Unlocking an X5 with a dead battery?

[Dave]

Originally Posted by FWIW

the manual key has at least one a trick up its sleeve that the fob buttons do not -- if you hold the key in the lock position it will close all the windows

I'm not sure if everyone knows, but the remote key can also open and close all windows. Just press and hold the "lock" button to close all windows, and the "open" button to open all windows.

[FunfDreisig]

Originally Posted by Dave

I'm not sure if everyone knows, but the remote key can also open and close all windows. Just press and hold the "lock" button to close all windows, and the "open" button to open all windows.

On US models the "unlock" button will open all windows but the 'lock' button on the fob will not close them.

Supposedly this is a saftey feature to keep you from accidentally closing the windows on a hand, etc. when you are too far away to see/hear it. Presumably the reason the manual key does close the windows is that you have to be at most arms length from the car and hence could see/hear if there were a problem.

Funf Dreisig

[FunfDreisig]

Originally Posted by motordavid

Fun,
Make it a project: go out tomorrow and disconnect your batt, try your key
in the door, and report back.

I would normally have already done this little home work assignment, but...
* our X5 is less than a month old
* I'm betting that it would, at a minimum, require re-programing
* I'm not sure it would even start once the battery was reconnected
* we live 50 mi from the nearest dealer, and
* I'd rather this not be my first call to BMW Assist.

"Yes mam, our X5 won't start. Yes mam, I disconnected the battery on purpose because I was curious to see if the manual key would work with a dead battery. Yes mam, I did reattach the battery cables already. Yes mam, it was running perfectly before I disconnected the battery cables. No mam, I am not a complete idiot -- I was able to use the BMW Assist button to call you, wasn't I?"

Funf Dreisig

[motordavid]

Not apples to apples, and strictly Fwiw, when our '01 went batt dead, way back
in '02, from the CD/Radio drain situ, I was able to use the key in the key hole
to manually open the door the driver door.
That was fortunate, as I need the door open to climb back, manually open the
rear hatch and dig out the tow hook for the clueless hillbilly flatbed driver.

It may be different now, on the newer E70s, and/or diesel cars...

[FunfDreisig]

Thanks motordavid.

At least we know that the E53s manual door locks worked with a dead battery. I'd bet that the E70's do too. But I would not bet my life on it

So until we know for sure I recommend only locking your X5 in areas were there are bricks handy

Funf Dreisig

[Penguin]

Originally Posted by X-cellent

I am just amazed that you can't open the glove box in a dead car...

From the BMW Intro Document:

"Emergency Unlocking of Glovebox
An emergency unlocking mechanism is provided so that the glovebox can be opened
when the vehicle is de-energized or in the event of faulty unlocking mechanisms.
The emergency unlocking mechanism can be accessed from the front passenger's side.
Only the instrument-panel cover needs to be opened here. Behind this cover is a loop,
which, when pulled, unlocks and opens the glovebox."

I don't know how difficult it is to remove the "instrument-panel cover "

[Penguin]

Some more from the intro manual, which implies you can mechanically unlock the door with the key:

"The lock barrel (11) in the driver's door is used for mechanically unlocking or locking the
door. The footwell module (10) evaluates the movement (status of Hall sensors) of the
lock barrel....
Driver's Door Lock Barrel
The lock barrel is connected mechanically via a linkage to the door lock. Hall sensors for
the lock barrel are integrated in the door lock.
The footwell module evaluates the signals from the Hall sensors for locking/unlocking
purposes."


It sounds like the key will physically unlock the door, and the hall sensor is in addition to the mechanical linkage only to monitor the operation of the key for automation features.

[FunfDreisig]

Originally Posted by Penguin

Some more from the intro manual, which implies you can mechanically unlock the door with the key:

"The lock barrel (11) in the driver's door is used for mechanically unlocking or locking the
door. The footwell module (10) evaluates the movement (status of Hall sensors) of the
lock barrel....
Driver's Door Lock Barrel
The lock barrel is connected mechanically via a linkage to the door lock. Hall sensors for
the lock barrel are integrated in the door lock.
The footwell module evaluates the signals from the Hall sensors for locking/unlocking
purposes."


It sounds like the key will physically unlock the door, and the hall sensor is in addition to the mechanical linkage only to monitor the operation of the key for automation features.

Another great find by Penguin!!!

The only problem now is what is Funf Dreisig AG going to do with an 18 wheeler full of 10th Anniversary Commemorative Emergency Unlock Devices for Dummies (AKA really cool bricks)?

Funf Dreisig

p.s. Penguin where did you come across this "intro manual"?

[Penguin]

> where did you come across this "intro manual"?

It's been posted a few places. In fact, xoutpost has it under "articles" and "general information," but the links seem to have died in the move.

When I saw it, I downloaded a copy to my computer.

I did a google and think I found a link to a working copy. Try this:

http://www.bmwmotorsports.org/pdf/e7...troduction.pdf

[FunfDreisig]

Originally Posted by Penguin

> where did you come across this "intro manual"?

It's been posted a few places. In fact, xoutpost has it under "articles" and "general information," but the links seem to have died in the move.

When I saw it, it downloaded a copy to my computer.

I did a google and think I found a link to a working copy. Try this:

http://www.bmwmotorsports.org/pdf/e7...troduction.pdf

Thanks again!

I had just Googled the same link.

Funf Dreisig