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2010 2011 BMW 5 Series Forum F10 BMW 5-Series (F10) Forums General 5-Series Sedan and Wagon (F10 / F11) Forum Battery in the Key Fob
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      06-26-2012, 03:15 PM   #1
fastNugly
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Battery in the Key Fob

Just an FYI for all:

I was cruising this past weekend and exited the freeway...upon exit, my radio shut off, ALL interior lights shut off, all dash lights shut off, the speedo was off (no longer showing the speed).
Basically EVERYTHING was not working except for the wipers that were going pretty crazy

I did get a warning telling me to basically park the car.

I pulled into the most safest location and positioned the car in a way that I could get towed if need be.

I shut the car off and it would not restart.

To make the long story short as I researched e endlessly without any sign of a decent response. A friend of mine (a mechanic at Porsche) suggested I change the battery in the key fob and to try my other fob. He said Porsche's alert the driver in advance but BMW's don't.

Vehicle is now on my driveway from being towed:
Tried the other fob and it started.
I drove to the closes place and grabbed a battery for the other remote, and the car started up perfectly.

This is for those who are not aware of this, it is pretty crazy how something that small can literally make you feel that your car needs service or taken to the dealer of which they would have charge no less than $50 to swap out the battery.

Hope this helps others.



EDIT:
This is the thread that I used to open our remotes and swap the battery out.
Took less than a minute.

Last edited by fastNugly; 06-27-2012 at 08:51 AM..
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      06-26-2012, 03:19 PM   #2
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interesting, didn't even know battery could run out on these keys....but isn't your car what like a yr or 2 old? Odd battery would be dead by now.
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      06-26-2012, 03:24 PM   #3
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I think it has to do with your car being in the shop for a month. Your key fob gets charged while your car is on from what I heard.

Does that make sense in your case?
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      06-26-2012, 03:36 PM   #4
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Hmm, this is really a strange one. I guess it can happen.

The car may be thinking the key fob is not in the car at all and will accrodingly shut the car off.
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      06-26-2012, 03:50 PM   #5
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That is scary. The car did its job of shutting down safely (??) when it didn't detect the FOB, but the fact that it didn't warn you weeks in advance (or upon startup) that the battery is low, is frightening.
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      06-26-2012, 05:49 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BigP535I View Post
interesting, didn't even know battery could run out on these keys....but isn't your car what like a yr or 2 old? Odd battery would be dead by now.
Yea, my car is now 1 year and a couple months old
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      06-26-2012, 05:56 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LACSTER View Post
I think it has to do with your car being in the shop for a month. Your key fob gets charged while your car is on from what I heard.

Does that make sense in your case?
I hope this is the case....but from what I researched, the battery in BMW's with comfort access last 1-2 years.
More so 1 year based on quite a few threads I have read.

This is the thread that I used to open our remotes and swap the battery out.
Took less than a minute.

Last edited by fastNugly; 06-27-2012 at 08:51 AM..
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      06-26-2012, 06:03 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bobblehead View Post
Hmm, this is really a strange one. I guess it can happen.

The car may be thinking the key fob is not in the car at all and will accrodingly shut the car off.
Quote:
Originally Posted by BigKutta View Post
That is scary. The car did its job of shutting down safely (??) when it didn't detect the FOB, but the fact that it didn't warn you weeks in advance (or upon startup) that the battery is low, is frightening.
This is exactly what my buddy at Porsche said. Again, he is a technician there and see's it time and time again.
Porche's do have reminders/alerts to warn the driver and they still don't change it.
Unfortunately our cars don't have this alert.

So yes, it is quite scary!
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      06-26-2012, 06:18 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fastNugly View Post
This is exactly what my buddy at Porsche said. Again, he is a technician there and see's it time and time again.
Porche's do have reminders/alerts to warn the driver and they still don't change it.
Unfortunately our cars don't have this alert.

So yes, it is quite scary!
I had a similar problem with my 2011 528i but a warning light shaped like a battery appeared on my instrument cluster warning me that the battery in the remote needed replacing. Took it by the dealer I purchased the car from and I think they were surprised. They replaced the remote battery and warning disappeared.

My car has the convenience package so all the remote does is store and transmit data. It can be kept in your pocket or purse for ladies.
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      06-26-2012, 06:35 PM   #10
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The key fob battery lasted maybe 3 months in my car. It started it just made the comfort access not work properly. It sounds like there are other electrical gremlins hiding in your car.
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      06-26-2012, 06:40 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gatoman39 View Post
The key fob battery lasted maybe 3 months in my car. It started it just made the comfort access not work properly. It sounds like there are other electrical gremlins hiding in your car.
I did read your post....
from all the threads I have read, mine sounds pretty normal.

