Locked Out! 2001 x5 4.4
 

To stupid to be true but it is and I'm freaking out! My x5 is sitting at the mechanics waiting to be picked up. My fobs no longer work and my driver side door has a broken mechanism right now so it only opens from the inside. Well out of the blue it got real cold where I live here in NY and now my battery is dead. Can ANYONE help me? Ow can I get in my vehicle w/out breaking a window or buying a new fob? Is there a way to jump it and start it from outside? I read that was a possibility? I also read there was a way to get in thru my tailgate. Sorry this is so long but if I can do this myself I would like to.

Connect jumper cables or booster box to starter cables from underneath is something I've seen and done a few times. Not fun, but it works.

Ugh, my brother had that same problem with his X5. He let it sit for 3 weeks in the winter in Chicago and everything died. We had to do the following:

1. Open drivers door using key
2. Crawl through to the back, and take apart the rear door to allow it to open manually
3. Once open, remove rear access panels and remove battery
4. Replace battery (his was dead), then put it all back together

I think the instructions to remove the rear door panel are in the instruction manual but I could be wrong. You can also try a battery tender under the hood I think using the jump points, but I'm not sure on that.

Unfortunately my drivers side door is inoperable from outside. Man I'm doomed. Trying to find a you tube video on how to get to starter wire under vehicle to jump start. Thanks for the help!

if the m62 4.4 2001 engine have the same location for the starter as the n62 its on the passenger side under the catailc converter. but your key fob does not work...:dunno:. I can think of a way to open it now...unless you call a tow truck they shod have a kit to open your car...good luck hope it helps

It sounds like you need to break a window. :( I don't know of any way to get into the car if the drivers side door is not working from the outside.

If I remember, the other doors won't unlock without power even by pulling on the inside door handle. I could be wrong, but I remember this being the case when my brothers X5 died. He couldn't open any doors from the inside even once he got in.

One would hope you could figure out a way to open the hood so you could put power to the vehicle using the jump points.

It's a horrible video, but this may help?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=veh1eGTWZ7M

Here's a link to another page on this site with this same issue:

http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...ocked-out.html

Oh... I just had a thought. Should have been my first thought really since we had to "break into" customer vehicles from time to time when we, or they, would lock keys in the car at the shop I was at. They sell a door opening kit that pop-a-lock type services use. Locksmiths stuff. Uses a small plastic pry tool that you wedge into the top of the door frame and then a bladder that you fill with air to force the top of the door open a little more. Kit comes with long rubber coated metal pieces that will be able to grab the door handles and open manually. Works a treat and can be done in under 5 minutes after you get good at it.

Something like this: Auto Body Toolmart - Steck BigEasy GLO Deluxe Lockout Kit

Well thanks for everyones words of wisdom. I am definitely a do it yourself girl BUT I broke down and called service. My driver side was buried next to a snow bank and you need power to release Hood. We almost got the door open with a wire hanger but to no avail it just wasn't sturdy enough for the final pull. I did Jack the front end up and get under the vehicle. I call it that because everyone gets pissed when I call it a truck. What am I supposed to say SUV all the time. Queerballs. OK of track. So I got under got filthy...nice....could not see anything. I have changed brakes,rotors,hoses,02sensors the list goes on but I really need to get to know this car! I want to fix a lot of my issues myself ie; my door, my self level suspension, fuses and sensors. I watch you tube videos while stuck in traffic on my way to work. So I appreciate the help and advice today. I look forward to becoming an active member of this forum!

Sup from Exit 10.

hey man if you were driving by route 9 today you may have seen me on my ass under my BMW at Marc's VW. All good now driving home to Luther's forest. Thank God for Croteau's.

Haha, yeah - not today but I've seen a silver X5 at the shop. That yours?

I was bombin' around Saratoga this afternoon. F this weather. I miss last week when it was in the 70's. WTF?

Yup that's mine. Second time he's had for extended period of time. This time was to fix work that was covered under warranty from last Jan. He had it until the end of April that time. The f***ing weather is what screwed me! It was ready on X'mas Eve but sh*t just went to get it last night and the damn battery is dead. Of course my fob doesn't work and my driver side door has that broken mechanism, can only be opened from inside! So sh*t. And it needs to be at Dempsey's on Monday to actually get repaired. When it snows it f***ing snows. Go AWAY snow! Haha.

Ouch. I got a guy in Sch'dy that does a lot of work for me - also Quality Foreign Car in B-Spa is really good, all they do is Bimmers. Once you get these annoying quirks ironed out, they really are good trucks (yeah, I called it a truck) :rofl:

Oh, and don't get gouged on a battery if you need one, Wallyworld has an H8 Group 900CCA in stock for about $130.

Good luck - If you see a black one in town, wave, could be me. But.. I've waived at other X5 drivers, and it's usually some basic drinking a starbucks totally oblivious.

If the FOB doesn't work and the driver door lock doesn't work, how the hell did you lock the TRUCK???

I also call it a truck, I don't care who wants to murmur. It's definitely not a car...

Also, I'll trade you weather! It was seriously -21* last week! Today's high is 10* so far, and at night drops back down to -10*.

If any of you end up in Eastern Idaho, y'all should say hi. But, it's much better in the summer when Yellowstone and Grand Tetons are open.

Glad you got everything worked out and moving again. I can't wait to get all my bits fixed so I can just enjoy it. At least the cold is highlighting things to be fixed!

Well when the mechanic locked it with my other set of keys in cup holder it had power. Only 3 days ago.

I was wondering about doing something with a spare key fob, then I decided against it because of how the battery works in these remotes.

I have read many threads about ppl locking their keys (sometimes only set) inside the vehicle.

I was going to suggest ppl buy a used BMW key with remote fob that matches the frequency of the key they own, even though it will have a wrong metal key, and cut the metal portion off to just have a fob. Program it according to instructions above. Then find a GREAT hiding spot, accessible from outside a vehicle, and this way, if you are ever out and about and somehow lock your actual keys in the vehicle, you can find this key fob that has been programmed to your vehicle and just press the remote door unlock. You just have to buy a knock-off key where you can put in batts yourself, OR buy a used OE key, and a Qi wireless charger to top up the charge every few months (then put key back into hiding place).

My plastic valet key is wired under the car just in case......

You can also program the old style 3 button remotes even if your BMW has the newer diamond shaped remotes. These remotes have the removable back and replaceable CR2016 battery...so keeping the key charged up is as simple as keeping it supplied with a fresh battery. :)

FYI...as previously mentioned...regardless of old style or new style...the key has to operate on the same frequency as your vehicle and other key (315 MHz in USA & Canada...433 MHz in Europe and many other markets in the eastern hemisphere of the globe).

http://www.bimmerboard.com/members/q...ote%20Keys.jpg

Question is tho, if the battery does die and you can swap out the battery does that key need to be reprogrammed again before it's useful? If so then this may not be a good option to have as a hidden key either. Just the basic vallet key is still the only sure way

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This isn't an issue with the old style remotes that have the red LED and uses the single 2016 battery. These remote keys have a memory...and if the battery is swapped out in a reasonable time period (like a minute or two)...they retain their coding.

The earliest 3 button old style remote that DON'T have the red LED & uses two 1220 batteries...doesn't have this memory...so avoid those.
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I have no experience with the aftetmarket ebay keys...so buyer beware in those cases.

That's perfect. Glad to know they have a residual memory for a few minutes!!

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No problem...below is the BMW data (see bullet #2) that describes the then (new) old style key when it went from the original two battery/no status LED...to the single battery w/red status LED: :)

I notice on e-bay you can grab one of these older style 3 button remotes for $20-30 in some cases for a GREAT looking OE key.
may be worth the insurance to own one and strap it to car somehow in a nice hidden waterproof area/case.

EDIT: I bought a small weatherproof case and this e39 key fob and programmed it to my car and hit is somewhere on my vehicle. even if someone found the key, they could steal whats inside, but never drive away with vehicle.

If it is EEPROM, why do you need to swap batteries in a minute or two (vs. taking as long as you want)? Is that right?

You are correct. I wrote swap out in a minute or two earlier in the day...based on many old conversations about swapping in a new battery doesn't lose key memory...as well as personal experience of picking up a new battery (first), then replacing it (as well as removing the battery to do a complete rubber keypad replacement) . Not wanting to give info that might cause someone to "possibly" lose key programming if someone removed the battery first, then went shopping around town for a couple of hours (or all day)...then came back and installed it...and oops...the key had lost power...I threw in the "few minutes" based on my simple experience...not wanting to look like a liar in case there was actually a time limit. :)

The info about the EEPROM was posted later in the day after I had time to look it up...which gives greater detail/info as to not losing key programming. :)