When to replace your General Module???
 

Greetings,

RE. 2004 BMW X5 3.0i (E53)

(1) Our FOB stopped working remotely - so we just used the keys to manually lock/unlock the vehicle for a while...

(2) Last week I went to manually lock the door and... all doors locked and the windows rolled up (we had them cracked open due to the hot weather). I though that was weird - never happened before...

(3) When I returned to the car and tried to manually unlock the door... the cylinder just spins freely and the door will not unlock.

(3) After getting advise from UCrewX5 (Thank you!) I was able to open the car without braking a window (although the alarm diid go off a few times). We were able to manually unlock the two fronts doors by using the inside handles however the two rear doors will not unlock as well as the rear liftgate. Also the central locking button inside the car stopped working. I can drive the car but I can't lock it!

(5) I ordered an new key from the dealer however they were not able to initialize it. They think that I may need to replace the General Module (GM3) - which runs about $500 for a new OEM part (https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...e/61359117101/) + labor.

My Question: Anyone know a good way to tell for sure if it's the General Module (GM3) that is causing the problem. if so I think I can find a decent used one on eBay -or- get mine repaired by GM3 Repair Service (https://www.bmwgm5.com/bmwgm5/) for a reasonable price and do the labor myself (https://www.bmwgm5.com/bmwgm5/). I am grateful for any other suggestions and/or advise...

Thank you!

I think you need to fix your lock cylinder first. It may be sending a lock signal to your GM3... which is why your windows rolled up on their own (turning and holding the key to lock will close the windows and sunroof).

After doing that, you can see if normal functionality is returned. If not, you can start looking at GM options.

Thanks for the advise! I have a Door Lock Repair Kit on order from Bavarian Autosport ($12.95). Hopefully that will do the trick. I'll will follow up once I have that repair completed.

It's interesting that the guy at the dealership didn't seem that interested in the broken door lock cylinder. I said that I thought it could be related given the sequence of events that occurred and the timing... I even had him try out the door lock himself but he wasn't too impressed with my theories. He just made me an appointment for a $200 Diagnostic and Evaluation service.

when you repair the door lock cylinder, make sure the door lock actuator part is correctly centered. Sometimes after repairing the lock cylinder, the GM may not respond correctly. You may need to disconnect the drivers door lock actuator and reconnect it. Or possibly plug in a new one to reset it.

The soft close actuator for the trunk and the rear door locks are powered by the same relay. This relay can be replaced with some electrical knowledge.

See scott's notes on which relay it is.

https://www.bmwgm5.com/Images/GM3/GM..._Annotated.htm

https://www.bmwgm5.com/V23086-C1001-A403.htm

All is good!!!

After rebuilding the door look cylinder - the central locking system started to work again. After that I was able to re-initialize the new key as well as the old key so I now have full remote control restored to my faithful X5!!! In the end I was able fixed the issue for less than 1/10th the cost the dealer wanted to charge me!


THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR HELP!!!


Note: I had to use a different re-initialization procedure than the old simple one. I got it from "stearman22" at this BimmerFest post:
(Remote on Key Not Working on X5 :( [PLEASE HELP] - Page 2 - Bimmerfest - BMW Forums)

Originally Posted by stearman22
New and Exciting Update on Key intializing!

If you were reading along, you will see that the Key Initializing did not work for me and my car
I took it to the dealer/ majicion and it was done in under the time it took me to get that free moca java.

Here is what he did in case the above key inti. does not work for you;

1. unlock all the doors
2. get in, close the door.
3. put the key in and turn it to the (II) second position, this is the one just before turning the engine over.
3a. hold down the forward unlock (arrow) button, you know the hardest one to get to
3b. Now while holding down on that button, turn the key to off, pull it out of the ignition (are you still holding that button) Good.
4. Now with your 3rd hand (still holding that arrow button down, push the center BMW 3 times.
5. now let go of the forward arrow button and you should see your door locks go to the locked pos. then unlocked again.
6. Now with your other keys, just hold down the forward arrow button, pump the BMW button 3 times and then let go of the arrow button, walla you are worth $85. an hour. Note you just hold the other keys in your hand to inti. them, do not put in the ingition.

Here's the initializing instructions I've been posting the last couple of decades (since the time of the e38/e39/e46/e53 generation) and they look similar to what worked for you. I think some of the problems owners have that causes programming failure is:

• Wrong ignition position
• Open door
• Not all doors unlocked

Thanks for sharing QSilver7. Unfortunately that procedure did not work for me that's why I took the car to the dealer. After 2 different tech.s tried to initialize my newly ordered key (using the same procedure) they said that it probably needed a new GM (~$500) and then scheduled an appointment to do a $200 diagnostic... which I canceled yesterday.


Can't explain it however steps 3a & 3b seemed to do the trick for me. (I am curious as to why this worked? while to documented procedure did not?)

"3a. hold down the forward unlock (arrow) button, you know the hardest one to get to
3b. Now while holding down on that button, turn the key to off, pull it out of the ignition (are you still holding that button) Good."
(Remote on Key Not Working on X5 :( [PLEASE HELP] - Page 2 - Bimmerfest - BMW Forums)

Anyhow I do appreciate everyones kind assistance!

Cheers!

Good additional info to have...just like what happened to you...the "normal" procedure may not always work. Thanks for bringing attention to...and posting what finally worked for you. I'm sure it will help someone else in the future. :thumbup:

Just an additional FYI for those experiencing difficulty reprogramming their remote keys (when nothing else appears to be wrong with the central locking system)...below is another alternate programming sequence if the "normal" procedure fails: