Key Fob Questions

N

Neens76

Member
Hello All

Recent purchase of Z4 and have both keys. Spare is dead but I’ll get to that another time. The main key was working fine for a week but then wasn’t perhaps powerful enough to unlock via the remote - it would open the boot and lock it remotely but not unlock. I tried to rest it on a toothbrush charging base but was hard to rest it on. Tried it this afternoon pointing right at the rear view mirror and it does light up the interior light at least. Needed to move the car but when I went to lock it it’s now bloody dead - not even opening the boot now. So, do I need a longer charge or do I need to get the battery replaced, take for a long drive or what?

Thanks in advance.
Paul
 
Just had a key repaired and fitted with a new battery at the Master Locksmith, 132, green Lanes, Palmers Green, London, N13 5UN. Have a look at his website which has prices on it. Very reasonable. Mine cost £24.99 plus postage and he turned it round in a couple of days. I would certainly use him again. :thumbsup:
 
IRD said:
Just had a key repaired and fitted with a new battery at the Master Locksmith, 132, green Lanes, Palmers Green, London, N13 5UN. Have a look at his website which has prices on it. Very reasonable. Mine cost £24.99 plus postage and he turned it round in a couple of days. I would certainly use him again. :thumbsup:
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That sounds good Ian. So he splits your key and puts it back together with a new battery. Good as new or can you see evidence of the break in?
 
Thanks IRD, appreciate it. So did you need to do anything with the key to get it working with the car again fully or was it good to go out the packet?
 
Martin, yes you can see the key has been opened and the re-sealed. I am going to rub mine down with some fine emery paper try a bit of filler to tidy it up. But I think it is a price worth paying to have a working spare key. I think you can also buy a new key for an additional £20 and he will cut the new blade and transfer the electronics from you old key. I didn’t bother since this is just a spare key. If I need his services again I think I would go for the new key. All the info. Is on his website.
Neens, when the key comes back you have to sync it with your car but it is easy and straightforward and he sends written instructions. It takes less than a minute.
 
That looks alright to me. I guess EBay sellers do some kind of silicone cover if you want to tart it up - or pay the additional for a new key etc.

Before I speak to Master Locksmith I’m going to test to see if this is perhaps a GM5 module issue? Seems unlikely as it’s been fine since the car battery was replaced a few weeks ago by the previous owner (Tominator on here).
The awesome enuff_Zed recommends testing this by manually opening the drivers door then trying to open the passenger door via the central locking button on centre console. I’ll try this tomorrow. £40 for a module refurb or £25 per key refurb.
 
Found a service which states.

We know how to open and seal these cases up so you wont even be able to tell its been opened.

https://www.remotefobcentre.com/collections/bmw/products/repair-refurbishment-service-for-bmw-1-3-5-6-x3-x5-z4-remote-key-fob

Cheaper too at £20
 
IRD said:
Definitely worth a try. Have you looked to see if there are any reviews?
:thumbsup:
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https://www.trustpilot.com/review/remotefobcentre.com?utm_medium=trustbox&utm_source=MicroReviewCount

151 reviews on trustpilot

96% excellent and 2% great and 1% average. So only 1% gave a bad review and IMO bad reviews are usually more common as people are more motivated to leave a review when it's gone wrong rather than right.

at £20 it's got to be worth a try anyway even if you just need a new battery done.
 
SonnyA85 said:
IRD said:
Definitely worth a try. Have you looked to see if there are any reviews?
:thumbsup:
Click to expand...

https://www.trustpilot.com/review/remotefobcentre.com?utm_medium=trustbox&utm_source=MicroReviewCount

151 reviews on trustpilot

96% excellent and 2% great and 1% average. So only 1% gave a bad review and IMO bad reviews are usually more common as people are more motivated to leave a review when it's gone wrong rather than right.

at £20 it's got to be worth a try anyway even if you just need a new battery done.
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Good luck with it. Let us know how you get on.
 
IRD said:
SonnyA85 said:
IRD said:
Definitely worth a try. Have you looked to see if there are any reviews?
:thumbsup:
Click to expand...

https://www.trustpilot.com/review/remotefobcentre.com?utm_medium=trustbox&utm_source=MicroReviewCount

151 reviews on trustpilot

96% excellent and 2% great and 1% average. So only 1% gave a bad review and IMO bad reviews are usually more common as people are more motivated to leave a review when it's gone wrong rather than right.

at £20 it's got to be worth a try anyway even if you just need a new battery done.
Click to expand...

Good luck with it. Let us know how you get on.
Click to expand...

Car needs a wash and a MOT then road tax first. been off the road due to EPS failing (again) this time I got it remanufactured than a second hand unit. So should last forever hopefully.

I'll then send them 1 key at a time. both haven't been used in 2 years and hardly got any use in the first place so will be worth getting done.

If they come back looking like yours I'll get a cheap cover off ebay.
 
I’m trying the “charge it on a battery powered toothbrush charger” tonight to see if I can bring my keys back to life. The car has been in the shop so much lately for repairs, it hasn’t been driven much. Fingers crossed. I’m not sure who could change the battery in the US.
 
wiseguy said:
I’m trying the “charge it on a battery powered toothbrush charger” tonight to see if I can bring my keys back to life. The car has been in the shop so much lately for repairs, it hasn’t been driven much. Fingers crossed. I’m not sure who could change the battery in the US.
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My car never moved for over 2 years and both keys still work fine. Before that it done like 500-900 miles per year for a few years.

No idea how both batteries are still okay but they are.

I'd say if they aren't charging then they are shot. From my limited experience they are pretty hard to kill
 
We have traders in the UK that refurb keys for resonable money, send the key to them in mail and it comes back having been fitted with a new battery and buttons. There must be some traders in the USA who offer this type of service.
 
wiseguy said:
I’m trying the “charge it on a battery powered toothbrush charger” tonight to see if I can bring my keys back to life. The car has been in the shop so much lately for repairs, it hasn’t been driven much. Fingers crossed. I’m not sure who could change the battery in the US.
Click to expand...
Before you assume your key battery is flat, have you done a full key reset?
 
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