Results 1 to 7 of 7

Thread: e39 remote question...no red LED on remote

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    Florida
    Posts
    19
    My Cars
    1998 528i manual

    e39 remote question...no red LED on remote

    Picked up an 11/97 528i a few months ago with a single key and the remote not working on any buttons. It's the older square style. With a good battery, but no red LED lighting up on the remote, can I assume the remote is broken and needs to be replaced? Fuses all test good and car starts and runs fine.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    Peoria, AZ
    Posts
    7,696
    My Cars
    03 zhp, 97 e36m3, 04 zhp
    Check to make sure that the battery holder is still attached to the PCB as solder cracks often.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    West London/Heathrow - UK
    Posts
    7,203
    My Cars
    03 530dT - Ex Police Car
    Hi,

    Also check/search the E39 section and then post if needed. There's some online sellers for refurbished fobs and/or spare parts for them on ebay etc which are relatively cheap so you could try those as well.

    Cheers, Dennis!

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Japan
    Posts
    54,654
    My Cars
    11/88 E32 750iL+98 E36M3
    moved to E39 forum
    Shogun tricks and tips for the E32 series are HERE!

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    San Jose, CA
    Posts
    11,537
    My Cars
    1997 BMW 540i 6 speed
    Your model has a replaceable battery inside the key. Have you verified that it's good? S/b 3V.

    Some key makers have an instrument that can detect the presence of the transmitter signal.
    Last edited by edjack; 08-18-2018 at 04:16 PM.


    Ed in San Jose '97 540i 6 speed aspensilber over aubergine leather. Build date 3/97. Golden Gate Chapter BMW CCA Nr 62319.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    The Netherlands
    Posts
    16,710
    My Cars
    DE-spec E36 328i/M3 cab
    You can check its status by pressing the trunk release and lock button simultaneously. If OK the led will light up for a second.
    1998 BMW M3 3.2 Cabrio • Alpinweiί III on Schwarz • German spec • 1 of 12
    SMG • SRA • PDC • AUC • OBC • GSM • HK • UURS • IHKA • FGR • MFL

    IG:
    https://www.instagram.com/iflok/



  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    (northeast) Indiana
    Posts
    19,321
    My Cars
    15 650ix GC & 14 X5 50i
    Quote Originally Posted by Maverick740 View Post
    Picked up an 11/97 528i a few months ago with a single key and the remote not working on any buttons. It's the older square style. With a good battery, but no red LED lighting up on the remote, can I assume the remote is broken and needs to be replaced? Fuses all test good and car starts and runs fine.
    Does this mean you have the older (old style) remote that DOES NOT have the red LED (it uses TWO 1220 batteries)...or the old style remote with the red status LED uses a single 2016CR battery? I can't tell if you're saying the red LED is there but isn't lighting up when you press the buttons on the remote...or if you don't have a red LED on the remote at all. :


    It's also not clear if you've tried to reinitialize the key. You wrote "remote not working on any buttons"...is the IC board inside the remote damaged & causing none of the button actions to perform...or is the remote just not initialized to the car?

    Below are the instructions on how to reinitialize the remote key. You must follow the instructions exactly as written or initialization will fail. Also take note of the tips which can also cause programming failure:

    TIPS:
    • KL R = ignition position 1 (not position 2 or engine running)
    • All doors MUST be CLOSED
    • All doors MUST be UNLOCKED



    Last edited by Qsilver7; 08-22-2018 at 10:17 AM.
    Become a BMW CCA member! Click HERE to join and feel free to use my BMW CCA member #191509 as a referral.

    2015 650ix GC (Moonstone/Cohiba Brown) <<~>> 2014 X5 50i (Space Gray/Mocha)

Similar Threads

  1. E39 On Auction BMW E39 528i 540i clear/red Hella Celis LED upgrade kit
    By mrkyle229 in forum Exterior Lighting & Body Parts
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 06-30-2010, 09:51 AM
  2. Question on e46 m3 key remotes
    By Revo86 in forum 1999 - 2006 (E46)
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 10-09-2005, 03:44 PM
  3. Installing amp remote questions...?
    By bwo1525 in forum Car Audio & Electronics sponsored by Bavsound
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 09-14-2005, 10:49 PM
  4. Alpine keyless remote question
    By dvx_movies in forum 1991 - 1999 (E36)
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 04-23-2005, 02:20 PM
  5. Keyless Entry Remote Question
    By toddman35 in forum 1991 - 1999 (E36)
    Replies: 10
    Last Post: 04-09-2003, 12:28 AM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •