New comfort access key fob needs charging?

tjnptel1 · 04-01-2009, 07:43 AM

The emblem on my old key got scratched up, and became non-existant. So the SA replaced it under warranty.

When I picked up the car today, he told me to keep it plugged in the slot for a few times(and not keep it in the pocket like i would) so it can charge the battery.

I asked him if he was sure about this because in the manual it says comfort access keys can't recharge and the batteries will need to be replaced after a while. He confirmed and said the battery should last a few years before replacing since placing it in the slot would recharge it.

xsb00st · 04-01-2009, 07:47 AM

I was told by my SA that CA keys do not have a rechargeable battery...

p4junk · 04-01-2009, 07:51 AM

hahaha....I was told to keep the fob in the slot for it to recharge (CA with that fob was not working). I read the manual and soon discovered the fob was ACTUALLY MISSING THE BATTERY!

I called back, told them dude, i need a battery for CA to work. See, open here - no don't use your key!, insert battery here, voila! c'est magnifique! non?

I'm not aware that CA option charges battery. If it does, hey i'm a happy camper.

tjnptel1 · 04-01-2009, 07:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xs*****

I was told by my SA that CA keys do not have a rechargeable battery...

i believe this is correct. But my SA was so adamant that it does need charging.

fnckr · 04-01-2009, 07:53 AM

Your SA is wrong. The CA fobs have a replaceable and non-rechargeable battery. Your car will give you an alert when the battery is low. Putting it in the slot does nothing except satisfy some perverse fantasy...;-)

If you don't get the alert then your battery is fine. To replace battery, remove the metal key. Then you'll see a little slot. Pry it open with a fine flat headed screwdriver.

tjnptel1 · 04-01-2009, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fnckr

Your SA is wrong. The CA fobs have a replaceable and non-rechargeable battery. Your car will give you an alert when the battery is low. Putting it in the slot does nothing except satisfy some perverse fantasy...;-)

If you don't get the alert than your battery is fine. To replace battery, remove the metal key. Then you'll see a little slot. Pry it open with a fine flat headed screwdriver.

i like inserting in slots.

BimmerRat · 04-01-2009, 07:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tjnptel1

i like inserting in slots.

lol.

fnckr · 04-01-2009, 08:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tjnptel1

i like inserting in slots.

Seems you like licking them too... But, despite your skills, your Bavarian beauty still won't get a charge out of it.

tjnptel1 · 04-01-2009, 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fnckr

Seems you like licking them too... But, despite your skills, your Bavarian beauty still won't get a charge out of it.

darn.

slupie · 04-01-2009, 09:36 AM

CA only can have two active key fobs. If they did not disable the one they replaced and activate your new one than the new one will not work with CA only as a standard key. When my key was replaced it did not work until the dealer programed the CA computer to recognize the original key and the new key. The current keys had to be present so they could program the correct ones in the computer

Zirenz2006 · 04-01-2009, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tjnptel1

i like inserting in slots.

+1

EMG E92 · 04-01-2009, 03:09 PM

my sa told me to place it in the slot like twice a year

02themax · 04-01-2009, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slupie

CA only can have two active key fobs. If they did not disable the one they replaced and activate your new one than the new one will not work with CA only as a standard key. When my key was replaced it did not work until the dealer programed the CA computer to recognize the original key and the new key. The current keys had to be present so they could program the correct ones in the computer

Same here, had to get my new key reprogrammed. The batteries are not rechargable.

Bimmer335i07 · 04-01-2009, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EMG E92

my sa told me to place it in the slot like twice a year

If you have CA (Comfort Access), then your SA (Service Advisor) does not know what he's talking about.

CA (Comfort Access) = replaceable battery, cannot charge.

No CA (Comfort Access) = rechargeable battery. Plus, you will need to insert the key to start the car, so it will charge the battery when the key is inserted.

BK · 04-01-2009, 03:31 PM

Two things:

1 - CA key fob does NOT recharge. No ifs, ands or buts, no exceptions, no caveats. It DOES NOT RECHARGE. Lots of SAs are wrong about this.

2 - CA key fob only retains codes thrown by the car when it's in the slot. This is why your SA will stick the key in the slot when you come in for service and before using the key reader. It also may be why some SAs ask customers to put the key in the slot every once in a while, so the data gets logged.

#2 above is entirely heresay, summarizing other discussions here at e90post and between me and my SA, so I can't say with 100% certainty that it is accurate.

But for #1, it's 100% certain, the CA key doesn't recharge in the slot.

tpryor · 04-01-2009, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slupie

CA only can have two active key fobs. If they did not disable the one they replaced and activate your new one than the new one will not work with CA only as a standard key. When my key was replaced it did not work until the dealer programed the CA computer to recognize the original key and the new key. The current keys had to be present so they could program the correct ones in the computer

Apparently that was only in 2007. My wifes 08 E92 has three (Me, Her, and my son) and they all work as advertised. Our owners manual even says up to three.....and the car programmed it, dealer didn't have to (he said that was new to the 08's as well).

Just an FYI

SteveMD · 04-01-2009, 08:20 PM

CA fob has a non rechargeable battery. The design of the CA fob is slightly different as it has the battery access 'flap' which is not present on the non-CA fob.

If it was rechargeable, I see no reason why it would have the flap - it would be identical to the non-CA fob.

Also...page 35 of the 2009 manual - The remote control for cars with convernient access contains a battery that will need to be replaced from time to time.

ElliottP · 04-01-2009, 08:42 PM

Page 28

Page 38

Show that to your SA. Last word.

