Key not working
#1
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Join Date: Sep 2023
Location: Estonia
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My Ride: 535 3.0 200kw
Key not working
Car : 535d 3.0 200kw 2005
so the issue is that both keys are dead, died at the same time (before I was able to lock and unlock while putting key very close to antenna, but now it doesn't do anything)
Went to bmw dealership to figure out if the antenna amplifier is faulty (even tho radio is fine but I heard that door locking/unlocking part can be dead while radio part working fine) but they confirmed that it's not antenna amplifier, they said I should make a new keys. I didnt want to give up as new key costs like 300 euros per key. So I went to the guy who changes battery of key , he changed battery but it didn't change anything at all, went back and he said I should teach the car key again. Attempted to teach the key (tried : turn once , then back and take key out , hold unlock button, while pushing lock button 3 times with a bit of delay - it didn't work , tried to turn 5 times rapidly, then take out and same end as first one , but it didn't work either) .
Does anyone ever had similar issue ? Or know what may cause that ? There is no way both keys plates are bad at the same time right ? Or should I still continue changing antenna amplifier? Kinda stuck here and idk what to do, maybe making new keys doesn't change it either , then I have to still buy new amplifier...
so the issue is that both keys are dead, died at the same time (before I was able to lock and unlock while putting key very close to antenna, but now it doesn't do anything)
Went to bmw dealership to figure out if the antenna amplifier is faulty (even tho radio is fine but I heard that door locking/unlocking part can be dead while radio part working fine) but they confirmed that it's not antenna amplifier, they said I should make a new keys. I didnt want to give up as new key costs like 300 euros per key. So I went to the guy who changes battery of key , he changed battery but it didn't change anything at all, went back and he said I should teach the car key again. Attempted to teach the key (tried : turn once , then back and take key out , hold unlock button, while pushing lock button 3 times with a bit of delay - it didn't work , tried to turn 5 times rapidly, then take out and same end as first one , but it didn't work either) .
Does anyone ever had similar issue ? Or know what may cause that ? There is no way both keys plates are bad at the same time right ? Or should I still continue changing antenna amplifier? Kinda stuck here and idk what to do, maybe making new keys doesn't change it either , then I have to still buy new amplifier...
#5
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Car : 535d 3.0 200kw 2005
so the issue is that both keys are dead, died at the same time (before I was able to lock and unlock while putting key very close to antenna, but now it doesn't do anything)
Went to bmw dealership to figure out if the antenna amplifier is faulty (even tho radio is fine but I heard that door locking/unlocking part can be dead while radio part working fine) but they confirmed that it's not antenna amplifier, they said I should make a new keys. I didnt want to give up as new key costs like 300 euros per key. So I went to the guy who changes battery of key , he changed battery but it didn't change anything at all, went back and he said I should teach the car key again. Attempted to teach the key (tried : turn once , then back and take key out , hold unlock button, while pushing lock button 3 times with a bit of delay - it didn't work , tried to turn 5 times rapidly, then take out and same end as first one , but it didn't work either) .
Does anyone ever had similar issue ? Or know what may cause that ? There is no way both keys plates are bad at the same time right ? Or should I still continue changing antenna amplifier? Kinda stuck here and idk what to do, maybe making new keys doesn't change it either , then I have to still buy new amplifier...
so the issue is that both keys are dead, died at the same time (before I was able to lock and unlock while putting key very close to antenna, but now it doesn't do anything)
Went to bmw dealership to figure out if the antenna amplifier is faulty (even tho radio is fine but I heard that door locking/unlocking part can be dead while radio part working fine) but they confirmed that it's not antenna amplifier, they said I should make a new keys. I didnt want to give up as new key costs like 300 euros per key. So I went to the guy who changes battery of key , he changed battery but it didn't change anything at all, went back and he said I should teach the car key again. Attempted to teach the key (tried : turn once , then back and take key out , hold unlock button, while pushing lock button 3 times with a bit of delay - it didn't work , tried to turn 5 times rapidly, then take out and same end as first one , but it didn't work either) .
