[ssmith96]

Originally Posted by StartedFromTheBottom

love this DIY

Thanks !

[lwright54]

Originally Posted by e90mbition

any glue required??

If you are already dismantling your fob, why not add a dab of glue, right?
Well, let me tell you, be careful! Glue isn't a great conductor and it may change the thermodynamics of your fob while it's sitting in the sun and/or against your leg in a pocket etc.

Perhaps a better upgrade is to add a kind of gasket between the fob halves to repel water and improve fitment--while still allowing for future dismantling or internal access, if desired/necessary.

Nevertheless, if glue is the goal:
*Use a gel-based, "non-runny", plastic-appropriate super glue with precision application tip and a drying time of 20 seconds or more

*Apply glue only to the four plastic posts where the e-board's/chip's notches secure equipment electronics and not to the surrounding plastic circumferentially (i.e. not all the way around fob lip). Reference original pictures 4, 5 & 6.

*Utilize moderate pressure as applicable while glue dries, adhering halves and making your fob the ultimate driving machine ignition mechansim

Forgive the nonsense and good luck!

[alfazrus]

Originally Posted by matthew721

Where did you buy yours from? Some people posted theirs didn't fit perfectly, if yours did, could you post details on your seller? Thanks

I'm sorry haven't check this for a while. Although it feels funny at first, in a couple of days i didnt feel any difference. Maybe because it was brand new. It feels tighter at first, but now it's fine. I've been using it for a while now and no problems. I actually bought 3 of them just in case. Here is the vendor. http://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-3-BUTTON...item2ec41d8676

[bmw325i]

Originally Posted by lwright54

If you are already dismantling your fob, why not add a dab of glue, right?
Well, let me tell you, be careful! Glue isn't a great conductor and it may change the thermodynamics of your fob while it's sitting in the sun and/or against your leg in a pocket etc.

Perhaps a better upgrade is to add a kind of gasket between the fob halves to repel water and improve fitment--while still allowing for future dismantling or internal access, if desired/necessary.

Nevertheless, if glue is the goal:
*Use a gel-based, "non-runny", plastic-appropriate super glue with precision application tip and a drying time of 20 seconds or more

*Apply glue only to the four plastic posts where the e-board's/chip's notches secure equipment electronics and not to the surrounding plastic circumferentially (i.e. not all the way around fob lip). Reference original pictures 4, 5 & 6.

*Utilize moderate pressure as applicable while glue dries, adhering halves and making your fob the ultimate driving machine ignition mechansim

Forgive the nonsense and good luck!

Ordering one right now to do this, minus the glue!

[CarEnthused]

Originally Posted by alfazrus

I'm sorry haven't check this for a while. Although it feels funny at first, in a couple of days i didnt feel any difference. Maybe because it was brand new. It feels tighter at first, but now it's fine. I've been using it for a while now and no problems. I actually bought 3 of them just in case. Here is the vendor. http://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-3-BUTTON...item2ec41d8676

I bought a replacement case from this vendor. If you care at all about quality, don't buy this case. If you're like me and pay attention to quality and you're going to compare it to the OEM key, this is completely inferior. The buttons aren't nearly as firm. The case comes apart very easily and the stickers on mine weren't even properly aligned.

I don't recommend buying from this vendor. I'm going to keep looking at my key but as of right now, I'm not able to use this key with my car. Thankfully I have a spare key.

EDIT: My key is now working. The original post didn't mention moving the metal piece from the original key into the replacement key. Without that, the key won't work because it won't make the correct contact with the circuit board. It's a bit obvious but some people might miss that.

I'll upload pictures of the key tonight to illustrate what is wrong with it.

[johnyb62]

Can someone recommend who to purchase this from, as some comments above about not perfect fit and bmw logo. Cheers

[ssmith96]

Originally Posted by tylerwillingham

EDIT: My key is now working. The original post didn't mention moving the metal piece from the original key into the replacement key. Without that, the key won't work because it won't make the correct contact with the circuit board. It's a bit obvious but some people might miss that.

