Has Anyone Else Experience this...Battery/Key Errors Messages?

cohenfive · 02-11-2013, 11:17 AM

I have a 2011 E92 M3 with 18k miles on it and I have started getting some error messages relating to the battery/charging system/keys. I have gotten an occaisonal 'low charge' indicator as well as a message stating that the key won't start the car...all the while the car is starting and operating fine as far as i can tell, including starting the car without the key in the ignition. I will be taking it in, maybe I just have a bad battery or something along those lines, but am wondering if others have experienced issues similar to this on newer, low mileage cars. Thx.

mdosu · 02-11-2013, 11:30 AM

can you take a picture of the indicator?

It sounds like the lithium ion battery in your key fob is bad. Soon you won't be able to use it as a remote to open the car and to start the car.

Just making sure you're aware that there's an actual battery in your fob, and that battery doesn't get charged when it's plugged into the car.

I had to replace both of mine this year after I got my key fob indicator, and I have an 08.

JuRuKi · 02-11-2013, 11:48 AM

i get that message a lot when my key fob is in the same pocket as my cellphone

L4ces · 02-11-2013, 11:50 AM

Just FYI, you can change the battery in the fob. I tend to recall some folks didn't know that the battery is replaceable.

signes · 02-11-2013, 02:09 PM

Just replace the battery in the fob, you can easily do it yourself (or just ask the dealer if you go in for service in the near future.)

PurM3 · 02-11-2013, 02:21 PM

I had this problem before I replaced battery in key fob. After that it was all good

Sean Alexander · 02-12-2013, 01:00 AM

The charging errors are your battery slowly failing. Not your key, your car. I had it fixed today, exact same symptoms, Key errors, "Increased Battery Discharge" "Low Battery Voltage" "Check Engine Soon". etc. New car battery... poof! all-gone. Mine is a 2011 with 14,000 miles, so your timing matches also.

py0413 · 02-12-2013, 03:48 AM

Bring it to the dealer, I had 2 dead battery fobs replaced for free plus a faulty fob. My dealer had replaced 3 fobs in total during my ownership and it didn't cost me any money.

AlpineE92M3 · 02-12-2013, 06:06 AM

First, I would say at least start by changing the battery on ur key fobs, see if that fixes the problem. If it doesn't then take it in to the dealer, its under warranty, you shouldn't have to worry about anything

Curt2000 · 02-12-2013, 07:38 AM

Get some new batteries at radioshack or take them to the dealer, I think they will replace fob batteries for free.

rsimm750 · 02-12-2013, 08:29 AM

2011 22k and I had the same issue about two weeks ago with the fob I use the most. Doors would unlock but the car wouldn't start. I have had the iPhone & fob in same pocket issue in the past so I put my phone on the passenger seat and the car still wouldn't start but now it showed a key with a line through it and a low voltage warning on the nav screen. Don't ask me how I thought of this but I opened the fob took the battery (cr2032 I think) out and waited about 30 seconds, put the battery back in and she started right up and no warnings. Been good since but I did buy a replacement and put it in the glove box.

