but surely you can just remove the inductive loop (that is likely to be a ring around the key barrel) and place it somewhere else with a coded key in its immediate vicinity. You'd want to cut the end of the key off (or remove the chip if its possible) so its not easy to simply steal the "spare"

It sounds a lot easier to modify than smartlock, as no connection needs to be made between key and lock.

What you could try to cheaply work out if its doable without moving the ring, is take your key to a place that cuts the unchipped tibbe keys, and tell then to make a copy without the chip in it.

Try starting the car with the unchipped key, and hold the other key head close by, seeing how close it needs to be to reliably start, and you may even be able to hide it under the column shroud if theres room.

If this works, you may have to get a few unchipped keys cut, as having more than one chipped key in the barrel vicinity might cause it to get confused and not start.