Dead Key Fobs - Cannot Unlock with Button or Comfort Access

[mvestor]

Anyone have any experience with dead key fobs? Car will not respond when pressing buttons on either key fob, nor will it unlock or start with comfort access. The key fob must be inserted in the slot for the car to start. Locks still work with central locking button. It is not the diversity antenna (swapped with a known working unit).

I've scoured ISTA and nothing is jumping out as the problem. I'm leaning toward a bad fuse, 2 bad key fobs, or something off the wall that I am not connecting.

Strangely enough I noticed the problem begin at the same time I had a DCT fault (caused by a fuse).

Anyone experience this?

[smyles]

have you checked/replaced fob battery?

[mvestor]

First thing I did.

I guess the batteries I used could have also been old/dead. Time to buy a remote frequency tester!

[pwrdbym]

I'm chasing this same issue (E93). My key fob had terrible range and the comfort access took several attempts at the door handle action to respond. It seemed to get worse over the course of a year and then it finally stopped. At this point I have to use the metal key to lock/unlock doors and the key inserted in the dash to start. Over the course of the year I changed the key fob battery (CR2032) a couple of times. Neither of my key fobs will work at this point even with new batteries. I've checked all the fuses, all the way to the point of removing and confirming continuity and power to the fuse slots. I've reset by removing the battery terminal overnight and tried the fob re-sync procedure. Everything now points to a bad antenna. Mine is in the rear-view mirror (E93) and it seems I need a new mirror. Although I can't help but think I'm throwing parts at it rather than having a real diagnosis. A new mirror is a $400 buy and finding a used, specifically from an E93 (including the antenna), isn't easy with inaccurate descriptions.

[SRB_Mpower]

Following. My key is also randomly failing.. one day it works fine the next I have to manually unlock it. Changed the battery.

[Sublivion]

Did you happen to figure out the problem?

[Fooksdaddy]

Put a small piece of foam between the battery and the backing, BMW literally charged me $180 to do this shit for troubleshooting!!!

[LakeSurfer]

Originally Posted by mvestor

Anyone have any experience with dead key fobs? Car will not respond when pressing buttons on either key fob, nor will it unlock or start with comfort access. The key fob must be inserted in the slot for the car to start. Locks still work with central locking button. It is not the diversity antenna (swapped with a known working unit).

I've scoured ISTA and nothing is jumping out as the problem. I'm leaning toward a bad fuse, 2 bad key fobs, or something off the wall that I am not connecting.

Strangely enough I noticed the problem begin at the same time I had a DCT fault (caused by a fuse).

Anyone experience this?

I lost CA when my battery died. If I remember right you have to insert key fob into the ignition slot and start the car, then shut it off. Or some similar procedure like that. CA needs to be reset, however, if your car battery or key fob battery are no good then that could be the issue.