X5 key doesn't work

Hello,

Im new here and this is my first post. I just recently bought my first BMW. Fortunately its a 2005 X5 3.0i w/ navigation (Toledo Blue Metallic/Beige Leather Int). It has only 22k miles and if you know what I paid for it you would think I stole it.

Anyway, I recieved 3 keys with it. One of they keys is in perfect working order. The other ones open the doors manually and start the car. But they do not remotely open the doors . I know I probably need to get a new key but I was wondering if anyone knew a way to get around getting a new key. Maybe replacing the battery.

Also is there anywhere that sells BMW keys for cheaper than the dealership?

The batteries in the keys are rechargeable. If the previous owner primarily used one key and not the others, the batter is probably dead. Try keeping the key in the ignition with the car on. This should charge the battery in the key.

Yeah thats what the dealer said to do. I've been using the key for about the last month or so an it still doesn't work. Can I replace the battery? Or do I have to get a whole new key?

There was a post on bimmerfest some time ago that is probably still in the archives. It was on the X3 board and had a nice pictorial do it yourself with it. As I recall it involved a radio shack battery and a soldering iron but the rest was straightforward. It seemed the most difficult part was getting the key shroud apart without damage. Good luck!

Found it on the E46Fanatics forum... http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthr...=451510&page=8

Just ordered 2 batteries.....woohooo!!!

Thanks

ok I replaced the battery. It didnt work and now the key won't start the car either. Any help?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

Originally Posted by hartman1081

ok I replaced the battery. It didnt work and now the key won't start the car either. Any help?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

yes - go buy a new one!

My guess is a bad solder job or damage during the battery replacement. If your key use to work, then that meant that the key was "powering up" enough to send information from its transponder to start your car; just not enough juice to trigger your door locks to open. Your BMW needs to verify the chip in the key, the physical metal key is not enough to start the car. This prevents copying your key and stealing your car.

i guess ill have to shell out to get a new one...DAMN...My stealer said its only about $150. Sound about right?

Originally Posted by hartman1081

i guess ill have to shell out to get a new one...DAMN...My stealer said its only about $150. Sound about right?

150 is a good price for the steeler, for me I did it for 100 at a local guy, the Stealer wanted 280 from me....

Originally Posted by thekingsim0n

150 is a good price for the steeler, for me I did it for 100 at a local guy, the Stealer wanted 280 from me....

Do you know anyone in NJ that can do it cheaper? I see you are in Brooklyn, NY.

I thought this might help. I did this last week and it works like a charm and saved me $280 - $16= $264 savings.Ok so here is my first attempt at a detailed "DIY" thread, also if you mess up your own key trying to do this don't yell at me!

So I have the 2 key fobs that came with my car when I bought it used. One I use everyday and the second one has had a dead battery since I got the car. When I called the dealership they wanted like $260.00 for a new one. I did a search around here and found you could get deals and what not and possibly get it down to around $90-120 bucks.. still way too much in my book since I already had a working key.

After seeing a thread on here where another member had taken apart a key fob from a car he had already sold I decided what the hell the key was already dead anyways...

Here is the key before I tried anything..



I then proceeded to take a matt knife and xacto knife and basically carefully cut the key open along the seam where the top and bottom joined up. I used my dremel tool with the cutter blade


Next I took a small chisel and broke the spot welds on the battery that connected it to the rest of the circuit board.



Once I had the battery out I looked at it and took the model number "a panasonic VL2020 3v" I found the exact same battery on mouser.com for $4.73. Once I got the battery is was a simple matter of soldering the new one in and making sure everything fit back together.




Before I glued it up I rubber banded the thing together and went out to my car to see if I could program it. I used black electrical tape instead of gluing. I figured that might help if I needed to do again some day

Put the working key in the ignition. Turn to position 2 for like 1 second then back and remove the key.

Press and hold the "unlock" button then press the "lock" button 3 times, you should hear all the locks cycle through.

Now take the non working key and press and hold the "unlock" button then press the "lock" button 3 times.

Then turn the ignition on and off again to end the programming....

I took the car for a drive to charge up the battery. Once I was certain it was all working I glued up the key again with some super glue....

Here is a pic of the key being glued...



While definitely not a hard or complicated "DIY" project I did save myself about $200 and had fun while doing it...

This very easy if you take your time. Not pretty but it works__________________

Originally Posted by hartman1081

Found it on the E46Fanatics forum... http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthr...=451510&page=8

Just ordered 2 batteries.....woohooo!!!

Thanks

Yeah I just did that. Well it didnt work. So I called around to some local shops and my stealer to get prices. A local locksmith said they could do it for $165. My stealer said $178 including tax. I think I might just get it done at the stealer. For an extra $13, i might as well get it done there.

Ok my key for the BMW will work to turn the car on but none of the buttons work... ANy idea on how to fix without going to the dealer. The locks and key point on the car no longer work and neither does the unlock button in the center console, so kinda need to get the buttons to start working. its a 2002 I believe x5 could be the x3 but pretty sure its the x5 not really felling like checking that at the moment. Also any one have any idea how to replace the front axel strut are there any special beamer tools needed. and maybe a site with the how to instructions for the DIY..



Mike

There's no X3 in 2002. You dont know what you got? Are you sure it' a bimmer?