Putting all the pieces together:

It would seem the original key may have been the old style with the removable battery and autonomous ews chip, that a knock off diamond key was sourced and the ews chip installed as would be necessary, (or is permanently embedded into the steering column). As suggested, try to start using the metal key and a pliers that will tell you if ews is in the fob: of won't start with key shaft alone bring the fob close and it should.

The real BMW key: the brass part gets wider where it meets the plastic mold for much more strength than the knock off shown.

I would definitely use the through-bolt like I did to re assemble.

I would also use that as my spare and get another real key from BMW.

I'm shortly going to take my own advice as I lost my primary key and have been using my spare since August. They are about USD $200 in the USA. There are no shortcuts to a proper key.

A knock off key won't have ews and can open the doors but not start the car.

–awr–


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2011 E70 • N55 (me)
2012 E70 • N63 (wife)