Brad Kane

Hi guys,

Tried a few searches but nothing that fit my question.

Here's the issue with my 06' 530 xiT:

About 2 months ago, BOTH (main and spare) remotes stopped working on my car (couldn't unlock/lock or enable alarm with the buttons). No problem obviously enabling alarm and locks by using the lock core on the driver's side. They stopped working for about a week and then magically started working again.

1 month later, I'm back in the same boat with all of sudden, neither remote working.

I've had a couple opinions from BMW one being that the keys need to be reprogrammed or that the antenna/receiver module being faulty.

Has anyone run into this issue before? Any DIY for the antenna that I could work on if that's the issue to save a repair bill?

Thanks a bunch,
Brad.

luigi524td

If you have Comfort Access the batteries are replaceable - they usually last 2-4 years. A trip to Radio Shack for replacements is cheap and easy; If you have conventional start/key/fobs the batteries are charged when in ignition. So it may be a simple reprogramming if they've taken a temporary data dump; I think there is a key programming routine posted in the forum. If one or more antennae or the receiver module have gone bad your dealer will probably have to investigate that.

Brad Kane

Update:

The issue was the remote control amplifier/antenna control module. Replaced at the stealership for 900 bucks

Nice to have the remotes working and my seat in the right position when I get in now.

One other symptom noted was that the stereo would default to the first preset on the AM dial, like if I was listening to the ipod and turned the car off, it would reset to the first AM preset. Works fine now and the high battery drain error I was also getting has not returned since they replaced the BCM.

Weird and wacky ways that the Bimmers are wired up.

b.