Does anyone ever had similar issue ? Or know what may cause that ? There is no way both keys plates are bad at the same time right ? Or should I still continue changing antenna amplifier? Kinda stuck here and idk what to do, maybe making new keys doesn't change it either , then I have to still buy new amplifier...
It is a time consuming job, as the entire rear hatch needs to be mostly dissembled and wiring harness pulled back into the cabin at the speaker opening to repair the harness.
I have repaired the wiring on two E61's in the last six months. Many strange issues can happen. Both cars had serious wiring issues with various symptoms. Since you have had the amplifier tested, I am betting on broken wires. Neither cars remote key would work, only one had a bad antenna module but the radio still worked on that one. Car 1 only had broken wires. Car 2 had broken wires and bad antenna module.
Repair harnesses are available but they are pricy. The repair is mostly labor.
Close up of damaged wiring
Every wire in this harness is damaged
Water tight, soldered and heat shrink.
Finished repair. Genuine BMW wire tape.
Last edited by Greggo; 02-26-2024 at 09:07 PM.
#6
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#7
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My Ride: 535 3.0 200kw
The E61 is very susceptible to wiring damage just inside the rear roof area. Just aft of the ceiling speakers.
It is a time consuming job, as the entire rear hatch needs to be mostly dissembled and wiring harness pulled back into the cabin at the speaker opening to repair the harness.
I have repaired the wiring on two E61's in the last six months. Many strange issues can happen. Both cars had serious wiring issues with various symptoms. Since you have had the amplifier tested, I am betting on broken wires. Neither cars remote key would work, only one had a bad antenna module but the radio still worked on that one. Car 1 only had broken wires. Car 2 had broken wires and bad antenna module.
Repair harnesses are available but they are pricy. The repair is mostly labor.
Close up of damaged wiring
Every wire in this harness is damaged
Water tight, soldered and heat shrink.
Finished repair. Genuine BMW wire tape.
It is a time consuming job, as the entire rear hatch needs to be mostly dissembled and wiring harness pulled back into the cabin at the speaker opening to repair the harness.
I have repaired the wiring on two E61's in the last six months. Many strange issues can happen. Both cars had serious wiring issues with various symptoms. Since you have had the amplifier tested, I am betting on broken wires. Neither cars remote key would work, only one had a bad antenna module but the radio still worked on that one. Car 1 only had broken wires. Car 2 had broken wires and bad antenna module.
Repair harnesses are available but they are pricy. The repair is mostly labor.
Close up of damaged wiring
Every wire in this harness is damaged
Water tight, soldered and heat shrink.
Finished repair. Genuine BMW wire tape.
#8
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Actually, a 2-way, BMW-specific reader will help a lot. You can monitor the status of the receiver to see if it's seeing the signal from the keyfobs, for example. It'll also tell you a lot about the state of the entire remote access system, though I don't recall the specifics (sold my E61 a year ago).
#9
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actually, a 2-way, bmw-specific reader will help a lot. You can monitor the status of the receiver to see if it's seeing the signal from the keyfobs, for example. It'll also tell you a lot about the state of the entire remote access system, though i don't recall the specifics (sold my e61 a year ago).
#10
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My Ride: 05 530i M54
Model Year: 05 530i
Engine: 3.0 M54
Hell how many people do you know that has a OBD2 reader let alone a bidirectional scanner. Although the scanner does give you a lot of information probably only a few out of the many who owns a car actually own a basic reader. If you're not a DIYer owning anything over a simple reader is a waste of money because you'll be taking your car to a shop where they are going to charge you a diagnostic fee regardless. I know this is way off topic so I'll get back on it. Surely a bidirectional scanner will give you what you need to test wiring. I perform those tests all the time then use a sniffer to find the break.
Last edited by donpb; 02-27-2024 at 04:49 PM.