Dead Key Remotes Thread..... may have something but not sure
 

After having both keys die, I'm going through remote locking withdrawl and f-ing hating it. Neither key works.

So I cut open the older of the two keys and I'm checking the battery. Going to see if it's still holding a charge. The battery is a Panasonic VL 2020 and it's apparently the rechargable type so you can't swap in a normal $2 one. Booo.

If the battery is still good, I'm going to take the cut open key, use it to start the car and check the two terminals that charge the key battery to see if the key charging system is still functioning.

But here's my question........... does anyone know anything about the key charging system in the X5 .............. how it works and where it's routed to/from ???? Is it fused somewhere........... maybe a blown fuse.......


Anyways, this is my game plan. I won't be paying BMW $236 for a replacement until I absolutely loose my mind. So any thoughts on the above would be greatly appreciated.

did you already try to reprogram your keys? try this link it might help you http://www.xoutpost.com/articles/x5/e...ob-bmw-x5.html :goodluck:

The key is charging as soon as you insert it into the ignition and turn the car on. Fuse wise, I dont think there's a fuse for the key charging system. I too have cut open the key to see if the battery held a charge. The key had a full 3v charge, but still has not been able to be reprogrammed.

The key charges very slowly over the course of 3 hours. If the battery totally died though, it may not hold a charge again. A new battery is certainly cheaper than a new key....

What if the key is charged and no matter how many times you try to program the key, the key wont remotely lock/unlock the doors, but will still start the car and lock/unlock the doors manually?

Stealership tried the re-programming trick with my two keys and no luck.

You mean the dealership doesn't even have a solution to the problem besides purchasing a new key? If the dealer cant reprogram the key to work, yet the key opens the doors and starts the car, shouldn't they replace it due to some manufacturer defect?

i bought a brand new master key from the dealer but after 3 days, the remote died, the it got programmed again then died again last night...what could it be?

I have a somewhat related question.

Should my spare key be used periodically to keep the battery from dying?

Absolutely. I would alternate keys from time to time.

Same problem here, but I noticed the dealer didn't do the 'turn to position 1 fives times quickly.' So I did that the other night & I think the old dead key may still have some life in it !:thumbup:

So you followed the procedure where you turn to position 1 five times and it worked?

I know my battery has 3.0v of power so its charged, but it doesn't work after multiple times of being reprogrammed.

There has to be a module/brain somewhere in the X5 controlling all this crap. Any idea of where it is ?!?!?!??!?!

:iagree: ...i was just at the stealership. the tech said the "general module" of my x5 is acting up so the car needs to be diagnosed for the amount of $160. :(

Where is the general module located ?!?!!?

Can you post some instructions on how best to crack the key open without damaging it too much and/or injuring myself in the process? My battery works fine but my lock button (the roundel button) doesn't work because the spring behind it must have fallen off. I hear it rattling around.

Thanks!

+1...can we fix this w/o going to the stealership? do we just have to change some kind of fuse or something?

There is no spring behind the roundel logo. If you hear rattling, the button assembly might have been busted loose. i'll see if I can find pictures of the internals. But the best way to open the key is to score the case in the center carefully. as the cut gets deeper, press the blade or xacto knife deeper to see how much further you have to go. then pull apart.

Thanks! I'll wait to see pics before I start cutting my key.

Hey guys hoping to kill 2 birds here.

1st Bird: My key's roundel fell off some time ago and I note that it is not a spare part re realOEM.com - keys. So I guess it'll just stay as is unless someone knows where I might get one. Tyre valve cap mod?? :dunno:

2nd Bird: To our friends Tom & Persona you will note on the following pic that their is a small slot on one side of where the roundel should be. Maybe this is another location for getting inside or partly inside..... Not prepared to be the guinea pig though LOL. Good luck. :thumbup:

Foomph

I cut mine open along the edge with a razor blade. Just go slow and be patient.


OK, on another note.............. upon inspecting the *guts*, I can see no way that this battery is recharging while in the ignition. I don't who the f-k told me this............. but I've always been thinking she's a rechargable battery. But I can't see ANY connection between the blade and the board inside the key.

THUS, if this is the case, the battery should be able to be replaced with a normal off the shelf one to get the key powered up again. Thoughts :dunno:


So......... if I'm right on this, that should eliminate the battery power issues. Then next I'll be after the programming/signal concerns.............


I've been much too busy lately to follow up on this issue, but I will continue to see what I can do this weekend. I think I may have some spare time on my hands.

The Battery is a Panasonic Lithium Battery, part number VL-2020. That specific part number is a Lithium Rechargeable coin cell battery according to Panasonic's catalog.

I understand there is no connection between the key and the battery, but the battery does recharge while the key is in the ignition and the car on. If you still have a hard time believing that, look in your owners manual regarding the charging of the keys and it'll tell you the same.

Maybe some sort of induction circuit, via proximity?

Thats exactly what I was thinking. When the key is in the ignition, it activates something within the key to close the circuit and charge the battery. Then when removed from the ignition, the charge circuit opens and the battery operates the key functions at its charged capacity. I'm not sure how, but I am sure the battery is rechargeable.

YEah but................. you can't beat the laws of nature and make energy from nothing. How the heck is that battery getting charged ????? It completely makes no sense....................... I'd really like to know how this works in laymans terms so can understand it if it's actually get recharged somehow internally as there's definitely NO connection that I could find to the ignition system.

Are we being hosed !?!!??!? BMW scam !?!?! LMAO

you can always do what you wanna do, if you insist you can install non-rechargeable battery but dont blame us if that battery will explode in your ignition. IMHO.

magic. haha no. i'm not 100% sure how the BMW is set up but the key system has a transmitter. The transmitter has resonance circuits including antenna coils that can be electromagnetically coupled. using a capacitor and a diode The capacitor can be charged with a voltage induced by the coil when the resonance circuit resonates. The key is able to slowly charge the battery with the power generated.

:yawn: yikes, i feel like im in class again and its makin me tired.

anyhow dont put a non-rechargeable battery in there, it can explode.