Please help... Unusual remote locking issue!

[JoR]

Hi folks,

Here's a strange one for you...

I bought my X5 E53 a couple of months ago, knowing that the two original keys, and a new one that the previous owner had purchased, did not activate remotely.

On our return home with the car, a quick internet search gave us instructions for recoding. This was done with the new key, and low & behold, it worked.
My husband came to me and exclaimed proudly that it was fixed, so we went outside for a demonstration... I DIDN'T WORK!!!

After many attempts to recode this and the other keys, nothing was successful.

Another more extensive search on the net, and discovered it 'could' be a faulty Antenna Amplifier. I managed to buy a used one, and on its arrival, it was duly fitted and key recoded. Husband again came in exclaiming all was back working again...central locking, boot realease, everything, and he'd gone round the whole of the car making sure it worked over and over based on his last experience!

So, he came into the house to fetch me for a demonstration, and again... NOTHING!!!

It's almost as if, when he steps away from the car with the key, something loses memory... It's now driving me nuts!!!

Just to clarify, the central locking button inside the car... works.
The dome light in the car... works.
The radio... works.
The fuel cap also works when the car is unlocked manually with the key.
All keys unlock car manually and start the engine.
We have replaced batteries on the two old keys, and checked at 2.8v.


ANY help out there PLEASE!!!

Jo

[jdstrickland]

Seems to me that you are broken. The car works for Hubby, so it has to be you.

[Qsilver7]

Help us help you better. Please give your model & model year...plus go to the website linked below and enter the last 7 digits of your X5's VIN (vehicle identification number) to find out which remote system you have.

click this link to discover which remote system you have: BMW Model Archive · BMW VIN Decoder · bmwarchive.org

In Europe, you can have the RF (radio frequency) remote key which should probably be 433 or 444 MHz. Or you could have the IR (infrared) remote. If you have the IR remote, the procedure is different.

• S874A RADIO FREQUENCY 434 MHZ (Europe RF option code)
• S875A INFRARED REMOTE CONTROL (Europe IR option code)
• S876A RADIO FREQUENCY 315 MHZ (No America option code)

Also, make sure that all of the remote keys are being programmed during the same session. If any remote key is not there...it will no longer lock/unlock & arm/disarm the vehicle.

See the tips below and make sure you've got all those bases covered, too...if not programming failure will occur:

TIPS:

• KL R = ignition position 1 (not position 2 or 3 or engine running)
• make sure ALL doors are CLOSED
• make sure ALL doors are UNLOCKED
• Only insert the 1st remote into the ignition...then remove it in STEP 2
• start programming any other remotes within 30 seconds of programming the 1st remote...and START on STEP 3 where you start pressing the buttons...DO NOT insert any other key into the ignition during the programming session

[JoR]

Originally Posted by jdstrickland

Seems to me that you are broken. The car works for Hubby, so it has to be you.

There had to be one who said it...

Just a quick update... It looks like we've tracked it to a broken/dodgy wiring connection within the tailgate section, near the Aerial Antenna.

A little soldering, and it's now working more often than not.

So here's hoping a little more investigating and it may be solved!

Thank you,

Jo