Can't Sync Keys

[oldskewel]

Here's a thread with possibly related info from Qsilver7:
https://www.bimmerfest.com/threads/k.../#post-8140995

Here's one for when I did surgery on a couple of my BMW key fobs (genuine BMW, bought used off eBay and reprogrammed for keyless entry but not EWS):
https://xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-forums/...r-options.html

But to answer your first, direct question, I'll suggest (not knowing for sure) that yes, since your system thinks your sunroof is open when it's not, that will affect the whole keyless entry system including preventing successful reprogramming.

Do you have other system locking control problems?

I once had a flaky driver's door lock actuator (DLA). It kind of worked, but (from memory):
- sometimes unlocking would appear weak, rear doors might only unlock half way, etc.
- the central locking/unlocking button on the center console did not work at all
- remote entry had been flaky, and then when I tried to reprogram them all, it was very reliably not working at all. And I've reprogrammed several times over the years, generally with no problems.

After I finally got BOTH my foxwell and my PASoft BMW Scanner doing serious debugging, I found that the system thought that the driver's door was open, even when it was closed.

Jumping ahead to the answer, this single fault was the root cause of everything not working. Perhaps a simple problem with the microswitch door latch position detector. I swapped my mechanically compromised but electrically good driver's DLA assembly back in there, and everything instantly was perfect again. So then I fixed it mechanically and am still running with it.

Rear door locking / unlocking, which had appeared weak doing Foxwell active testing, was solid and strong. Key programming worked again, etc. BTW, I probably have a thread on here about that whole episode with more accurate details vs. my memory here.

So I will guess that the sunroof thing is the problem. Especially if the sunroof is actually closed when it says it's open.

It's not clear whether the sunroof would count as a "door" with regard to the rules for programming. But if it says it's open when it's closed, it indicates a problem in this very complex system, and things could shut down anyway.

The fact that you did not know you have an alarm suggests even more that there is a system problem. Does the "clown nose" red knob / light under the rearview mirror flash when the car is locked?

Also, speaking from painful experience, having a failed keyless entry will make you rely on the driver's door key lock for entry. And that thing is not designed to be used regularly. It will break within less than a thousand uses, I think. And then you'd need to figure out how to break into the car without damaging anything. And the "secret" method for doing that relies on a functioning central locking system, so you'd be stuck like I was.

And regarding your battery-replaced BMW fob, I'd not give up on that yet. The way the system works, it should appear completely dead if there is a problem as I'm suggesting here. Get that fixed, and the fob may then program and work just fine.