BRICKED!!!! A Cautionary Tale. UPDATE!

[Zulu95]

We just got my wife a nice 2013 E70 but it only came with one fob. Found a local "expert" who claimed he could cut & program a new fob for the car at a fraction of the dealer cost. He came to our home Saturday morning and plugged in his his computer, fired up the fancy $1200 software package that works through a $800 dongle and started to read the CAS. All did not go as expected and he was only able to read part of the information therein. At this point everything was fine in the vehicle. (Nav on, P displayed in dash and on the shifter.) Then a "backdoor' attempt was made. CLICK! Everything went dark in the Nav, dash and shifter. The vehicle was bricked. No start, no lock/unlock, nothing. The only electrical response I could elicit was the "Follow Me Home" lights low beams. Nothing would revive the vehicle. After several hours and attempts the vehicle had to be flat-bedded to local dealer. They have subsequently informed me the CAS is "shorted out" and a new CAS module is on the way. At this point we are looking at close to $1K for repairs and towing.
So to quote Sgt Esterhouse of Hill Street Blues "Hey, lets be very careful out there."

Just picked up the X5. New CAS unit fitted and programmed to vehicle. Old unit had shorted internally and blown a fuse.
Total with towing $1082.73.
Just broke the news to our wonderful key programmer and waiting for response. Cue Jeopardy! clock music.

[gatojurko]

Congratulations those huge western prices for that which actually costs less than 100$

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

[Tomaz]

Yikes! So will the "expert" be paying your expense? I had a key cut for $450 at my dealer. Sounded like a lot at the time but now it sounds like I got a deal.

[Zulu95]

Originally Posted by Tomaz

Yikes! So will the "expert" be paying your expense? I had a key cut for $450 at my dealer. Sounded like a lot at the time but now it sounds like I got a deal.

That remains to be seen. When he actually figured out he had blown something and subsequently tried to get things back he was saying "This is on me." When I told him the initial estimated cost from the $tealer to replace the CAS module he fried and program one key plus the cost of the flatbed lift he started wriggling like a worm on a hook.
Yep, the $tealer key replacement cost sure sounds like a bargain now.

[ard]

Hope it really IS only the CAS module....

Although it really isnt a consolation, I cannot recall hearing of bricked cars as a failure mode in coding keys. I suppose it is like being told you have a super, super super rare cancer: just makes you feel super super super unlucky.

[motordavid]

Wow...Just Fookin Wow.

Lost one of our our '01 X OE fob keys a year ago, but after reading the umptyseven threads here on the out of the box key fix methods, we simply did the local Dlr new fob order/code process.

In hindsight, the ~$275 the BMW Dlr charged seems like a bargain...

Of course, we found the 'lost key' a week later, but I simply tossed it.

What a fookin nightmare, Zulu. I hope it works out and I wish you Good Luck.
md

[Zulu95]

Whilst researching the problem I came across an article in a "Brit" online vehicle blog where the author was reporting a new free security upgrade offered by BMW for all 2007 and newer vehicles. The upgrade was to combat the growing problem of cloning a key via the OBD port at the side of the road and driving the vehicle away to destinations far east of where it was stolen.
Writer had returned to his vehicle to find it open and dead. Clone attempt had been made that bricked this vehicle also. It was transported to local dealer and a new CAS/keys/lock had to be fitted to restore normal operation.
At this point I/we will be happy if it is only the CAS and a quick reprogram of the existing key plus linking the new key purchased from the dealer. The proximate causee of the event has ceased communication and gives every sign of evading financial responsibility.

[pshovest]

Did the "proximate causee" hook up a power supply before he attempted coding/reading your X?

[Zulu95]

To the vehicle? No. Apparently it takes a total of 6 minutes from initial reading to coding and cutting key.
Given the extent he managed to damage the vehicle without any other connections other than OBD it is maybe just as well.
I spoke with the SM at the dealership and it is not unheard of for the CAS and the GM/ECS modules to sometimes lose linkage and need realignment. (He did not offer explanation as to why.) When he called back later he stated the CAS was "shorted out" and that a new module had been ordered.
When it comes time to replace the '01 I'm thinking a "Bullit" style Mustang from around 66/67 might be best where the closest thing to a module in it is the AM radio in the dash.

[lordshin808]

Why don't you give the name and location of your "Expert" so others know not to use his services?