X5 e53: can unlock with central lock button but not with remote

[shevin]

I have 2003 X5 E53, and I can not lock/unlock ANY of doors with remote.
In fact none of the remote buttons work (not even the trunk button) funny thing is this happened a couple months ago and it started working again magically for a couple weeks and now it has been not working for good again.

But I can lock-unlock everything with the Central Lock Button inside the car (and I can hear the luck actuator motors).

One theory is maybe the remote battery is dead (the remote is 6 years old) but what makes me think it is NOT the remote is the fault codes:

“Authofix Scanner” shows two relevant fault codes:

- “5A Central-locking driver driver’s door, interrupted”
- “5A Central-locking driver passenger’s door, interrupted”



Another experiment I did is, I tried to Re-Pair the remote key (turning ignition switch 3 times and then holding unlock button while pressing lock button 3 times) and when I do that I hear a VERY VERY VERY small Tick under the glove box.
(In past when I paired a remote it would lock-unlock the doors after, but this time it didn’t do that)

So I have a feeling it might not be remote battery….
Could it be a Fuse? I checked one of the Fuses under glovebox and it didn’t seem broken. What are the relevant fuses in this case?


Another thing I have tried is, I put my remote key on a tooth brush wireless charger overnight (some people claim that charges your battery)

What do you experts think ?

[80stech]

The remotes are bad for cracked connections on the buttons. Is your 6 year old remote a BMW one? A knock off remote will probably have a crappy battery. It's always nice to have 2 working remotes for times when one quits.

[shevin]

Originally Posted by 80stech

The remotes are bad for cracked connections on the buttons. Is your 6 year old remote a BMW one? A knock off remote will probably have a crappy battery. It's always nice to have 2 working remotes for times when one quits.

yeah I bought it from BMW original 6 years ago.

But why I have a Fault Codes on the Scanner ? If it is a remote battery problem
And the Error Codes look like something indicating the Fuse ? Since it starts with “5A” maybe some fuse 5Amper needs to be replaced but I dont know which one

[80stech]

Yes. the codes would suggest there might be more going on. The fuse boxes are labelled or you could just quickly check all the fuses. You should really have a wiring diagram if you go any further.

[shevin]

Originally Posted by 80stech

Yes. the codes would suggest there might be more going on. The fuse boxes are labelled or you could just quickly check all the fuses. You should really have a wiring diagram if you go any further.

I been trying to figure out what is going on, I wonder if experts here have any idea?

My own analysis says:
- Can’t be the lock actuators because I can use the Central Lock Button and it locks/locks inside the car.
- Can’t be just remote battery because (I hear a Tick when I re-pair it) and also there is relevant scanner code.


The question is, what that Code is really telling us?

[80stech]

You thought it might be the remote battery or a fuse so maybe check that.
There might not be a magic answer and you will have to start checking things. The system might have locked the remote out for some reason, maybe anti-theft got triggered? Maybe disconnecting the battery and reconnecting will reset something. I would maybe check to see what the actual BMW description of the codes are.

[Clavurion]

Those codes may be old ones and caused by body module P-bus communication with front doors (rear door locks are actuated directly by body module). Have you tried re-syncing the remote?

[shevin]

Originally Posted by Clavurion

Those codes may be old ones and caused by body module P-bus communication with front doors (rear door locks are actuated directly by body module). Have you tried re-syncing the remote?

I did the re-pairing, by putting ignition in position 2 (5) times and then hold the unlock button and then clicking lock button 3 times. (Nothing happened except a Very very very gentle Click I hear under the Glovebox ( I think that is coming from the GM module) but it wont do anything else. And problem continues.

is my theory right that Since I can unlock using the central console button then my Lock Actuators are fine?

How can I figure out if my GM module is good or not?

[CapeX5]

2 Things, your "re pairing" procedure differs from your first post to your last. Look at the details there. Also, 5A doesn't refer to the fuse, it is a BMW specific code. The toothbrush charging is an old wives tale, does not work.

[Qsilver7]

The "pairing" procedures you typed are both incorrect. That is not the way to reinitialize the remote keys to the GM. See instructions below.


The interior Central Lock button communicates directly to the GM by way of the communication bus...just like manually using the key blade in the door's exterior lock cylinder. Using the remote key's buttons...the data travels over an RF (radio frequency) to the aerial embedded in the rear window...then to a receiver/amp in the C pillar...then over the car's BUS system to the GM. That's why the central locking button can work but the remotes fail to lock/unlock the car. Their data takes different pathways to the GM.



Ignition positions:

• Off
• KL R (position 1)
• KL 15 (position 2)
• KL 50 (starting position)
• KL 30 (position key returns to after starting)

Here are some MUST DOs or TIPS to follow:

• all doors must be CLOSED
• all doors must be UNLOCKED
• All remotes MUST be initialized in the same session
• KL R = ignition position 1
• only insert the 1st remote into the ignition...any other remotes will need to start on STEP 3 (as mentioned in STEP 6)