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BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum > BMW E90/E92/E93 3-series General Forums > Regional Forums > UK > Both Key Fobs dead



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      10-17-2013, 05:17 PM   #1
Icekube
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Both Key Fobs dead

so, much to my delight, out of the gym tonight and went to unlock the car, nothing! (raining hard as well, joy!)

got the little key out, opened the car, alarm went off (normal?) stuck key in ignition, alarm shut up, car started fine and i got home.

fob wouldn't lock the car, so used the key again (still tipping it down! ), and went inside to get the spare, but, typically the spare didn't work either.

so i reckon the battery is now dead in my fob, and the spare fob hasnt been used for ages, so presumably that is dead as well.

i have cut open my fob and found the battery, but the pin outs on it do not match anything that is available to buy (any Panasonic VL2020's have the pins opposing each other, where as the key requires them at sort of 10 and 2 o'clock positions)


long story short, whats the best option here? i dont really want to be spending 200quid on a new fob from the stealer.

what would i need to code a second hand key?
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      10-17-2013, 06:25 PM   #2
AlanQS
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Two answers:

If you have comfort access then the removable batteries are available from any hardware store for £4.

From your description it sounds like you don't have comfort access in which case the battery in your fob is a rechargeable battery not intended to be changed by the user since it charges when the key is in the slot.

If you haven't used your spare key for a year then it will be stone dead.

If you already know all this, then I've wasted your last 15 seconds.

If you need a new key I don't think you can avoid a trip to the stealers and as far as I know, buying a "blank" from E-Bay is a waste of time and money.
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      10-17-2013, 06:45 PM   #3
Icekube
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yea, wish i had comfort access right now!
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      10-17-2013, 09:39 PM   #4
kowalski
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You should have the Antenna Diversity module checked. keys are probably just fine.

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=645962
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      10-18-2013, 07:30 AM   #5
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Try putting your spare in the ignition and use it when driving as this will allow your key to try and take charge, your spare is probably flat and the main key is probably packed up. So in short you might have just one key failed the other just flat through lack of use!
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      10-18-2013, 10:45 AM   #6
Icekube
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well i just had a look at the diversity module, as advised above, and the enclosure it sits in looks dry, ill need to actually remove the unit at the weekend and look inside it.

only thing strange was that my cover isnt bolted down like the guide would suggest, instead it had some messy, gooey black tigerseal type crap holding it down, which i suspect means thats either been inspected or replaced already in its past.

is there any way of "testing" the unit? it doesnt happen to throw a code or anything?
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      10-18-2013, 11:13 AM   #7
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My key battery was showing flat last week, you get a warning on the dash, I took the car for a 10 mile motorway blast and its now fine, I think when my keys were in my pocket something had been pressing against it.
More over if the battery on the key is flat, it shows a warning on the dash, on mine anyway.
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      10-18-2013, 01:14 PM   #8
kowalski
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Icekube View Post
well i just had a look at the diversity module, as advised above, and the enclosure it sits in looks dry, ill need to actually remove the unit at the weekend and look inside it.

only thing strange was that my cover isnt bolted down like the guide would suggest, instead it had some messy, gooey black tigerseal type crap holding it down, which i suspect means thats either been inspected or replaced already in its past.

is there any way of "testing" the unit? it doesnt happen to throw a code or anything?

when my car wouldn't unlock remotely i had it looked by an independent specialist I take my car to - all tests were done with an autologic device (checking and resetting all sorts of settings and modules). when the module wouldn;t respond he simply placed an order for a new one (and also changed the alarm settings it wasn;t disarming with the door lock and the alarm would sound the moment I opened the door - it stopped when the key was placed in the ignition)
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      10-19-2013, 06:16 PM   #9
Icekube
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well i had the bright idea to check the voltage on the battery in the fob i cut open, and its showing a healthy 3.8V at "idle" and 3.1V when pressing a button.
so that would suggest that the battery has plenty of charge and its not the keyfob at fault.

so i guess it must be the antenna in the roof, when its not chucking it down, ill need to remove it and have a look see inside.
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      10-21-2013, 01:15 AM   #10
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hi, i have just been through this with my E91, i check and changed the diversifier in under the spoiler and no change. It turned out to be the wires from the boot to in the roof were broken.

its a trick job to do but not hard and will only cost pennies for parts. i'd check this first.
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      10-21-2013, 05:56 AM   #11
Icekube
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ljw350 View Post
hi, i have just been through this with my E91, i check and changed the diversifier in under the spoiler and no change. It turned out to be the wires from the boot to in the roof were broken.

its a trick job to do but not hard and will only cost pennies for parts. i'd check this first.
you don't happen to have a photo of the wires your talking about, as in where they broke for you?

i did notice that a few of the "ribbons" were broken, i presume these may be earth straps?
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      06-04-2014, 08:08 AM   #12
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hi my fobs stopped working and i have broken earth straps. see pic. could these be the problem?

my mate suggested i also look at the cables going down from the lid, the ones enclosed in a flexible housing. Were these the ones ljw350 replaced?

Last edited by ilgidi; 06-04-2014 at 08:14 AM.. Reason: adding more info
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      06-05-2014, 05:05 AM   #13
Hulla the Hulla
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From memory, when poking around whilst cleaning the boot lid, my earth straps (now I know what they are thanks to this thread) are busted too but both my keyfobs work fine.

Hope you sort it.
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      06-05-2014, 09:54 AM   #14
Icekube
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I thought i had updated this post, obviously not!

I fixed this with a new Diversity Antenna, both fobs started working perfectly again after i plugged in the new antenna, my old one had some water damage/charring around some of the pins when I opened it up.
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