Replacement keys ??
 

Where is the best place to order them online ?

I was under the impression that you had to get a key from BMW using your VIN because of the code. Any key you order online and get cut won't start your X. I guess there could be a way around this, but i'm not sure how. i suspect there's a decent amt of key replacement info on the forums if you search around.

Thats right go to the stealer to get a new key cause it does have to be programed by them to your car. Mine was $212. I did replace the baterry in one of my old ones. It starts the car but wont lock or unlock the car. Thought i would give it a shot though. I did also find out thru these forums that you can charge a key by using your toothbrush charger. Crazy! but works. Charges by induction. It worked on my second old key with it able to lock and unlock car but the battery wont hold the charge for very long. Eventually i may try to change its battery.

Yep, that was my experience as well. Just a plain key (no fob) was $75; for the key with buttons it was $250-ish. My old fob works to unlock, lock, etc but won't start the vehicle.

And thanks for the tip of the toothbrush charger; I would love to have a second working fob! :thumbup:

X5 Replacement Keys
 

True Story. NEW Keys come from the dealer. They can only be programmed to start YOUR X5 from the "Stealer".

Early on in my X5 experience, I called BS on this. Searched & found a "blank" key with fob for sale on ebay. These should be reported for the scam that they are because once the microchip in the fob has been programmed, it is UNprogrammable again (part of that security feature). The Computer in the X5 which controlls key usage will accept up to, I seem to recall, 6-8 keys. If you lose all of those, a new security control module (Computer) needs to be installed.
I then took this supposedly new, blank key and sent to a locksmith in Canada to have it cut to match my one & only original key. He did this from a 2 megapixel digital photo & did a great job. It turned the ignition in the steering column. But when the Stealer attempted to "Program" it, the key would not accept programming. Only way this happens is if chip is faulty or has already been programmed.
So, please learn from my failed & costly experience. My total costs were $190.00 to discover that I still had only one key.
Like the Coolant Fill Bottle - its a "Stealer-only item".

Hapy New Year!

Actually, after you cut the key, you just need to sync the transponder chip. There is a simple procedure for that and it can be done with any and unlimited keys.

X5 Keys, key battery
 

I got my X5 from the dealer, 49K, came with 3 keys. Two work fine, on the 3rd, the buttons don't work, but it will start the car and open the door. When tested, no signal was coming from it.

Do you think it's the battery in the key then, since the chip must be putting out the right signal?

Does anyone know how to change the key battery?

Sync the Transponder Chip...
 

Chas3,
Please do elaborate on this procedure. I will be the first to post a retraction of an erroneouse "Advice". And would love to go to my local dealer and demonstrate the mis-information I was given.
As I write this I am looking at the key which I invested my time & $ into, which just needs to be sychronized with the EWS (on my 2000 X5 is EWS III ver. 3.3). The Bently manuel does confirm your statement of synchronization (pg. 515-12). Also, paraphrasing the manuel, a lost key can be cancelled using BMW service tools DISplus, GT1 or MoDiC.
The question then becomes, can my lost key (purchased from ebay from some other BMW) be cancelled & "synched" with my EWS? My dealer claims to have attempted that, failed & informed me that the EEPROM is not change-able (i.e. reprogramable) for this key.

You will have my gratitude and I think many in the forum would benefit.

thanks for your response. I will await yours at your convenience.
SkidmarkX5

Reprogramming Key Fob

http://www.xoutpost.com/articles/x5/...ob-bmw-x5.html

Someone also asked how to replace the battery...

http://www.xoutpost.com/articles/x5/...y-fob-e53.html

http://www.xoutpost.com/articles/x5/...ernatives.html

This post is confusing, correct me if i am wrong please i am a newbie.
There is two types of programming.
1. For the key to lock and unlock the doors.
2. For the key to start the car.

so from what i understand, you can reprogram any key to unlock/lock the doors for any vehicle, but once a key has been programmed once to a car in order for it to start, it can not be reprogrammed to another vehicle.

Is this correct?
Vince

Let me correct some misinformation in this thread... You can NOT sync any key to start the car, it HAS to be ordered for YOUR vehicle bu VIN by the dealer. There are 10 keys chipped for your vehicle's EWS, you get 2 when you buy the vehicle and have 8 spares available to order. If you lose your keys that many times to exhaust the extra 8 keys you have to re-key the entire vehicle and replace the EWS module.

What chas3 is mistakenly reffering to is simply the keyless entry part of the key which operates 100% independently from the keys starting ability. That can be done with any key as long as you use a key that works to start your car to start the initialization process.

Thanks Weasel.

What about non genuine replacement keys?
(new never been programmed)

i have mailed a couple of ppl that have bought the Tiawanese keys from Ebay who say they have had them cut and programmed so they will start the car.

Thanks
Vince

There is supposedly some kind of aftermarket programmer for the keys, but I have serious doubts that they are able to get the correct set of rolling codes for your EWS module and align them etc. (only because I am factory trained and taught on how the OEM system works) And I have yet to see a confirmed account of that aftermarket route working. Every person I saw through this forum try using eBay keys was never able to get them able to start the vehicle and they all ended up having to buy OEM. But there are certainly some really intelligent people out there that could have made a working programmer, but I have yet to confirm.