Locked Out with my Fob out!!!

[cubkadets]

My door lock cylinder is spinning freely and my fob has been dead for a couple years. I've read in several different posts that there is a way to get in without breaking a window. Is anyone willing to PM me the how-to?
I'm going to try to replace the battery in the fob this afternoon, but I'm pretty sure that I'll need to get in to the car to get it to work correctly. Any tips will be appreciated.

I have the 2004 X5 E53.

[andrewwynn]

You will definitely need to get into the car. Also "replacing the battery" is very close to myth of unicorn.

More likely the solder joints have failed.

The easiest way in the car is an air wedge and press and hold the central lock and then reach across with a long bent rod to pull the opposite door handle to unlock the opposite door.

There is a way to break in that's perhaps easier tool wise but a little more destructive though not terrible


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[ahlem]

Air wedges are available from Harbor Freight very affordably.

[andrewwynn]

Yep and useful for other things than breaking into a car. That said you also need a 7' long metal rod and a 4' metal rod to pull and press.

(You can also cut the lock cylinder out. PM for directions)


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[TheFixer]

Being your lock cylinder is already broken. You can drill out the cylinder completely. Behind it is a slot you can stick a flat head screw driver in and turn. Your door will open.

Then you just buy a new lock cylinder for 30 bucks.

[andrewwynn]

It's easier to cut off the whole thing no damage then you dunt have to try to replace the cylinder and match the key.

I'm curious about $30 whole cylinder though. It's about $10 for the repair kit.

[TheFixer]

Originally Posted by andrewwynn

It's easier to cut off the whole thing no damage then you dunt have to try to replace the cylinder and match the key.

I'm curious about $30 whole cylinder though. It's about $10 for the repair kit.

The kits are fine if the cylinder isn't damaged.

You can buy the whole assembly for 30 bucks new with a key off Amazon if your whole thing is trashed.

It is kinda easy to get it to work with your old key.... well, depends how skilled you are with a grinder and taking the tumbler out of the cylinder to grind the pins so your old key turns it.

[andrewwynn]

It's much easier to just reuse the existing cylinder with existing key. I'd hate to have to have a separate key for the lock.

[X5only]

You could try charging the FOB using a Philips Sonicare toothbrush charger. Or may be a phone charger?

https://xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-forums/...ave-off-2.html

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08LQ2CDRK...t_details&th=1

[workingonit]

Originally Posted by X5only

You could try charging the FOB using a Philips Sonicare toothbrush charger. Or may be a phone charger?

My key fob faded-out after three days in my possession, after I got the X5 in May 2021. The diamond key was the 20-year-old original, which had never been cut open (therefore having a 20-year-old battery inside), and I tried the Sonicare to charge it up.

24 hours of charging only enabled one or two openings, and after four full 24-hour charging cycles, it no longer worked at all. I bought a new VL2020 rechargeable battery, installed it, then charged it on the Sonicare overnight, and it's worked fine ever since.

However, since the original diamond key has got a damaged wire inside (I did it while cutting it open), I fear that it will fail at any time if I drop it. So, I bought a generic diamond key (actually a pair, one of which the wife promptly lost) off of Ebay (without a chip inside), that came with a battery inside, which I use as a spare remote, just to open the door or trunk.

If the damaged wire fails on the original, I can still get inside using the generic remote, and the insert the original into the ignition, where the chip inside will let me start the X5. I carry the generic key in a zippered belt pouch, along with a short battery jumper cord (to hook up to a hidden lead to the underhood jumper posts), in case the battery fails away from home.