Locked out of car

[Wing07]

Hi all

Bit of a random issue

Upon returning back from work 6 days away.. my remote keyfob would not unlock the car.. neither would the key in the fob for the barrel on drivers door.. it seems my battery has drained so totally locked out.. has anyone come across this before.. spare key doesn't work either

Regards

[buzyg]

The key should still work in the lock it does not need the battery. Where is the spare key? That is most likely the easiest solution.

If your keys don't work in the lock then the ECU may have forgotten them. Never heard of that happening on a Z4. But can't think of another logical reason why they would not work. The transponder in the key is interrogated by the cars ECU when you start up. Not sure if it is when you try to open the door/boot.

[Scubaregs]

Have you tried the manual key in the passenger door?

Manual key should work irrespective of battery condition I would have thought.

Member of AA/RAC etc? They should be able to get you in.

[Argyll Andy]

Grille out, pop the bonnet manually giving access to the jump points under the bonnet, connect power source and see how you get on with your fob when the car has power

As said above, manual key blade should work in the door with or without power as it’s a mechanical, not electrical, prices so not sure why that’s not working.Is the barrel turning when using the key manually?

[Wing07]

Thank for the suggestions

Neither key works and the barrel is turning.. away again until next week.. Will get the AA out my local independent has never heard of this.. only just got back from a 2500 mile euro trip so glad its done it now really and not in Northern italy

[N4LLY]

That does sound bizzare

[RobbiZ4]

Neither key works and the barrel is turning.

That sounds strange! Do you use the Z4 key and not any from another BMW?

[Nictrix]

Does your keyfob have a rechargeable battery or does it need a replacement battery?
Depending on your cars spec some keyfobs batteries can be changed.
Other option is to sit the keyfob on an electric toothbrush charger for a day and it could charge the fobs battery.

[Busterboo]

Thanks for the heads-up, Wing07. Like others, I suspect, I've just checked my manual key. Hope you solve your problem.

[Zforbes]

Sounds like lack of use to me.

I tested mine a few weeks ago, I was leaving the car for a couple of weeks whilst in Spain, thought I'd make sure the central locking was working with the key just in case the battery was flat upon my return.

Couldn't get it working to begin with, flooded the lock with WD and turned many times before it started working again.

I guess that years of not being used caused it to be tight.

Worked for me and should work for the OP.

[buzyg]

Sounds like lack of use to me.

I tested mine a few weeks ago, I was leaving the car for a couple of weeks whilst in Spain, thought I'd make sure the central locking was working with the key just in case the battery was flat upon my return.

Couldn't get it working to begin with, flooded the lock with WD and turned many times before it started working again.

I guess that years of not being used caused it to be tight.

Worked for me and should work for the OP.

Good old WD. Should have thought of that one. Lets hope that sorts it for the OP

[Zforbes]

Sounds like lack of use to me.

I tested mine a few weeks ago, I was leaving the car for a couple of weeks whilst in Spain, thought I'd make sure the central locking was working with the key just in case the battery was flat upon my return.

Couldn't get it working to begin with, flooded the lock with WD and turned many times before it started working again.

I guess that years of not being used caused it to be tight.

Worked for me and should work for the OP.

Good old WD. Should have thought of that one. Lets hope that sorts it for the OP

I'm confident, thought I had the wrong key for a while, after 10 minutes of wiggling it was sorted.

WD is the answer to the world's biggest problems

[Wing07]

Away working again at the moment as I say the key turns clockwise and anti clockwise on both sets but won't unlock the car.. Will get AA out next week when back and if they are unable to do anything will go down the route of removing grill to gain access to bonnet latch so I can connect power.. just seem totally bizarre to me its left every week for 6 days as HGV tramper and never any issues in 4 years of ownership.. Will update thread as and when I get ro the bottom.. thanks again for the responses and suggestions

[Zforbes]

Away working again at the moment as I say the key turns clockwise and anti clockwise on both sets but won't unlock the car.. Will get AA out next week when back and if they are unable to do anything will go down the route of removing grill to gain access to bonnet latch so I can connect power.. just seem totally bizarre to me its left every week for 6 days as HGV tramper and never any issues in 4 years of ownership.. Will update thread as and when I get ro the bottom.. thanks again for the responses and suggestions

Have you lubricated the lock?

Actuates when the key is about 90 Deg either way.

[Wing07]

Afternoon All

Thanks for the suggestions again from everyone..

Got back to the yard today and flooded the keyhole with lubricant and after about 20mins of turning the door eventually unlocked. Happy days. Connected jump leads and wudnt start initially but left them connected for 10 mins or so and eventually started wanted to cut out but held the revs until idle achieved.. battery warning light was on stating discharge whilst stationery or something to that effect.. went out after a while.. decided to replace battery as it was the original from new and my local indy had one in stock so all sorted

Just to note that also on removing the kidney grill there is no direct access to the bonnet catch as attempted this aswell.

Thanks again for all the suggestions