I'll upload pictures of the key tonight to illustrate what is wrong with it.

What do you mean the metal piece? I didn't notice any metal pieces in my key, just moved over the circuit board.

[CarEnthused]

Originally Posted by johnyb62

Can someone recommend who to purchase this from, as some comments above about not perfect fit and bmw logo. Cheers

I wish I knew.

I contacted the eBay seller to give him the opportunity to make it right but he neglected to respond to me after a couple of days, so I left negative feedback.

[CarEnthused]

Originally Posted by ssmith96

What do you mean the metal piece? I didn't notice any metal pieces in my key, just moved over the circuit board.

It's the little metal clip that makes a secondary contact between the edge of the battery and the board. Maybe it's a comfort access thing?

[Judge Dredd]

Originally Posted by tylerwillingham

It's the little metal clip that makes a secondary contact between the edge of the battery and the board. Maybe it's a comfort access thing?

No. It's to do with the older model of this key. If you look inside when you've got it apart, you should see some sort of serial number and then a < or > (can't remember), and then a number, from what I've seen, 1 or 2. The 2 model does NOT have a little metal clip, a removable battery, or a battery door. The 1 model has all of those things. Also, they didn't snap together. I sanded the pieces that got rough when I was prying (since I had to reuse the bottom portion of the old clip). Glued them after sand on.

[makkan00]

Can anybody recommend a decent key fob shell?

[F06msportmia]

WARNING! Be careful with buying key fob's on ebay. So my key is about 8 years old and well it taken a beating.

So I went on ebay and bought one for $23 bucks or so, and well quality is NOT very good. Had to rig it so the trunk button had more of push on it. Looks its a 7 out of 10 but functionality not so good. It shipped out of Illinois, there is also another vendor out of Cali but looks like the same style probably out of the same Chinese factory.

If any one has a recommended place, please post.

[BMW_Diesel_Owner]

What battery does the 2009 X5 Smart Key (Key Fob) use? Also, if I replace the battery while replacing the housing, do I need to reprogram the Smart Key?

[850CSi]

Anyone have any recommendations on ebay/amazon sellers with decent quality fobs?

[Jhe]

This may sound like astupid question, or I missed something.... But it seems you just took it apart and rebuilt it. Did you purchashe a new housing?

[smithf80]

Originally Posted by Jhe

This may sound like astupid question, or I missed something.... But it seems you just took it apart and rebuilt it. Did you purchashe a new housing?

Haha yes I did/

[Jhe]

Now it makes sense. lol

[Augster]

Thanks for others posting their impressions of the Chinese cases; I really wanted to replace my case but after hearing some of the disappointing quality issues, I can live with some of the blemishes as it's not really that bad at all.

I need to buy a second key anyways for emergency backup, and will continue to use my current key as the daily driver beater.

[Shoey5]

Originally Posted by 850CSi

Anyone have any recommendations on ebay/amazon sellers with decent quality fobs?

I second that, read one user post that the shell they ordered on ebay had the center (BMW Logo) button sticking out too much which caused it to get stuck in the slot. There was a guy selling replacement shells local to my area so I went to check them out. Overall build quality looked ok but I could tell right away that the center button was sticking out way to much. If all the shells are the same crappy Chinese junk like that, they are a waste of time!!!!

Can anyone confirm who if any is selling good quality replacement fob shells?

[e90ben]

used this to swap keys on NON-CA key

Worked well, but like others, I received key fobs that have the lock button that protrudes a bit.

I also needed to use some glue to stick the BMW logo

[Agentphish]

So I guess there's no good real cases out there. I kinda jacked one up trying to vinyl wrap it.

The moral is don't.

[skiracer8148]

I ordered off ebay, mine is not the same after opening it up. Guess its because I have comfort access. Has anyone seen those key shells on ebay?