Key - battery won't charge

When I bought my 2000 735i it came with two remote keys.

One works fine, but the other won't work the remote only the locks.

I tried the recommended method of using the key on a long drive to recharge
it to no avail.

The battery is presumably dead, but appears inaccessible.

Is there any way to revitalise the key or will I need to order a new one
from a dealer?

--

R. Mark Clayton

nospamclayton (AT) btinternet (DOT) com
remove nospa for email

On Fri, 13 Apr 2007 14:50:40 +0100, "R. Mark Clayton"
<nospamclayton (AT) btinternet (DOT) com> wrote:

When I bought my 2000 735i it came with two remote keys.

One works fine, but the other won't work the remote only the locks.

I tried the recommended method of using the key on a long drive to recharge
it to no avail.

The battery is presumably dead, but appears inaccessible.

Is there any way to revitalise the key or will I need to order a new one
from a dealer?

2000 ----------- Hmm! these have a new style battery that is charged by the
induction method.

According to the BMW service CD this key also stores info and can be read or
detected by the dealer's modic or whatever system. According to the Cd it's a
Dealer fix item and proof of ownerships is required.


Hugh

Anyone know if a 1999 528i key is similar? I only got 1 key with the car
(seems to work fine, but buttons worn off). I bought another from the
dealer ($160). I have wondered how long the battery lasted, if its
chargable and/or changable...

Interesting thread.


Oscar (AT) nowhere (DOT) com wrote in
news:ttfv131o2b1gc1cj8abrj3bipbgmmspov2 (AT) 4ax (DOT) com:

On Fri, 13 Apr 2007 14:50:40 +0100, "R. Mark Clayton"
nospamclayton (AT) btinternet (DOT) com> wrote:

When I bought my 2000 735i it came with two remote keys.

One works fine, but the other won't work the remote only the locks.

I tried the recommended method of using the key on a long drive to
recharge it to no avail.

The battery is presumably dead, but appears inaccessible.

Is there any way to revitalise the key or will I need to order a new
one from a dealer?


2000 ----------- Hmm! these have a new style battery that is charged
by the induction method.

According to the BMW service CD this key also stores info and can be
read or detected by the dealer's modic or whatever system. According
to the Cd it's a Dealer fix item and proof of ownerships is required.


Hugh

In article <Xns9911E412A8203bmwguy (AT) 216 (DOT) 77.188.18>,
BMW Guy <bmw58i99 (AT) hotmail (DOT) com> wrote:

Anyone know if a 1999 528i key is similar? I only got 1 key with the
car (seems to work fine, but buttons worn off). I bought another from
the dealer ($160). I have wondered how long the battery lasted, if its
chargable and/or changable...

I'm not sure when they changed - my early 528 has a replaceable cell. Look
for an obvious way of opening the key body.

--
*Why don't sheep shrink when it rains?

Dave Plowman dave (AT) davenoise (DOT) co.uk London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Only obvious latch is the little cover on the back (I assumed it was the
battery door with my old key), but when I bought the new key, it was just
an empry space... I pointed it out to them, and they sold me a little cover
for $4 to snap over it (maybe its where the colors go for the key memory
identifers?).

Both keys seem to work fine, if I should use the old key every now and then
to "charge" it, I will. I would use it more if it didnt look so trashed.
Does anyone know if you can get new rubber buttons for the remote part of
the key?

"Dave Plowman (News)" <dave (AT) davenoise (DOT) co.uk> wrote in
news:4ed34c923cdave (AT) davenoise (DOT) co.uk:

In article <Xns9911E412A8203bmwguy (AT) 216 (DOT) 77.188.18>,
BMW Guy <bmw58i99 (AT) hotmail (DOT) com> wrote:
Anyone know if a 1999 528i key is similar? I only got 1 key with the
car (seems to work fine, but buttons worn off). I bought another
from the dealer ($160). I have wondered how long the battery lasted,
if its chargable and/or changable...

I'm not sure when they changed - my early 528 has a replaceable cell.
Look for an obvious way of opening the key body.

"BMW Guy" <bmw58i99 (AT) hotmail (DOT) com> wrote

Only obvious latch is the little cover on the back (I assumed it was the
battery door with my old key), but when I bought the new key, it was just
an empry space... I pointed it out to them, and they sold me a little
cover
for $4 to snap over it (maybe its where the colors go for the key memory
identifers?).

Both keys seem to work fine, if I should use the old key every now and
then
to "charge" it, I will. I would use it more if it didnt look so trashed.
Does anyone know if you can get new rubber buttons for the remote part of
the key?

To further confuse the issue, my '99 328 uses the "old" style key which

requires periodic battery replacements. I received two of them, but the key
that doesn't show wear on the rubber buttons stopped working as a remote,
even after a battery replacement. Since I'm too cheap to spring for a
replacement, I just use it as a 2nd emergency spare.

I have the new style keys for my '03 Z4 and they both recharge just fine
when used at least every other month or so. They also have plastic buttons
which haven't worn so far ...

Tom K.

On Sat, 14 Apr 2007 12:03:04 -0400, "Tom K." <tkorth1 (AT) spamspamcomcast (DOT) net>
wrote:

"BMW Guy" <bmw58i99 (AT) hotmail (DOT) com> wrote in message
news:Xns99124E2BB35CAbmwguy (AT) 216 (DOT) 77.188.18...
Only obvious latch is the little cover on the back (I assumed it was the
battery door with my old key), but when I bought the new key, it was just
an empry space... I pointed it out to them, and they sold me a little
cover
for $4 to snap over it (maybe its where the colors go for the key memory
identifers?).

