The dreaded "KEY BUTTONS no longer FUNCTION"

[JManofFL]

Try to keep it short.

2008 Z4 3.0I E85 I believe. Bought it very ignorant of any key restrictions.

Had two keys, one looked like it had been "opened and super glued". The buttons on it did nothing.

The OTHER worked for 9 months, then stopped.

Short version, I bought a new key....$512 dollars (gulp).

Key inserts and starts the car, buttons do nothing. But the dealer cannot initiate the key. Gentleman has 18 years experience and has initiated hundreds of cars. At this point, dealer says my option is to pay to diagnose, then repair the car. Says it cannot be the key. Cannot RETURN the key obviously as "it works".

The car is 18 years old, now I feel like a fool for spending over $500 for a damn key with buttons only to find the buttons do not work!

Honest opinion, any idea about how MUCH it will be to peek around and hope it is the read mirror antenna for the key? WOULD YOU THROW GOOD MONEY AFTER BAD or just pack it in and open everything with the key.

(NOTE: Hard to be chivalrous in this machine as the passenger door has no manual key unlock!

 

[Mr Tidy]

This might be worth a try.

Post in thread 'Help with remote lock'

Nov 26, 2019

Did you sync the keys when you had the new key cut?
There are two systems in the keys, ione isthe transponder that allows the car to start, this is what you coded with the AK90 machine. The other is the central locking system contained on the printed circuit board inside the key. This has to be synced to the car by a series of button presses on the key. Here is a sequence on how to do this.
Be aware if you sync one key you will have to sync all other keys you have immediatly after doing the first one within 30 seconds of doing the first key otherwise the subsequent keys will not be synced...

• colb

 

[BumpyZ4]

Change the batteries in the key FOB's.

 

[enuff_zed]

The fact the key 'works' is irrelevant and the dealer should know this. It contains a transponder which simply 'replies' to a signal from the EWS (Immobiliser) and doesn't require it's own battery.
However, the locking/unlocking function is controlled by a battery within the fob. To work, the key has to be paired to the GM5 module as described above. Therefore, it is not possible to rule out a dead battery within the key fob. It may have been sat around for years without being charged.