not looking forward to my return trip into Ft.Worth, to get the key
 

The visit to the BMW dealer (30 miles, each way) took 2 hours. I had my wife drive me there, because she is familiar with central Ft.Worth and Tarrant County, while I used to be familiar with Dallas and Dallas County.

I repeat, used to be, since I grew up there, and lived in Dallas County for 39 of my 75 years...the other 36 were spent living in SE Tarrant County, and Plano in Collin County, though I drove in & commuted to and through Dallas County (120+ miles a day for the last 22 years before retirement), ever since I was 15, up to age 65.5, when I retired.

I made myself a promise not to venture back into that congested area, with the ridiculous traffic, if I could avoid it, and the same is to be said about Ft.Worth traffic, now, as well, though it isn't nearly as bad. I already swore off Austin and San Antonio, traveling down the I-35 mobile parking lot (I spent a lot of time in both, during the 60s-80s), and gave up on Houston in the 70s. Too many cars, too many people.

I remember old Texas of the 50s-mid 70s (before the Rust Belt people invaded), when driving was fun, not a chore. But now, driving is a pain. The only bright spot of my trip today to the BMW dealer, was to see all the BMW's lined up (too bad I can't get one).

a similar thought germinating in my feeble mind
 

I took my HHR Panel to the November inspection (late, but within the grace period), and the same inspection guy (that I've used for years)asked how was my BMW. I told him that he killed it, hahaha, and please don't kill my HHR.

I told him that I don't (publicly/officially) believe in coincidences, but he triggered (exposed) a series of three things (it's always three bads) wrong that I need to fix before he sees my X5 again.

On the same note, when at the tax & registration office,
I asked the clerk what the new procedure was to get a temporary registration tag or waiver, so I could drive the X when I resume the repairs. I had to get two 10-day temporary tags so I could test drive my HHR Panel, in 2016, after it had taken me 10 months to find & repair the problems (wasn't trying very hard, since I parked it during my last few weeks before retirement).


The clerk said that if it took me until next October to repair the X5, then I could just skip the process, since the X5 would no longer require inspection. Funny, but I had sorta thought of the same thing...time spent saving my money up to buy NEW OEM parts (instead of getting cheap ones, Vine parts, or ones donated to me by friends on the forum), that would surely work as designed, and that even I wouldn't mess up.

The countdown begins, at 304 days to go....

In another thread, concerning OBD ports, it was suggested that some problems were caused by a partial failure of the ignition switch. Perhaps my X might have the same problem (amongst the growing list of things gone wrong lately).

Since I have had the X, I've had occasional problems with my Foxwell not being able to read all modules when scanning, the key having to be flipped and reinserted before it would crank, and the EWS losing track of my only key...all of which may point to an intermittent problem with the ignition switch.

Since mid-October, when my X died (fuel pump), and I have had the additional problems (as listed in the preceding paragraph), I have ordered a valet key, which should be able to crank the X and not get "lost" by the EWS, assuming that it is recognized by the EWS (does the new valet key need to be programmed into memory?? I have not read anything concerning that). The valet key has arrived at the dealership, but I'm really ill and haven't been able to get there, yet, to pickup the key, so maybe it's time to rethink my future steps to fix my X.

1) does the valet key need programming into memory? can my Foxwell NT510 do that?

2) if the valet key has the same intermittent problem as the OEM diamond key, then is the ring antenna suspect, or could it be the ignition switch failing?

3) once the above 2 have been solved, and the valet key works, then I'm cutting the diamond key open, and will resolder the board, replace the battery, and transfer the guts to a key shell I already have (blade is pre-cut), and hopefully it will work like new

4) if new and refurbished keys are working, antenna ring and/or ignition switch have been replaced (or not), and the X cranks every time, again, then

5) pull the new $160 Hella fuel pump, insert the cheaper (but free to me) $70 fuel pump, and see if the X can take sharp corners and curves without fuel starvation.

Like I stated in my previous post, this process may take awhile, and perhaps take months, so unfortunately, my X5 has become a true "project car".

If my present cold? doesn't kill me, I might be working on it again next week.

Wish me luck.

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Someone posted a really good summary of how the EWS works with cranking/starting maybe see if you can find that. I think it's different for the V-8s and might be different for facelift/pre as well so that's something to check into. You should really have went with a full key but I guess you will find out if you need an ignition switch this way as well. If the ignition switch has never been replaced then it won't be wasted money to replace it regardless.

screwed
 

i should've researched further, before ordering the cheaper valet key, but I thought it would come pre-programmed from BMW. I must've made the wrong assumptions, but I was following this advice, without questioning it: So, now I guess I''l have to get a locksmith to come out to my driveway, and program the valet key? or wait until I get the fuel delivery system to work reliably. Either way, I'm screwed for now, and possibly wasted $90 on the valet key, instead of applying that money towards a diamond key.

There's no programming needed unless your "wonky" key Salado won't start and EWS out of sync.

They make a non start "wallet key" to get in if you locked key in the car.

The valet key has the RFID chip and will start the car out of the box.

The diamond remote key would also start the car but would need pairing before remote works.


–awr–

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I've always depended on the kindness of strangers;moreso now that I'm in my dotage
 

I don't know if i'm forgetting info I probably already read, or not, but I'm perplexed concerning the key situation, after 4.5 years of reading about it..and dreading this exact moment (Senior?).

I was in the same boat. Get the key then safe to fix diamond


–awr–

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:thumbup:

for my 1100th post
 

In celebration of my 1100th post here, I'd like to thank all who have helped guide me thru our mutual journey into E53-land, and state my hope that perhaps my sharing of my trials, tribulations, and many missteps may have helped others, and kept many from making similar mistakes. I'll say anything I believe might be useful, try anything (automotive) that might work, and report the results of such ventures, so you can see what not to do.

Right now, my X is down, and I've been ill (so's the wife), and the repairs scheduled are on a back-burner, therefore I'm reading and commenting on several forums, just to keep my hand in.