integrated garage door opener

I've searched & searched and cannot find anyone with exactly the same problem. Any help here would be great.

I'm pretty familiar with the bmw integrated garage door opener system. I have had it on our past 3 bmw's, however, our 2011 X5 35d is being a pain. I cannot get the opener remotes to link with the homelink buttons. I press the button on the remote and the button on the mirror at the same time....hold it for about a minute and then the light just goes out....no blinking no nothing...just goes out. I've tried with all the buttons and from many different angles. If you just press the home link button alone and hold it for about a minute the light goes out as well so it appears that it is not detecting the remotes at all.

I have a gene remote that controls the garage door opener and I have a standard remote that controls 3 gates where my Wife works. All these remotes work perfectly and have brand new batteries in them as well. I know I'll need to use the learn button on the garage door opener, however, I can't even get the lights to flash rapidly on the homelink like they are supposed to.

Help? Suggestions?

Many Thanks.

Maybe not applicable but does your garage box have to be put in learning mode first? some systems require this step.

Originally Posted by georgejm

Maybe not applicable but does your garage box have to be put in learning mode first? some systems require this step.

I'll try that for the gene remote. Still does not explain why the other remote (which has worked in our last 3 BMW's) does not work.

Thanks though.

I found that unless I held the remote directly next to the mirror, it would not link, i.e., following the BMW instructions of having the remote a few inches away was a failure, but as soon as I tried it with the remote held right next to the mirror, it linked.

Originally Posted by Penguin

I found that unless I held the remote directly next to the mirror, it would not link, i.e., following the BMW instructions of having the remote a few inches away was a failure, but as soon as I tried it with the remote held right next to the mirror, it linked.

Tried that....many times. I'll try it again.

Might also try changing the batteries in the remote. I've found in the past that sometimes the remote are strong enough to operate the garage door but not strong enough to program the Homelink in the BMW.

I had a lot of trouble with my 530i, think I had forgotten to do the first step to reset all the buttons:

1. Push the 2 outside buttons on mirror for 1-2 minutes until led on mirror begins flashing. Release 2 outside buttons.

I remember it was a pain with my 530i.

Still no luck. Getting

Is this the procedure you used?

NOTE: Some vehicles may require the ignition to be turned on or to the second (or "accessory" or ACC) position for training and/or operation of HomeLink. It is also recommended that a new battery be replaced in the hand held transmitter of the device being trained to HomeLink for quicker training and accurate transmission of the radio frequency.

If programming a garage door opener or gate, it is advised to unplug the device during the "cycling" process to prevent possible motor burn-up.

During programming, your hand-held transmitter may automatically stop transmitting. Continue to press and hold the desired HomeLink button while you press and re-press ("cycle") your hand-held transmitter every two seconds until the frequency signal has been learned. The indicator light will flash slowly and then rapidly after several seconds upon successful training. If necessary, follow steps 5-7 to complete the training for a rolling code device.

Retain the original transmitter of the RF device you are training for use in other vehicles as well as for future HomeLink training. It is also suggested that upon the sale of the vehicle, the trained HomeLink buttons be erased for security purposes. Refer to step 1 only.


1. For first time training, press and hold the two outer HomeLink buttons releasing only when the HomeLink indicator light begins to flash after 20 seconds. (Do not perform this step when training the additional HomeLink buttons.)

2. Position the hand-held transmitter 1-3 inches away from the HomeLink surface (located on your overhead ) keeping the HomeLink indicator light in view.

3. Using both hands, simultaneously press and hold both the desired HomeLink button and hand held transmitter button. During programming, your hand-held transmitter may automatically stop transmitting. Continue to press and hold the desired HomeLink button while you press and re-press ("cycle") your hand-held transmitter every two seconds until the frequency signal has been learned. The indicator light will flash slowly and then rapidly after several seconds upon successful training. DO NOT release until the HomeLink indicator light flashes slowly and then rapidly. When the indicator light flashes rapidly, both buttons may be released. (The rapid flashing indicates successful training.)

4. Press and hold the trained HomeLink button and observe the indicator light.

• If the indicator light is solid/continuous, training is complete and your device should activate when the HomeLink button is pressed and released.
• If the indicator light blinks rapidly for 2 seconds and then turns a solid/continuous light, proceed with the following training instructions for a rolling code device. A second person may make the following steps quicker and easier. Please use a ladder or other device. Do not stand on your vehicle to perform the next steps.

5. At the garage door opener receiver (motorhead unit) in the garage, locate the "learn" or "smart" button (usually near where the hanging antenna wire is attached to the unit). If there is difficulty locating the training button reference the garage door opener's manual or contact us.

