Can't Sync Keys

[oldskewel]

Originally Posted by eskirvin

I'm actually PACE certified in through-hole soldering and board repair, so it might be I'm more of a brain surgeon than the fellow you suggest. I don't mind you assuming though.

Now, Wyn saying I don't have experience with this particular situation is correct, which is what I came to these boards for. If we assume it isn't a "key" issue, what else could it be? Reading Scott's site, he says when programming the keys that only the doors matter for the purpose or programming. Leaning towards the FZV or maybe even just a fuse issue. Is there anything INPA and such could tell me about the issue?

Thanks again guys for the help. I don't want this issue to persist and have the physical lock break from over use.

OK, you're probably overqualified for this job.

I did the battery replacement on two of my fobs, very successfully. Link with all the things I learned while doing that is listed several posts up. I don't do any of this stuff for a living. Self taught in all these repairs I do.

Have no charging problems at all with my fobs. And my key solution was to buy 3x used genuine BMW diamond keys on eBay for $45 total, cut off the key blades, and pair them with valet keys bought from an online BMW dealer for about $40 each - with 3 kids I figured one or more would get lost, but they're all still here.

If you believe all the doubters on here, you may think I'm making this up, but it is 100% possible. Easy in fact if you have a particular set of skills. So if you do have those skills, I'll say to ignore the naysayers. I had no problems at all opening up the keys. If anything, the most advanced secret technology that may be causing others to fail, vs. being easy for me, was that I knew I should use a utility knife with a brand new blade and a steady hand. No problems at all.

Not sure what PACE is, but it sounds good. Back in the day I was once actually a PACE instructor on a US Navy aircraft carrier. We spent some time right in your neighborhood, in fact. I was a Computer Science Professor - in the Navy, PACE means Program for Afloat College Education, where the crew can earn college credits by taking classes in their spare time on the ship. Great program, but I'm guessing your PACE is something else.

Regarding the sunroof counting as a door or not, I'll suggest that even if it does not "count," the fact that you've got a *problem* with the locking control system may be causing things not to work. I was thinking about going out to my x5 as a test for you, to see if I can reprogram keys, having no problems, but leaving the sunroof open. But then I realized that if it worked, it would be a confirmation of the sunroof not counting as a door (for me, at least), but would not confirm that is your problem.

I assume INPA would be very helpful for you. As I mentioned, I used Foxwell and PASoft BMW Scanner 1.4.0. I've got some fairly detailed info somewhere on this site about that repair. One interesting thing I just remembered is that the two different scanners gave very different sets of information / faults / tests. But the definitive thing was when Foxwell told me the driver's door was open when it was actually closed. With that clear info, I electrically swapped in (just plugged in the connector with the inner door panel off, not actually doing the DLA replacement yet) my original, electrically good / mechanically cracking DLA and had instant success with everything.

I would not do any worrying about the keyless entry until you have the central locking / alarm / sunroof open issues taken care of. If your only problem was the keys not programming, I'd say to look into the keys, but these other symptoms indicate a deeper problem that will prevent the keys from working even if the keys are good.

If you want to guess at an answer and drill (figuratively, not literally ) into it, you could try to find the limit switch (or upstream wiring) that indicates the sunroof is open or closed. Somehow rig that (make it a closed or open circuit as needed) to make it look like the sunroof is always closed. That alone might make everything work (i.e., you would then be able to program the keys).