Locked out, Battery Dead, Both keys Dead.

[ZLuke]

Hi people, where do I start........ here we go, 04 Z4 Roadster/Hard Top on ATM, 2.2 Auto. The battery is dead, and both the key fobs are dead, I can't unlock the car, the doors or the boot. Central locking or Manually (I believe this is due to the battery and keys), Iv'e searched all over however can't find a solution that matches my particular problem. I'm assuming if I could open the boot and doors I could replace the battery and thus potentially charge the keys in the ignition (thats if the keys will work considering they are dead). I really dont want to part with a fortune to BMW if there is a way to fix this myself or on the cheap.

Any help will be fantastic guys

Thanks in advance hopefully.

Luke

 

[fixit man]

Hi people, where do I start........ here we go, 04 Z4 Roadster/Hard Top on ATM, 2.2 Auto. The battery is dead, and both the key fobs are dead, I can't unlock the car, the doors or the boot. Central locking or Manually (I believe this is due to the battery and keys), Iv'e searched all over however can't find a solution that matches my particular problem. I'm assuming if I could open the boot and doors I could replace the battery and thus potentially charge the keys in the ignition (thats if the keys will work considering they are dead). I really dont want to part with a fortune to BMW if there is a way to fix this myself or on the cheap.

Any help will be fantastic guys

Thanks in advance hopefully.

Hi,

do you have a key ?...then open the door (by putting key into the lock), pull the bonnet catch, open the bonnet, connect jumper leads and battery to connections under the bonnet and start or at least you'll have power to open the boot !

Luke

 

[ZLuke]

Hi,

do you have a key ?...then open the door (by putting key into the lock), pull the bonnet catch, open the bonnet, connect jumper leads and battery to connections under the bonnet and start or at least you'll have power to open the boot !

Thanks for your reply Fix it,

Yes I have a key, I've tried it in the door (Manually). however it does not unlock the door. I'm positive its not something simple like not turning the key far enough, when I attempt to unlock the door with the key the lock/unlock buttons at the inside top of the door do not raise. Isn't the battery in the boot? I have never jump started a car but I'm assuming you connect to the battery in order to jump it.

Thanks again Fix it

Luke

 

[RJS-Z4]

Open the boot with the key, replace battery, open door with the key (hopefully the new battery will trigger the central locking or similar).

If it doesn't work, go get a stanley, open the key up, and go get a replacement battery for that too.

With a new battery in car and key, the car will open.

Alternatively, if it's a roadster, a long VERY THIN bamboo cane through the top of the passenger or driver window top where it meets the roof, with a hook on the end (you'll have to fashion this yourself), run that all the way accross the interior until you get to the door hande, hook the hook around and pull.

 

[Liam-O]

The battery is in the boot, however there are jumping points under the bonnet.

Few options, get a new key from BMW, drill the boot lock, smash window to get to the bonnet catch.

 

[fixit man]

Hi,

do you have a key ?...then open the door (by putting key into the lock), pull the bonnet catch, open the bonnet, connect jumper leads and battery to connections under the bonnet and start or at least you'll have power to open the boot !

Thanks for your reply Fix it,

Yes I have a key, I've tried it in the door (Manually). however it does not unlock the door. I'm positive its not something simple like not turning the key far enough, when I attempt to unlock the door with the key the lock/unlock buttons at the inside top of the door do not raise. Isn't the battery in the boot? I have never jump started a car but I'm assuming you connect to the battery in order to jump it.

Thanks again Fix it

Luke

As Liam-O said there are connections under the bonnet you don't have to connect direct to the battery, don't understand why the key will not open it manually .
I have a spare key that has no transponder in it and it opens the doors, maybe someone with more knowledge about that part will be a long soon ! other wise as Liam-o said ..time to get rough and drill stuff ...

 

[ZLuke]

Thanks guys,

I will have another go unlocking the Doors & Boot manually with the key tonight just to be sure I'm being a tool

And If all else fails maybe try one of the solutions mentioned.

That said, I heard that if you turn the key in the door and hold it turned for 5-10 seconds the windows drop. (Is this true?)

