Keyfob

[Holsy10]

Hi

The keyfob on my e53 x5 has a dead battery is there a place or myself that can replace these or is it only bmw.

Cheers
Lewi


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[strummer]

bmw about £130 for a new key

[CondorX5]

You can try taking the key apart -some have done so with success apparently, to replace the battery.  Otherwise its £120 for a new one from BMW.  :'(.  I have a similarly "dead" key - The fob doesn't work but the key starts the car after I use the other fob to disarm the alarm. It doesn't charge the "dead" key though, as it should, when driving it, so either the battery is dead or one of the capacitors on the little ECB in the key is dead - have seen a website (US unfortunately) where someone offers repairs on the ECB.    Its a really stupid design - probably very clever from BMW, to make sure owners have to buy keys instead of just replacing batteries from time to time.

[zaw]

Hello.
I have sent two key fobs to the following place they are on ebay. I have been using one for about 2 years after they repaired it for me  and its working fine was about £18 and some postage charge.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-E38-E39-E ... 4ab76a5da0

Thanks

[Insight G40]

I had an issue with one of my key fobs over Christmas.
It stopped working, and even after a 5 hour drive wouldn't work as a remote, only to start car.
Other key fob worked fine.

I reprogrammed the fob this morning and it works fine again.

I can only surmise that one of the buttons has been pressed in my pocket and run the battery completely flat.

Might be work trying to pair the fob to the car before buying a new key, takes about 5 minutes, post 8 in this thread
you need to make sure you do both keys though, otherwise the other one will not work.
http://xdrivers.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,4795.msg49672.html#msg49672

[Holsy10]

Superb cheers lads


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[Holsy10]

Had some time to waste today so thought stuff it I'm guna try a battery change.

All went well and I changed the battery over however I went so the car and it still didn't work.

So I YouTubed to find that the key needed to be set again after a couple of attempts he key is now working. Only problem is after taking the key apart i wonder if it actually needed a new battery and not just reset again [emoji23][emoji23][emoji108].


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[Alan Gunn]

How hard was it to cut apart ?.

[Holsy10]

Not overly hard.

I wasted time doing it because I didn't want to damage the board but now I've done one it's not hard at all.


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[Alan Gunn]

Stanley knife and great care yes.
You still got all your fingers.
Will give it a go will buy a battery.

[Holsy10]

I used a scalpel as i use them at work. But a Stanley will be fine just take care. It does take a while to cut through. Patience is needed. [emoji1303]



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[dark_stranger]

Did you have to solder the new battery in?
Also, what battery did you use?

[Holsy10]

Hi

No I didn't solder the connections back down but will once I get back to work after my knee surgery.

The key works fine though. I used a 2016 as getting hold of the rechargeable 2020 seemed impossible. If you YouTube it there's many videos on this.

I assume the battery will die quicker than the 2020 but cost wise I didn't see the problem.

Also remember to reprogram the key for the central locking.


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[grumpywurzel]

Are these keys rechargeable on the E53 or is that just the posh newer cars?

[X5Sport]

E53 keys inductively recharge when in use.  There is a ring around the ignition switch that does the job.

I would expect the earlier build ones will now have cells nearing end of life.