Anyone have confirmation of which key fob is used on E70s?

[NoThanks]

I have just one key fob and emergency key for my X5 and I just had my first experience with locking the key in the car. I am trying to learn more about the Comfort Access system and the ins/outs of replacement hard keys and key fobs.

I plan on buying some hard key blanks and getting copies made of the one that I have in my possession. I am looking into what my options are for getting additional key fobs.

There are all sorts of options for buying a key fob with hard key and no circuit board...I can do that. I get it.

There are all sorts of options for buying a key fob with the hard key and a comfort access capable transmitter inside...I don't know much about this yet so I'm digging.

There are reports on the forums that folks have 315mhz and 868mhz key fob transmitters. I'm guessing the difference has to do with those with keyless entry and those with comfort access, but I don't have any evidence to suggest that this is true.

Trolling fleabay it is clear that sellers offer key fobs that are one frequency or the other but I'm not sure why.

When I decode my VIN I find the following option code:
S876A - Radio frequency 315 MHz

The back of my key fob is heavily worn and I can't clearly read the printed info...but I think I see 315 Mhz

The E70 comfort access training docs say otherwise:

ID Transmitter
The ID transmitter for Comfort Access must be actuated by means of a radio signal. The ID transmitter is therefore equipped with a receiver for the coded 125 kHz radio signal that is transmitted by the outside door handle electronics module. The radio signal enables the ID transmitter to register with the vehicle (authentication).
For this purpose, the ID transmitter emits a coded 868 MHz high-frequency signal to enable identification of the ID transmitter as being valid and belonging to the vehicle.
The ID transmitter is exclusively responsible for use of Comfort Access.

The same document has no reference to 315 Mhz transmitters. My X5 is from the final month of E70 production and I'm wondering if maybe BMW was retooling from 868 to 315 as part of the F-series of X5s that rolled out later and maybe the transition happened well ahead of the F-series introduction, perhaps as part of the LCI Facelift in 2012?

Anyone have an input on why the transmitter frequency differences? Anyone have experience coding a comfort access key fob to a car without the dealer?

[Zulu95]

Go to the dealer and pay them what they ask. I tried the cheap route and the vehicle got bricked by the key coder software/security package. $1100 for flatbed, troubleshooting, new CAS module and programming same. Then I had to buy the $500 key ANYWAY.
Just buy the key, its cheaper.

[json]

These threads come up from time to time. Usually ends in the same way, try to buy something cheap, waste money, waste time.

Cheapest option I have experienced: Get a key from the dealer. (~$280 2 years ago). I have bought one from a dealership online. The physical key will already be cut, and the unlock/lock buttons will work. You can then use ISTA to get it to work with Comfort Access.

[E39LV]

Originally Posted by Zulu95

Go to the dealer and pay them what they ask. I tried the cheap route and the vehicle got bricked by the key coder software/security package. $1100 for flatbed, troubleshooting, new CAS module and programming same. Then I had to buy the $500 key ANYWAY.
Just buy the key, its cheaper.

Just call the dealer to ask how much for key for my 2013 E70...
On one of these form somebody put it's a $150? Bullship!
Try $320…

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[ard]

150? gary214 had it wrong

[Qsilver7]

Originally Posted by NoThanks

I have just one key fob and emergency key for my X5 and I just had my first experience with locking the key in the car. I am trying to learn more about the Comfort Access system and the ins/outs of replacement hard keys and key fobs.

There are reports on the forums that folks have 315mhz and 868mhz key fob transmitters. I'm guessing the difference has to do with those with keyless entry and those with comfort access, but I don't have any evidence to suggest that this is true.

When I decode my VIN I find the following option code:
S876A - Radio frequency 315 MHz

The back of my key fob is heavily worn and I can't clearly read the printed info...but I think I see 315 Mhz

The E70 comfort access training docs say otherwise:

ID Transmitter
The ID transmitter for Comfort Access must be actuated by means of a radio signal. The ID transmitter is therefore equipped with a receiver for the coded 125 kHz radio signal that is transmitted by the outside door handle electronics module. The radio signal enables the ID transmitter to register with the vehicle (authentication).
For this purpose, the ID transmitter emits a coded 868 MHz high-frequency signal to enable identification of the ID transmitter as being valid and belonging to the vehicle.
The ID transmitter is exclusively responsible for use of Comfort Access.