1-2 year life span....I constantly use my fob to pop my truck and my car is 1 year and a few months old.

I just wish we had a warning when to change the remote battery
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      06-26-2012, 07:33 PM   #12
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Page 31 of my owners manual explains what to do under these circumstances (look under Opening and Closing section if the 2011 manual is different). You are supposed to hold the dead remote to the right side of the steering column where a key symbol is imprinted, and then start the car. Good to know for all of us the next time, but obviously we won't know if this actually works until we need it to.

Last edited by BigKutta; 06-26-2012 at 07:39 PM..
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      06-26-2012, 07:47 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BigKutta View Post
Page 31 of my owners manual explains what to do under these circumstances (look under Opening and Closing section if the 2011 manual is different). You are supposed to hold the dead remote to the right side of the steering column where a key symbol is imprinted, and then start the car. Good to know for all of us the next time, but obviously we won't know if this actually works until we need it to.
Owners what??? LOL
Kidding....
Honestly, I had NO CLUE the remote was dead. Not knowing the symptoms, you'd think it was something else besides a dead or almost dead battery.
Actually, who would of thought that was it? You'd think it was an alternator problem first.....

Man, it is good to know now what page 31 says.

Again, I just wish there was warning just like it warns you about everything else.
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      06-26-2012, 08:00 PM   #14
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I hear you about the manual. This car has so many features and little nuances that one has to refer to the manual sometime
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      06-26-2012, 08:21 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BigKutta View Post
I hear you about the manual. This car has so many features and little nuances that one has to refer to the manual sometime
Its crazy...but who would of thought that such a small thing can cause the car to act this way.
As long as we all know what a possible solution may be is all i wanted from this thread post
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      06-26-2012, 08:45 PM   #16
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Ive driven my car before about 10 miles from my house without the keyfob. When i realized i didnt have the keys, i just left the car running until i got home. No issues just a reminder that the car has no keys.
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      06-27-2012, 04:04 AM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BigKutta View Post
Page 31 of my owners manual explains what to do under these circumstances (look under Opening and Closing section if the 2011 manual is different). You are supposed to hold the dead remote to the right side of the steering column where a key symbol is imprinted, and then start the car. Good to know for all of us the next time, but obviously we won't know if this actually works until we need it to.
+1

Thanks for this - great tip.

Also - potential tip for others : buy a spare CR 2450 3V battery and leave it in the glove box / console, just in case the battery dies when you're out some where.

Sods law dictates you'll be in a deserted canyon outside Victorville, CA
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      06-27-2012, 08:49 AM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by EV0LVE View Post
Ive driven my car before about 10 miles from my house without the keyfob. When i realized i didnt have the keys, i just left the car running until i got home. No issues just a reminder that the car has no keys.
Not sure how you were able to do this.
My car when the fob isnt close will alert me that the fob is not close and automatically put the car in park. This is from a slight movement.
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      06-27-2012, 08:50 AM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ipso_facto View Post
+1

Thanks for this - great tip.

Also - potential tip for others : buy a spare CR 2450 3V battery and leave it in the glove box / console, just in case the battery dies when you're out some where.

Sods law dictates you'll be in a deserted canyon outside Victorville, CA
This is what I have done!
There is now one officially in my glove box. Lets just hope it holds charge
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      06-27-2012, 09:00 AM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fastNugly View Post
Not sure how you were able to do this.
My car when the fob isnt close will alert me that the fob is not close and automatically put the car in park. This is from a slight movement.
My car also warns me the remote key was not detected and that I wont be able to start the engine again if I stop it. But no other restrictions. Haven't actually tried to drive off though.
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      06-27-2012, 09:18 AM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wang133ro View Post
My car also warns me the remote key was not detected and that I wont be able to start the engine again if I stop it. But no other restrictions. Haven't actually tried to drive off though.
Let me retract my comment above.
I have yet to try and drive without the fob, but I do know that when I slightly roll with my door not completely shut, my car will automatically be placed in park.
Something else did this, but cant recall it.
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      06-27-2012, 09:42 AM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fastNugly View Post
Let me retract my comment above.
I have yet to try and drive without the fob, but I do know that when I slightly roll with my door not completely shut, my car will automatically be placed in park.
Something else did this, but cant recall it.
Try to roll with the driver's door open and without the driver's seat belt on and the car will go into park. Annoys me to no end...
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