TXSurfer · 04-01-2009, 09:19 PM

I just replaced my battery used a energizer cr2032 heres a pic sorry if its crappy took it with my BB8900

04-01-2009, 07:43 AM	#1
tjnptel1 Cunning Linguist 147 Rep 2,219 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Norfolk, VA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2007 335i [0.00]	New comfort access key fob needs charging? The emblem on my old key got scratched up, and became non-existant. So the SA replaced it under warranty. When I picked up the car today, he told me to keep it plugged in the slot for a few times(and not keep it in the pocket like i would) so it can charge the battery. I asked him if he was sure about this because in the manual it says comfort access keys can't recharge and the batteries will need to be replaced after a while. He confirmed and said the battery should last a few years before replacing since placing it in the slot would recharge it. __________________ Bottles are for babies, Real men get blown.
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04-01-2009, 07:51 AM	#3
p4junk Private First Class 1 Rep 102 Posts Drives: '06 330i Monaco Blue Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Illinois iTrader: (0)	hahaha....I was told to keep the fob in the slot for it to recharge (CA with that fob was not working). I read the manual and soon discovered the fob was ACTUALLY MISSING THE BATTERY! I called back, told them dude, i need a battery for CA to work. See, open here - no don't use your key!, insert battery here, voila! c'est magnifique! non? I'm not aware that CA option charges battery. If it does, hey i'm a happy camper. __________________ \| 6SP MT \| Premium Package \| Sport Package \| Active Steering \| Comfort Access \| Navigation \| Satellite Radio \| Logic7 \| Heated Front Seats \| OEM Blacklines \| Matte Black Grilles \| Shadowline Trim \| BMW Performance Intake \| LUX 5.1 { 52,000mls }
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04-01-2009, 07:53 AM	#5
fnckr Second Lieutenant 6 Rep 247 Posts Drives: 2006 330i 6mt Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Boonton Twp, NJ iTrader: (0)	Your SA is wrong. The CA fobs have a replaceable and non-rechargeable battery. Your car will give you an alert when the battery is low. Putting it in the slot does nothing except satisfy some perverse fantasy...;-) If you don't get the alert then your battery is fine. To replace battery, remove the metal key. Then you'll see a little slot. Pry it open with a fine flat headed screwdriver.
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04-01-2009, 09:36 AM	#10
slupie Lieutenant 101 Rep 474 Posts Drives: 07 328iT, Montego Blau Join Date: May 2008 Location: Bartlett, IL iTrader: (2)	CA only can have two active key fobs. If they did not disable the one they replaced and activate your new one than the new one will not work with CA only as a standard key. When my key was replaced it did not work until the dealer programed the CA computer to recognize the original key and the new key. The current keys had to be present so they could program the correct ones in the computer
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04-01-2009, 03:09 PM	#12
EMG E92 Private 0 Rep 75 Posts Drives: bmw Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: hb iTrader: (0)	my sa told me to place it in the slot like twice a year __________________ 2008 BMW 335i Freelance SEO
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04-01-2009, 07:47 AM	#2
xsb00st Lieutenant Colonel 185 Rep 1,640 Posts Drives: Slow Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Earth iTrader: (21)	I was told by my SA that CA keys do not have a rechargeable battery...
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04-01-2009, 03:31 PM	#15
BK Smiling politely 165 Rep 7,931 Posts Drives: 330i Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Washington DC iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 330i [9.00]	Two things: 1 - CA key fob does NOT recharge. No ifs, ands or buts, no exceptions, no caveats. It DOES NOT RECHARGE. Lots of SAs are wrong about this. 2 - CA key fob only retains codes thrown by the car when it's in the slot. This is why your SA will stick the key in the slot when you come in for service and before using the key reader. It also may be why some SAs ask customers to put the key in the slot every once in a while, so the data gets logged. #2 above is entirely heresay, summarizing other discussions here at e90post and between me and my SA, so I can't say with 100% certainty that it is accurate. But for #1, it's 100% certain, the CA key doesn't recharge in the slot. __________________ E90 330i Black Sapphire 6MT \| 991.1 C4 Platinum Silver 7MT
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04-01-2009, 08:20 PM	#17
SteveMD Colonel 193 Rep 2,485 Posts Drives: 2016 F10 535i MSport Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Raventown! iTrader: (3)	CA fob has a non rechargeable battery. The design of the CA fob is slightly different as it has the battery access 'flap' which is not present on the non-CA fob. If it was rechargeable, I see no reason why it would have the flap - it would be identical to the non-CA fob. Also...page 35 of the 2009 manual - The remote control for cars with convernient access contains a battery that will need to be replaced from time to time. __________________ 2006 E90 330i (retired) 2009 E90 335i (retired) 2012 E70 X5 50i M Sport (retired) 2016 F10 535i M Sport
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04-01-2009, 08:42 PM	#18
ElliottP Private First Class 26 Rep 196 Posts Drives: 2008 E92 335i Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Baltimore, MD iTrader: (0)	Page 28 Page 38 Show that to your SA. Last word. __________________ My introduction: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=246615 Stats: 2008 E92 335i \| Manual \| Style 230 19" wheels \| Black Sapphire Metallic \| Black Leather \| Gray Poplar \| I-Drive \| Cold Weather \| Premium \| iPod USB Mods: Dinan Stage II ECU \| 30% Tint \| Breyton 18" Race GTS winter setup \| Black Grilles \| Keyhole-less Driver's Door
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04-01-2009, 09:19 PM	#19
TXSurfer Lieutenant 99 Rep 445 Posts Drives: 335i E92 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: TX iTrader: (1)	I just replaced my battery used a energizer cr2032 heres a pic sorry if its crappy took it with my BB8900 Attached Images __________________
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