It may help with the hooking the door handle idea as I have my Hardtop on the roadster at present.

Thanks again guys

Luke

 

[NeilP]

Good luck with the unlocking.

Once you do, hardwire a charger that you have access to from the outside.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/CTEK-XS-0-8-12V-1-2A/dp/B004RADNCQ/ref=sr_1_4?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1360593580&sr=1-4

http://www.amazon.co.uk/C-Tek-Comfort-Connect-Extension-Cable/dp/B00ADIHUVG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1360593506&sr=8-1

Comes with a quick disconnect lead which will be relatively short. The extension allows you to wire it say to behind the bumper so if the problem occurs again, you can charge the battery and then unlock.

 

[PaulG]

You don't need to smash the window to open the bonnet. Remove the kidney grills and you can get to the bonnet catch. With a bit of fumbling, you can unlatch the bonnet.

No specific instructions for obvious reasons.

 

[Greeno]

You don't need to smash the window to open the bonnet. Remove the kidney grills and you can get to the bonnet catch. With a bit of fumbling, you can unlatch the bonnet.

No specific instructions for obvious reasons.

What you need to add to that is although the battery is in the boot there are jump points at the front too.

Key should still work even if there ain't no juice.

 

[Liam-O]

You don't need to smash the window to open the bonnet. Remove the kidney grills and you can get to the bonnet catch. With a bit of fumbling, you can unlatch the bonnet.

No specific instructions for obvious reasons.

I didn't think that the kidneys could be take out from the outside?

 

[Stuart Truman]

Yep, the kidneys can be pulled down and then out. Not difficult and a pita is you have nice ones that some git wants to steal. It's a good way to get to a sticking bonnet release.

As others have said, no need to inflict damage on the car to get into the boot and the battery

 

[den5ap]

you can charge your key on a sonic toothbrush charging station!

 

[Stuart Truman]

If the car is dead, neither key will work. It's unlikely they've both gone dead simultaneously.

 

[ZLuke]

If the car is dead, neither key will work. It's unlikely they've both gone dead simultaneously.

I think one key was already dead when I got the car, I wasnt aware they charged in the ignition so didnt use the dead key. Now both are dead. If I can get into the boot and change the battery will the keys work in the doors then? (they definitely dont unlock the doors manually ATM) also if the keys are dead will they even start the car once battery changed?

Cheers

 

[Stuart Truman]

I had a dead key when I got my last car. As it started to charge I got random issues with it. Typically it would unlock and not lock but once charged it was fine. Both worked to start the car regardless of charge. The keys should work in the ignition once the car is alive and if you do a few long drives they'll come back to life. Rotate their usage regularly to keep them charged (I swap them every other month)

I'm more concerned that they won't unlock it manually. Try them in the boot and see if that unlocks.

 

[ZLuke]

I had a dead key when I got my last car. As it started to charge I got random issues with it. Typically it would unlock and not lock but once charged it was fine. Both worked to start the car regardless of charge. The keys should work in the ignition once the car is alive and if you do a few long drives they'll come back to life. Rotate their usage regularly to keep them charged (I swap them every other month)

I'm more concerned that they won't unlock it manually. Try them in the boot and see if that unlocks.

Had another another go with the keys, definitely no luck with the doors (I dont know if its anything to do with the battery in the car being dead). After fiddling about with the boot lock, and abit of oil it seems the boot lock seized up. So GOOD NEWS being able to get into the boot and change the battery one day this week. But yeah the keys not manually unlocking the doors worries me abit. Theyre definitley not seized up, key worked in the door fine until the FOB & the car battery died.

Cheers Stu

 

[Stuart Truman]

Get the battery on a charger, you might be able to charge it enough to get the car going. With it totally dead you might be facing a few other funnies when the car comes back to life. People have had theirs go into transit mode etc.

Good luck!

 

[ZLuke]

Cheers Stu, Thanks everyone!

I'll let you know how I get on on!

 

[sapman75]

Hi Luke
Sorry to hear about the issue with the car.
I understand what the guys are saying about manually de unlocking the car with the key but not working makes it sound like the dead locks are activated?