Keys will not program to lock/unlock

[Rick G]

As per the title I have tried on many occasions now and found a few problems that I thought would be the cause the latest being the door lock switch in the centre console was busted but seeing that it is a simple momentary make switch it should not be the cause. I notice that in one of the diagrams the air bag (SRS) is connected to the EWS and I have an Air Bag light on which cant be turned off because there is a fault (apparently). I don't see why this would prevent me programing the remote but maybe it does.
Has anybody got any suggestions as to why and what could be causing this and where to start looking.
The doors do lock and unlock with the broken switch when I hold it together and the keys do work I tried them on a friends E46.
T thought I had solved it when I realized that I was holding the lock button down and pressing the unlock button 3 times but when I did it the correct way it still didn't work.
They are both new keys I bought of fleabay and programed them to match the EWS with an AK90 and they will start the car.
Also I cant the key to lock or unlock at the driver's door lock, I am thinking that this is most likely where the problem is.
I have been to newtis and have looked through my Bentleys manual but both just tell me how to do things when everything works OK and if it wont work take it to a dealer.
Damn Bentleys is useless sort of says if car wont start fix it and road test.

[Rick G]

Bump Any suggestions except for the digital chicken dance

[Greydog]

My brother inlaw had a similar problem with his 5 serieis touring which turned out to be the diversity antenna in the car mounted in the rear spoiler.
First time BMW changed it under warranty, second time an BMW Specialist fixed it, it seems they suffered from water ingress. The specialist took it apart cleaned it re-soldered some joints put it back together and sealed it, no problems in the last 4 years (cursed him now).

Worth checking out as the X5 is a 5 series on steroids, check realoem for the antenna location and newtis.info for wiring diagrams.

Good Luck
Dave

[Rick G]

Thanks Dave I'll have a look at that.

[Rick G]

Well I finally got to having a look at the FZV unit and found nothing visible like dry solder joints and now the car wont start because the chip in the key is not being recognized. I presume that it is something to do with the relationship with the EWS
I'm gonna burn this box of crap soon

[Rick G]

Can anyone tell me if the FZV and EWS are a matched pair or can i just replace the FZV only

[X5Sport]

Have you had a look at newtis to see what it suggests about being in paired units? I don’t know the answer but there might be a clue in there? I know you’ve been using it already but BMW are really good at hiding things in obscure places!

[Rick G]

it has really done it this time, trans and engine failsafe on the MID and no start.
I connected my carsoft thing and it said no signal from DME and same for transmission module. BIG help no codes about as helpful as a haynes manual.
I bought some software from a crowd in UK some time ago and decided now was when it is needed. It is supposed to be BMW software and has DIS inpa etc but I cant get it to work. I have never had trouble getting software to work on vm ware but this stuff is GARBAGE.
Has anybody got recommendations as to what is good to use and does work.
PLEASE I am at my witts end with this thing, it gets sold as soon as it's going.

[Greydog]

Morning Rick
At a loss here, the only advice I can think to give is to go backwards retrace every step (I know you have probably done it) check that all connections are good check all relays and fuses.
If your reader is not seeing the DME that would be my start point is there power to the DME?
Sadly DME failure is not unknown (I have suffered it) connection pins corrode and snap off. My DME couldn't be repaired so I had to replace the DME, drivers door lock/key, ignition barrel and EWS. I was lucky getting all from a specialist breaker and all from the same car which was another 4.6is. Fiddly to fit but all in a worked OK I then brought 2 new keys from BMW.
My symptoms were sudden drove home car fine, parked overnight in the morning cranked but no start.

Fingers Crossed
Dave

[Rick G]

I have found part of the problem and that was the ignition switch not contacting in the start position so now one key works all the time and the other not at all so out with the AK90 and see if a reprogram will work there.
The crook ignition switch was a real teaser as the keys would sometimes work and it was much the same when I was having problems programing the chips in the keys.
I still cant get the remote on the keys to work and I managed to get a working FZV gizzmo and no difference so I know that it is not that.
One thought I had was that the radio module has been disconnected because the pioneer sound system that was fitted has a radio included. Does anybody know if the antenna for the remote and the radio are the same unit, if so that may explain things because the inbuilt antenna in the rear window only has one connection to the system.
I have a replacement for the OEM navi unit coming and am told it will interface with all my original stuff but doesn't need the DVD drive for the maps so I will wait and see what happens when I get that.
In the meantime if I have two of them I'll keep em crossed.

[X5Sport]

Have you had a look at newtis.info? The wiring diagrams are in there and might give you a clue as to what works with what module(s).

[Rick G]

I have had a look through those wiring diagrams (they are the same in the Bentleys manual) but it is difficult to get any really meaningful info other than what wire goes where. It is difficult to get info on the BUS system and what interacts with what.
BMW treats it like a state secret. With the bikes I have had to reverse engineer some of the components to get info on a lot of bits including the ABS brains and ECUs.
Now that the ignition switch is working I might be able to get some info through the INPA EDIABAS software.
Anyway it's bed time here so tomorrow may shed some light on it.