Remote lock weirdness last night

[joebongo]

Went to unlock my beast using the remote (I have the older style ones with big chunky squarey keys) and got no response. Tried the boot unlock with no response. It had been raining a lot by the way yesterday.

So I unlock using the key. I turned it the wrong way first then the other and the doors unlocked. On opening the door, the alarm sounded and it switched off with the first touch of the open (arrow) button on the remote. I drove away and had no further problem either that night or this morning.

Oddly, last night all my pixels came back on the speedo OBD but a few hours later on my way home they started to fade away back to it's "normal" state. I didn't check the pixels this morning and think this was an odd coincidence instead of being linked. I also unlocked my OBD functions again and was reading a normal 12.4V with engine off so don't think it's my 1 month old battery.

So what do you reckon guys? I think my remote is charged whilst in the ignition so am not thinking of duff batteries, although both keys are (I think) originals making them 10 years old.

Cheers,

Joe

[Edwin NL]

Only the diamond key charges in the car.

I would replace battery

[joebongo]

Aaah, thanks Edwin. I will do so asap on both keys then - time to look up the battery needed.

If I were to get a new diamond shaped key from the main dealer, would it charge or was there a different barrel with a charger built into the later models?

Cheers,

Joe

[Qsilver7]

Aaah, thanks Edwin. I will do so asap on both keys then - time to look up the battery needed.

If I were to get a new diamond shaped key from the main dealer, would it charge or was there a different barrel with a charger built into the later models?

Cheers,

Joe

Joe, if you have the older key style (rubber head)...you should also have a red LED on the key. Does it light up when you press the buttons? Or does it light faintly?


I love the older style keys better because they are so much easier to deal with and figure out if their batteries are failing. They can give one or all 3 warnings that the battery is failing...and then if it is...just undo the 2 screws on the rear and replace. It not even close to being that simple with the new style keys which many seem to crave to have. :dunno: :cool

Failing battery in the old style keys can usually be identified by 1 or any of the 3 indicators below:
doors fail to lock when buttons pressed
REMOTE KEY BATTERY appears in the intrument cluster display
red LED fails to illuminate

Here's the info for the old style remote and the battery you need:



http://memimage.cardomain.com/ride_images/1/2957/101/7390050139_large.jpg

[joebongo]

:-) the good old CR2016. Thanks. I don't have the check control message though, or does that only come in when you're really on the last drop of juice? I guess preventative measures can't harm though.

Is the reinitialisation procedure the same as the 5 series ones of the same age? I see lots of references to that one but no E38 procedures so far on my web travels this evening.

Cheers,

Joe

Joe

[Edwin NL]

just be sure to change the battery within 25 sec ;)

[Randy V]

just be sure to change the battery within 25 sec ;)

Edwin can do it in 2.6 seconds.

:buttrock

[Edwin NL]

Nah 12,26 :D

[Qsilver7]

:-)
1. I don't have the check control message though...

2. Is the reinitialisation procedure the same as the 5 series ones of the same age?

Joe

1. You can get one or any of those 3 warnings...I've only gotten the REMOTE KEY BATTERY warning once...and that was from my spare remote key for the 7 series. About a year ago I was rummaging thru the drawer where I keep the spare...and I figured I should check it out to see if the battery was done for...and sure enough...it initiated the warning on the instrument cluster. But the red LED still illuminated and the doors unlocked. So again, you can get one of the warnings or two or all three.

2. There are basically 2 types of reinitializing processes which are VERY similar. The older style keys (that have 3 buttons) doesn't require that you activate the ZV (central locking) system first...you only need to open and then close the door as your first step before inserting the key into the ignition.

Here's the instructions for the older rubber 3 button keys:


http://www.bimmerboard.com/members/q/original/Initialize%20rubber%20E38%20Key.JPG

[joebongo]

Awesome information dudes :redspot

I do get the flashing light still on both remotes, but it's not a big ass bright flash and I can only see it really out of sunlight/in darkness.

I'm off to the Indy tomorrow to get the airbag control module from Cashmere's ride installed and coded up so I think I'll buy the batteries on the way and do it there - will save a tow if I arse it all up but given the info here it's unlikely :)

Cheers,

Joe

[hpinfo]

I have found that the pixels are highly sensitive to humidity. I had a 540i 6-speed some years back. When I parked in Seattle (rainy, but still relatively low humidity) the pixels were missing. After being parked at our other place on the WA coast for a weekend (WAY high humidity and salinity) the pixels would all magically return. Of course about 1/2 way back to Seattle, they would start to dim and by the next day, they were gone again. It must be something very slight that determines if they light up or not...

[Qsilver7]

BTW...the battery inside the key has no affect on being able to start the car. You could remove a perfectly good battery and toss it in the garbage...and still be able to insert the key into the ignition and start the car.

The replaceable battery inside the key is used for the FZV & DWA features (keyless entry & alarm siren/sensors). The EWS feature is powered thru induction by an RF (radio frequency) signal sent from the ring antenna to the indicution coil inside the key which then powers up the EWS transponder.

[IcemanBHE]

I think to get the Low Battery warning in the cluster, all the stars have to be in perfect alignment. Ive never seen this in 20 years of BMWs.

Maybe Im just lucky lol

[740R1]

I had a weird thing happen the other day. I used the remote to unlock the doors and the corners and tails wouldn't stop blinking. I stood there looking at them for a solid minute and they wouldn't stop. I re-locked and unlocked and it was fine:confused

[IcemanBHE]

ah yes. Mine does that a few times a year. Its confused.

I just start it and it goes away.