DIY - easy way to make a brand new diamond key work in your older car (96-00)
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I will describe how I have done it with pictures. Please let me know if you have any questions. I will refer to the newer style key as the diamond key and the older style key as the square key.
1. Purchase a brand new diamond key. I bought mine from ebay for $ 50 shipped Make sure you buy the correct version of the key since there are two versions. One version has a ridge on top and the other does not have a ridge
The key I bought was brand new, with the up arrow and trunk picture raised up on the key (no printed on). This key is snaps apart and together, so there is no need to cut it open and glue it back together, it snaps shut! This is great if you ever need to replace the battery.
new diamond shaped key (it should say 315MHz on the back). I`m bough my key from e-bay [ THIS KEY WORKING FOR e39 FROM 1996-2000 FOR SURE !!!!!!! ] http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...270666353050&ssPageName=ADME:L:OU:MOTORS:1123 his e-bay name [ allkeylez ]
2.Get your key cut. I found a local locksmith who cut my key for $25. It took him about 5 minutes to cut and he tested it in the door and ignition to make sure that it worked
3.Gather the necessary parts/tools to replace the transponder and battery. what you may need and what I used. New diamond key, old square key, utility knife, small cutters, small screw driver (phillips) and a non-rechargeable battery CR2016 from Walmart for $2.50
4.Start with the old square key and remove the small cover on the back and remove the two small screws
5.Remove the battery holder/circuit board from the key body by prying up on one end with a small screw driver
6. Locate and pop out the transponder chip. It is located in the corner of the square key shell ( on first pics buttom right and for second pics top right corner of my pictures). Mine was glued in so I popped it out with a small screw driver
7.Place transponder aside for the moment and put your old key back together. Your old key will now no longer start your car. It will still have the remote function and the actual key part can unlock your door/trunk and turn your ignition on. It just will not start the car unless you put the transponder back in.
8. Take apart your new diamond key. Since my key was so new, it just snapped apart, there was no glue to cut through. I ended up taking my utility knife and placing it between the two halves of the key where the hole for your keychain is located. This will allow you to pop the two halves of the key apart.
9.Here is what the inside of the diamond key looks like.
10.. The tricky part that nobody could figure out before is removing the transponder chip from the diamond key. The transponder in this key is wrapped in copper wire on the circuit board. It is located in the buttom right corner in picture:3-4
11.Remove the transponder by prying or cutting it off the circuit board. You must remove the copper wire and the two black end units with it. This will also remove the inductive charging system so you will need to replace the battery with a non-rechargeable battery.pics 5
Picture of the board without the transponder:
12.Replace the rechargeable battery with a 3V battery, such as the one from your old square key. I went to Walmart and bought a new 3V battery, model CR2016 for $ 2.50
13. TRICKY PART!!! Next I took a small cutters or you always can use chisel and broke the spot welds on the battery ! PLEASE BE CAREFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! DON`T USE your BEAR`s hands on it)) special on buttom conection !!!!!!! pics #8 show ONLY top conection but YOU also need to cut buttom conection !!!
14. when you will cut a rechargeable battery you need to put new CR 2016 in EXACTLY in same place and I`ve used small amount of clear tape for holder protection.!!
15.Place the old transponder from your square key into the housing of the diamond key. I fit it into the space where the original transponder was or you can clue it for buttom shell of the key! [ I`m did it this way! ] Here is a picture of where I put it. pics 7
16. Now it's time to put it all together. Put the diamond circuit board back into place, make sure that your old transponder fits in the right place and doesn't press too hard on the case or the circuit board
17.Reinitialize the key so that the remote will lock/unlock your car. There are lots of DIY's on how to do this, just search for them.
18. After you get the remote part working, just put the key into the ignition and start the car. You now have a diamond key that works on older cars just for $ 80.00 What can be better!
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I will describe how I have done it with pictures. Please let me know if you have any questions. I will refer to the newer style key as the diamond key and the older style key as the square key.
1. Purchase a brand new diamond key. I bought mine from ebay for $ 50 shipped Make sure you buy the correct version of the key since there are two versions. One version has a ridge on top and the other does not have a ridge
The key I bought was brand new, with the up arrow and trunk picture raised up on the key (no printed on). This key is snaps apart and together, so there is no need to cut it open and glue it back together, it snaps shut! This is great if you ever need to replace the battery.
new diamond shaped key (it should say 315MHz on the back). I`m bough my key from e-bay [ THIS KEY WORKING FOR e39 FROM 1996-2000 FOR SURE !!!!!!! ] http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...270666353050&ssPageName=ADME:L:OU:MOTORS:1123 his e-bay name [ allkeylez ]
2.Get your key cut. I found a local locksmith who cut my key for $25. It took him about 5 minutes to cut and he tested it in the door and ignition to make sure that it worked
3.Gather the necessary parts/tools to replace the transponder and battery. what you may need and what I used. New diamond key, old square key, utility knife, small cutters, small screw driver (phillips) and a non-rechargeable battery CR2016 from Walmart for $2.50
4.Start with the old square key and remove the small cover on the back and remove the two small screws
5.Remove the battery holder/circuit board from the key body by prying up on one end with a small screw driver
6. Locate and pop out the transponder chip. It is located in the corner of the square key shell ( on first pics buttom right and for second pics top right corner of my pictures). Mine was glued in so I popped it out with a small screw driver
7.Place transponder aside for the moment and put your old key back together. Your old key will now no longer start your car. It will still have the remote function and the actual key part can unlock your door/trunk and turn your ignition on. It just will not start the car unless you put the transponder back in.
8. Take apart your new diamond key. Since my key was so new, it just snapped apart, there was no glue to cut through. I ended up taking my utility knife and placing it between the two halves of the key where the hole for your keychain is located. This will allow you to pop the two halves of the key apart.
9.Here is what the inside of the diamond key looks like.
10.. The tricky part that nobody could figure out before is removing the transponder chip from the diamond key. The transponder in this key is wrapped in copper wire on the circuit board. It is located in the buttom right corner in picture:3-4
11.Remove the transponder by prying or cutting it off the circuit board. You must remove the copper wire and the two black end units with it. This will also remove the inductive charging system so you will need to replace the battery with a non-rechargeable battery.pics 5
Picture of the board without the transponder:
12.Replace the rechargeable battery with a 3V battery, such as the one from your old square key. I went to Walmart and bought a new 3V battery, model CR2016 for $ 2.50
13. TRICKY PART!!! Next I took a small cutters or you always can use chisel and broke the spot welds on the battery ! PLEASE BE CAREFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! DON`T USE your BEAR`s hands on it)) special on buttom conection !!!!!!! pics #8 show ONLY top conection but YOU also need to cut buttom conection !!!
14. when you will cut a rechargeable battery you need to put new CR 2016 in EXACTLY in same place and I`ve used small amount of clear tape for holder protection.!!
15.Place the old transponder from your square key into the housing of the diamond key. I fit it into the space where the original transponder was or you can clue it for buttom shell of the key! [ I`m did it this way! ] Here is a picture of where I put it. pics 7
16. Now it's time to put it all together. Put the diamond circuit board back into place, make sure that your old transponder fits in the right place and doesn't press too hard on the case or the circuit board
17.Reinitialize the key so that the remote will lock/unlock your car. There are lots of DIY's on how to do this, just search for them.
18. After you get the remote part working, just put the key into the ignition and start the car. You now have a diamond key that works on older cars just for $ 80.00 What can be better!