The same document has no reference to 315 Mhz transmitters. My X5 is from the final month of E70 production and I'm wondering if maybe BMW was retooling from 868 to 315 as part of the F-series of X5s that rolled out later and maybe the transition happened well ahead of the F-series introduction, perhaps as part of the LCI Facelift in 2012?

Anyone have an input on why the transmitter frequency differences? Anyone have experience coding a comfort access key fob to a car without the dealer?

If you use your VIN to look up the key diagram and part nbrs...if you look closely at the supplemental information in the part nbr index...it answers most of the questions you asked in regards to what frequency does your remote key operate on.


I used the VIN of a 2012 X5 35d (L666318) to pull up a key diagram for an e70 X5...you can see in the text highlighted in the red box...that the part database explains which keys are 868 MHz and which are 315 MHz and which ones are 434 MHz...along with info about the various option codes.


The part database also reveals which of the two types of key sets that were offered during the e70 production run to use. When you search using your VIN, then the keys/key sets you use are highlighted (in this case #1, #2, & #7. The keys that do NOT work for the VIN I entered are "grayed out" and are NOT listed in the part nbr index below the diagram.


In regards to the transmitter info you posted...this is why buying keys from a non dealership can end up badly...there's a lot of things going on with the remote keys, central locking, EWS, and DWA (anti-theft alarm siren system) that have confused BMW owners for decades. And now that comfort access is tossed into the mix...there's even more stuff going on that confuses owners.


The comfort access door handles send a 125 KHz radio frequency that is picked up by these new remotes...if the data communicated matches then this enables the door handles to be locked or unlocked by TOUCH...without pressing any buttons on the remote.



Using the remote buttons to lock/unlock the car...that data is transmitted over the 315 MHz radio frequency to the aerial.


If you're going to purchased or replace a key and NOT use a dealer...then it is very important to know which set-up you have and what it will take to get all these independent systems to work together correctly. You need to know how it all operates as well as the person you're paying to make you a remote key.

[E39LV]

Originally Posted by E39LV

Just call the dealer to ask how much for key for my 2013 E70...
On one of these form somebody put it's a $150? Bullship!
Try $320…

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****UPDATE****
Not sure if anybody covered this yet but if you want just the insert key, just the key to get in your vehicle if you lock YOUR keys inside the car, the dealer just quoted me $65...
Same criteria you need to bring your registration and driver's license in and it takes 1 to 3 days… [cross posting]
>>Note: I did NOT tell the parts guy that I had an LCI so I am not going to assume he knew just from telling him it was a 2o13 X5 xDrive35i... I will report back...




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[Zulu95]

Now, if that is the case, having a couple makes sense.

UPDATE: Just ordered a couple with local $tealer. $123.

[Qsilver7]

Quote:
Originally Posted by E39LV
****UPDATE****
Not sure if anybody covered this yet but if you want just the insert key, just the key to get in your vehicle if you lock YOUR keys inside the car, the dealer just quoted me $65...
Same criteria you need to bring your registration and driver's license in and it takes 1 to 3 days… [cross posting]
>>Note: I did NOT tell the parts guy that I had an LCI so I am not going to assume he knew just from telling him it was a 2o13 X5 xDrive35i... I will report back...


Quote:
Originally Posted by Zulu95
Now, if that is the case, having a couple makes sense.

UPDATE: Just ordered a couple with local $tealer. $123.


I'm going to assume that in both cases it was item #2 in the diagram? I'm assuming this since that key appears to be offered for both set-ups (pre-LCI & LCI)...versus item #3 which appears to be for pre-LCI only.

[Zulu95]

That is now what I assume. As I was only interested in backup with backup to open doors in emergency I went ahead and ordered the pair. I'll keep one in a wallet or something and the other at home.