Both keys seem to work fine, if I should use the old key every now and
then
to "charge" it, I will. I would use it more if it didnt look so trashed.
Does anyone know if you can get new rubber buttons for the remote part of
the key?

To further confuse the issue, my '99 328 uses the "old" style key which
requires periodic battery replacements. I received two of them, but the key
that doesn't show wear on the rubber buttons stopped working as a remote,
even after a battery replacement. Since I'm too cheap to spring for a
replacement, I just use it as a 2nd emergency spare.

You do realize that it has to be PROGRAMMED to the car. Read your owner's
manual or visit a dealer.

Fiddly but must be done.

I have the new style keys for my '03 Z4 and they both recharge just fine
when used at least every other month or so. They also have plastic buttons
which haven't worn so far ...

Tom K.

<Oscar (AT) nowhere (DOT) com> wrote

On Sat, 14 Apr 2007 12:03:04 -0400, "Tom K." <tkorth1 (AT) spamspamcomcast (DOT) net
wrote:


To further confuse the issue, my '99 328 uses the "old" style key which
requires periodic battery replacements. I received two of them, but the
key
that doesn't show wear on the rubber buttons stopped working as a remote,
even after a battery replacement. Since I'm too cheap to spring for a
replacement, I just use it as a 2nd emergency spare.


You do realize that it has to be PROGRAMMED to the car. Read your owner's
manual or visit a dealer.

Fiddly but must be done.

Of course. It was programmed and functioned perfectly for about 5 years - 2
years after the warranty expired. Now it sends out no signal and the red
light on the key doesn't flash as it should.

Tom K.

If you meant me (the 528i), I bought it from the dealer and they did the
off-on-off-on, etc to 'mate' it an my other key to the car. After a
battery change (in the 328 example below), do they have to redo that again?


Oscar (AT) nowhere (DOT) com wrote in
news:195223hl7ntn81fkrq22niu97omk122l84 (AT) 4ax (DOT) com:

On Sat, 14 Apr 2007 12:03:04 -0400, "Tom K."
tkorth1 (AT) spamspamcomcast (DOT) net> wrote:


"BMW Guy" <bmw58i99 (AT) hotmail (DOT) com> wrote in message
news:Xns99124E2BB35CAbmwguy (AT) 216 (DOT) 77.188.18...
Only obvious latch is the little cover on the back (I assumed it was
the battery door with my old key), but when I bought the new key, it
was just an empry space... I pointed it out to them, and they sold
me a little cover
for $4 to snap over it (maybe its where the colors go for the key
memory identifers?).

Both keys seem to work fine, if I should use the old key every now
and then
to "charge" it, I will. I would use it more if it didnt look so
trashed. Does anyone know if you can get new rubber buttons for the
remote part of the key?

To further confuse the issue, my '99 328 uses the "old" style key
which requires periodic battery replacements. I received two of them,
but the key that doesn't show wear on the rubber buttons stopped
working as a remote, even after a battery replacement. Since I'm too
cheap to spring for a replacement, I just use it as a 2nd emergency
spare.


You do realize that it has to be PROGRAMMED to the car. Read your
owner's manual or visit a dealer.

Fiddly but must be done.


I have the new style keys for my '03 Z4 and they both recharge just
fine when used at least every other month or so. They also have
plastic buttons which haven't worn so far ...

Tom K.

On Sun, 15 Apr 2007 01:11:26 GMT, BMW Guy <bmw58i99 (AT) hotmail (DOT) com> wrote:

If you meant me (the 528i), I bought it from the dealer and they did the
off-on-off-on, etc to 'mate' it an my other key to the car. After a
battery change (in the 328 example below), do they have to redo that again?


You are given something like 60 seconds to change the battery then you have to

reprogram the key (could be slightly longer but the capacitors are not that big
inside the key so don't hold your breath)

Hugh

Oscar (AT) nowhere (DOT) com wrote in
news:195223hl7ntn81fkrq22niu97omk122l84 (AT) 4ax (DOT) com:

On Sat, 14 Apr 2007 12:03:04 -0400, "Tom K."
tkorth1 (AT) spamspamcomcast (DOT) net> wrote:


"BMW Guy" <bmw58i99 (AT) hotmail (DOT) com> wrote in message
news:Xns99124E2BB35CAbmwguy (AT) 216 (DOT) 77.188.18...
Only obvious latch is the little cover on the back (I assumed it was
the battery door with my old key), but when I bought the new key, it
was just an empry space... I pointed it out to them, and they sold
me a little cover
for $4 to snap over it (maybe its where the colors go for the key
memory identifers?).

Both keys seem to work fine, if I should use the old key every now
and then
to "charge" it, I will. I would use it more if it didnt look so
trashed. Does anyone know if you can get new rubber buttons for the
remote part of the key?

To further confuse the issue, my '99 328 uses the "old" style key
which requires periodic battery replacements. I received two of them,
but the key that doesn't show wear on the rubber buttons stopped
working as a remote, even after a battery replacement. Since I'm too
cheap to spring for a replacement, I just use it as a 2nd emergency
spare.


You do realize that it has to be PROGRAMMED to the car. Read your
owner's manual or visit a dealer.

Fiddly but must be done.


I have the new style keys for my '03 Z4 and they both recharge just
fine when used at least every other month or so. They also have
plastic buttons which haven't worn so far ...

Tom K.