6. Press and release the "learn" or "smart" button (the name and color of the button may vary by manufacturer). NOTE: Once the button is pressed, there are 30 seconds in which to initiate the next step.

7. Return to the vehicle and firmly press and hold the trained HomeLink button for two seconds and release. Repeat the "press/hold/release" sequence up to 3 times to complete the training process.


HomeLink should now activate your device.

Most of this I've tried, however, the "press and re-press the and held transmitter" I haven't tried. I'll give it a shot this evening and post if it worked shortly after.

No work.

Could be a faulty Homelink module? If you're truly following all the directions, not sure what else it could be.

Originally Posted by Newmanium

Could be a faulty Homelink module? If you're truly following all the directions, not sure what else it could be.

Thats what I'm starting to think because I keep trying over & over again. The handheld remote works just fine and was used to program our last X5 so I know it's not the remote.
The light on the Homelink never flashes rapidly, just goes blank after about a minute.

When you do the reset with the two outer buttons, does it flash after the 20 seconds?

I'm sure the dealer has some sort of a "testing" routine they can run it through.

Originally Posted by Newmanium

When you do the reset with the two outer buttons, does it flash after the 20 seconds?

I'm sure the dealer has some sort of a "testing" routine they can run it through.

Yes, the reset does work fine. I'll be contacting the dealership.

I just want to tell you that i spent about 2 hours trying it yesterday and I found out that you need to hold the garage door opener infront of the mirror(between the glass and the mirror). IF you have an alternating code system AFTER it is programmed (it will blink fast for 2 seconds and then go solid) you need to hit the learn button on the garage door machine, while the car is very close by (6ft max). Thats how i finally got it to work.
Hope that helps

Thank you...I'll give that a try as well.

I have both types of openers....one for our garage (gene) and one that controls 3 gates at my Wife's work.

Originally Posted by Nick9597

Still no luck. Getting

Have you tried all buttons? I got very frustrated when button 1 didn't learn, but then button 2 and 3 worked fine...(still pissed thatm#1 doesn't 'learn', though.)

Started by holding down the button in the remote and then pressed the homelink button in the mirror, both learned in 10/15 seconds (started blinking rapidly).

Once that step was complete I had to st the garage door to 'learn' the car button, which it did flawlessly.

Originally Posted by 1STBimmer

Have you tried all buttons? I got very frustrated when button 1 didn't learn, but then button 2 and 3 worked fine...(still pissed thatm#1 doesn't 'learn', though.)

Started by holding down the button in the remote and then pressed the homelink button in the mirror, both learned in 10/15 seconds (started blinking rapidly).

Once that step was complete I had to st the garage door to 'learn' the car button, which it did flawlessly.

I had the same problem with button #1 not working while #s 2 & 3 did. The dealer replaced the mirror under warranty and all three buttons worked on the new one.

No button is working meaning they just go blank after about a minute. No rapid flashing. From multiple angles & distances etc etc. So annoyed.

Originally Posted by innovativeit

I had the same problem with button #1 not working while #s 2 & 3 did. The dealer replaced the mirror under warranty and all three buttons worked on the new one.

Interesting... Will try programming #1 once more, if it doesn't work I'll head to the dealership to try and get it replaced.

My homelink appears to be programmed OK: e.g. reset, training the button #1 till it blinks fast. Then tried to open or close the garage door. It DOESN'T work. Tried many times (both of my garage door openers), also tried to train #2, and 3 buttons. Still doesn't work. My garage door motor doesn't appear to be "Smart" or "Learn" type since I don't see any button there for setting. Anyone experienced similar issue and how to resolve it?

Originally Posted by Penguin

I found that unless I held the remote directly next to the mirror, it would not link, i.e., following the BMW instructions of having the remote a few inches away was a failure, but as soon as I tried it with the remote held right next to the mirror, it linked.

This was the problem for me as well.

On my garage door unit (Wayne Dalton Pro Drive) The reset procedure worked, the homelink button training procedure worked because my garage door unit has an LED status light that would blink rapidly when I pressed the home link button but garage door would not open.

I found that I had to press and hold the home link trained button and then the Program SW on the garage unit -until the garage unit Light (not LED) would blink rapidly. Hope this helps.

Originally Posted by Nick9597

No button is working meaning they just go blank after about a minute. No rapid flashing. From multiple angles & distances etc etc. So annoyed.

Nick, did you end up fixing this? I have the same issue, no flashing rapidly.