02-11-2013, 11:17 AM	#1
cohenfive Lieutenant 108 Rep 480 Posts Drives: 2011 e92 m3 space grey dct Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: sf bay area iTrader: (0)	Has Anyone Else Experience this...Battery/Key Errors Messages? I have a 2011 E92 M3 with 18k miles on it and I have started getting some error messages relating to the battery/charging system/keys. I have gotten an occaisonal 'low charge' indicator as well as a message stating that the key won't start the car...all the while the car is starting and operating fine as far as i can tell, including starting the car without the key in the ignition. I will be taking it in, maybe I just have a bad battery or something along those lines, but am wondering if others have experienced issues similar to this on newer, low mileage cars. Thx. __________________ 2015 M235i, MW/Bl, all packages 2012 x3 m sport, carbon black, prem, tech, conv, etc evil the following 29'er, specialized carbon stumpjumper s works fsr, trek madone 5.2 nikon d500, d810, d750, 14-24, 24-70, 80-400vr, 500vr
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02-11-2013, 11:30 AM	#2
mdosu Banned 314 Rep 8,496 Posts Drives: Double Vanos'd Civic-M3 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: San Francisco iTrader: (6)	can you take a picture of the indicator? It sounds like the lithium ion battery in your key fob is bad. Soon you won't be able to use it as a remote to open the car and to start the car. Just making sure you're aware that there's an actual battery in your fob, and that battery doesn't get charged when it's plugged into the car. I had to replace both of mine this year after I got my key fob indicator, and I have an 08.
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02-11-2013, 11:48 AM	#3
JuRuKi Private First Class 9 Rep 130 Posts Drives: E90 M3 Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: SoCaL iTrader: (1)	i get that message a lot when my key fob is in the same pocket as my cellphone
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02-11-2013, 11:50 AM	#4
L4ces Major 337 Rep 1,489 Posts Drives: 2008 E92 M3 Alpine White Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: NJ - NY iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 M3 [0.00]	Just FYI, you can change the battery in the fob. I tend to recall some folks didn't know that the battery is replaceable.
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02-11-2013, 02:09 PM	#5
signes Brigadier General 199 Rep 4,318 Posts Drives: 991 GT3 RS Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Living at (almost...) 9k iTrader: (5)	Just replace the battery in the fob, you can easily do it yourself (or just ask the dealer if you go in for service in the near future.) __________________ GT3 RS \| Desperately seeking the next great M car...
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02-11-2013, 02:21 PM	#6
PurM3 Private First Class 25 Rep 120 Posts Drives: M3 vert Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (0)	I had this problem before I replaced battery in key fob. After that it was all good
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02-12-2013, 01:00 AM	#7
Sean Alexander Long-term Enthusiast 4 Rep 95 Posts Drives: '14 Porsche Cayman S Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Irvine, CA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2014 Porsche Cayman S [0.00] 2011 Mercedes CLS 550 [0.00]	The charging errors are your battery slowly failing. Not your key, your car. I had it fixed today, exact same symptoms, Key errors, "Increased Battery Discharge" "Low Battery Voltage" "Check Engine Soon". etc. New car battery... poof! all-gone. Mine is a 2011 with 14,000 miles, so your timing matches also.
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02-12-2013, 03:48 AM	#8
py0413 Major 110 Rep 1,291 Posts Drives: Slow Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: BC iTrader: (2)	Bring it to the dealer, I had 2 dead battery fobs replaced for free plus a faulty fob. My dealer had replaced 3 fobs in total during my ownership and it didn't cost me any money. __________________ Must stop eating..............
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02-12-2013, 06:06 AM	#9
AlpineE92M3 Currently Driving 269 Rep 1,426 Posts Drives: BPM tuned '13 AW ZCP E92 M3 Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Rochester, NY iTrader: (9) Garage List 2013 BMW E92 M3 [0.00] 2011 BMW M3 [0.00]	First, I would say at least start by changing the battery on ur key fobs, see if that fixes the problem. If it doesn't then take it in to the dealer, its under warranty, you shouldn't have to worry about anything
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02-12-2013, 07:38 AM	#10
Curt2000 Brigadier General 1013 Rep 3,157 Posts Drives: '93 Supra Turbo Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Washington D.C. iTrader: (25)	Get some new batteries at radioshack or take them to the dealer, I think they will replace fob batteries for free. __________________ Former Car: '16 SUNBURST GOLD F80 ///M3--6MT/Carbon Cloth (ED Thread) Former Car:'13 SANTORINI BLUE E92///M3--6MT/Speed Cloth/ZCP(ED Thread) INSTAGRAM:@C2KMotorsports
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02-12-2013, 08:29 AM	#11
rsimm750 Enlisted Member 2 Rep 48 Posts Drives: 2011 E90 SG 6MT Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: NOVA iTrader: (0)	2011 22k and I had the same issue about two weeks ago with the fob I use the most. Doors would unlock but the car wouldn't start. I have had the iPhone & fob in same pocket issue in the past so I put my phone on the passenger seat and the car still wouldn't start but now it showed a key with a line through it and a low voltage warning on the nav screen. Don't ask me how I thought of this but I opened the fob took the battery (cr2032 I think) out and waited about 30 seconds, put the battery back in and she started right up and no warnings. Been good since but I did buy a replacement and put it in the glove box.
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