Comfort access questions

pesticidal · Post by **pesticidal** » Fri Oct 21, 2022 6:56 pm

AnubisZed wrote: ↑Fri Oct 21, 2022 6:34 pm changed to a non

AnubisZed wrote: ↑Fri Oct 21, 2022 6:34 pm If you're not able to start without inserting it then I'd suggest one of the following....
1) Someone has changed to a non-Comfort Access fob!
2) Someone has changed the door handles.
3) Your Comfort Access is faulty - CA module gone wrong, receiver not picking up signal, etc

Could ve a good idea to have any fault codes read before doing anything else.

Interesting. Doubtful the door handles, but 1 & 3 are a possibility.

I have a basic reader, it didn’t show any fault codes. But, very basic reader…

Chippie · Post by **Chippie** » Fri Oct 21, 2022 7:23 pm

Non comfort fobs have a replaceable battery, none comfort has a built in rechargeable battery, is it possible that it’s had a new fob and that’s not been programmed for comfort access

pesticidal · Post by **pesticidal** » Fri Oct 21, 2022 7:25 pm

Chippie wrote: ↑Fri Oct 21, 2022 7:23 pm Non comfort fobs have a replaceable battery, none comfort has a built in rechargeable battery, is it possible that it’s had a new fob and that’s not been programmed for comfort access

I do have a replaceable battery, put in a new one.

B21 · Post by **B21** » Fri Oct 21, 2022 7:38 pm

Looks like a decent diagnostic readout required….at the risk of sounding like a stuck record…

pesticidal · Post by **pesticidal** » Fri Oct 21, 2022 7:58 pm

AnubisZed · Post by **AnubisZed** » Fri Oct 21, 2022 9:39 pm

On the replacement battery, you can get clone fobs with replaceable batteries.

pesticidal · Post by **pesticidal** » Tue Oct 25, 2022 5:10 pm

AnubisZed wrote: ↑Fri Oct 21, 2022 9:39 pm On the replacement battery, you can get clone fobs with replaceable batteries.

From BMW only, or aftermarket?

B21 · Post by **B21** » Tue Oct 25, 2022 6:24 pm

pesticidal wrote: ↑Tue Oct 25, 2022 5:10 pm
AnubisZed wrote: ↑Fri Oct 21, 2022 9:39 pm On the replacement battery, you can get clone fobs with replaceable batteries.
From BMW only, or aftermarket?

Any 2032 battery will suffice…

Smartbear · Post by **Smartbear** » Tue Oct 25, 2022 6:26 pm

pesticidal wrote: ↑Tue Oct 25, 2022 5:10 pm
AnubisZed wrote: ↑Fri Oct 21, 2022 9:39 pm On the replacement battery, you can get clone fobs with replaceable batteries.
From BMW only, or aftermarket?

I doubt that BMW would be selling cloned fobs?
Rob

pesticidal · Post by **pesticidal** » Tue Oct 25, 2022 10:45 pm

Smartbear wrote: ↑Tue Oct 25, 2022 6:26 pm
pesticidal wrote: ↑Tue Oct 25, 2022 5:10 pm
AnubisZed wrote: ↑Fri Oct 21, 2022 9:39 pm On the replacement battery, you can get clone fobs with replaceable batteries.
From BMW only, or aftermarket?

Let me rephrase. Are fobs only available from BMW, or are there 3rd party manufacturers that have fobs that are compatible?
I doubt that BMW would be selling cloned fobs?
Rob

AnubisZed · Post by **AnubisZed** » Wed Oct 26, 2022 8:15 am

BMW sell genuine new fobs and you can find none new genuine fobs on eBay and Aliexpress.
Now there is a lot of talk about the fobs on site like Aliexpress that are actually used fobs in new cases, and I'm told you cannot code these to another car (I can't confirm that though)

mcbutler · Post by **mcbutler** » Wed Oct 26, 2022 12:20 pm

Pondrew wrote: ↑Fri Oct 21, 2022 1:30 pm
mcbutler wrote: ↑Fri Oct 21, 2022 12:19 pm Do you have two key fobs ?
Their is a procedure for resynching the key with your car, usually used when comfort access works but key fob buttons do not, but worth a try if you like, it goes like this.
1. Insert the key into the 'key hole' on the dashboard
2. Start the car and wait around a minute
3. Remove the key
4. Cross your fingers and toes (not mandatory)
5. Try your comfort access.

Anyone with comfort access should do this fairly regularly. Over time the key-car link breaks down and you can get to the stage where your fob battery is low but the car will not report it and your key could get locked in the car...
Comfort access doesn't have a 'keyhole', though. It is keyless go. The fobs have proper batteries which need to be replaced when they wear out. The OP said he has already changed the battery.

So your car does not have a hole for the key in the dashboard then!!!!

Pondrew · Post by **Pondrew** » Wed Oct 26, 2022 12:23 pm

mcbutler wrote: ↑Wed Oct 26, 2022 12:20 pm So your car does not have a hole for the key in the dashboard then!!!!

The one with comfort access doesn't, no. But that's not the Z4. I was presuming (wrongly) that all BMs with comfort access were the same. Turns out the Z4 has 'semi-comfort access'.

pesticidal · Post by **pesticidal** » Wed Nov 23, 2022 11:14 pm

AnubisZed wrote: ↑Fri Oct 21, 2022 6:34 pm If you're not able to start without inserting it then I'd suggest one of the following....
1) Someone has changed to a non-Comfort Access fob!
2) Someone has changed the door handles.
3) Your Comfort Access is faulty - CA module gone wrong, receiver not picking up signal, etc

Could ve a good idea to have any fault codes read before doing anything else.

Ding! We have a winner! #1.

I got the car to Arizona, and drove over the the local BMW dealer. Told them my issue, and wanted to get a secondary key. They took a look at my fob, and determined it wasn't able to be programed for the easy access because it's an aftermarket key.

Buying a secondary key by itself isn't going to work. They said I need to replace a module that ties the fobs to the car. $1,500, and 6 hours labor to install!

pesticidal · Post by **pesticidal** » Sun Dec 04, 2022 4:50 pm

Follow up: I contacted Bimmer Tech, and they assured me they assured me that they can sell and program a fob for me. I ordered on, but it may take a while to get it. I have my fingers crossed....

Z4-forum.com

Z4-forum.com