Keyless Entry Receiver - Vehicle Key inoperative Rekey of vehicle required?!

[nancy952]

328i - lost my only key fob - supplied vin to BMW dealership. Brought key home still did open start car. Thought battery was dead - it wasn't. Received this news after diagnostic along with a prices tag of $3261. Keyless Entry Receiver - Vehicle Key inoperative Rekey of vehicle required

Seems odd that my "keyless entry receiver" went out the exact time I lost my only key when I had to have a new one made.

Any thoughts on this? I am a woman and feel like maybe I am being taken advantage of. I did speak with a repair shop and they said that sometimes it is impossible to have it done elsewhere because of the tight security and proprietary software BMW uses. It's a lot of money for a key...

Thanks for any input and suggestions.

[dworthy]

Welcome to the Forum!

If you went to a plain jane shop, they are probably just shooting in the dark here. You have to do what's call a FOB sync with the new key, see below:

Teach in new key

Note! To teach in the key, hold it against the steering column as shown in the figure in the Owner's Handbook. The figure in the Owner's Handbook can be found e.g. under "Emergency detection of remote key".

The following options exist for teaching-in a new key:

• Carrying out a service function
• Manual teach-in
  The following activities must be performed in this connection:
  
  
  • Remove all existing keys from the vehicle interior.
  • Press the START-STOP button. The Check Control message "No remote key found" appears and then the request to hold the key at the ring aerial.
  • Hold the new remote control against the ring aerial immediately as shown in the Owner's Handbook. Press the START-STOP button again.
    In vehicles without PWF status: If nec. press the START-STOP button several times until the ignition can be switched on.
    In vehicles with PWF status: If necessary, press the START-STOP button several times until the PAD mode can be switched on.
    
  • Perform a function check. This means: Lock/unlock central locking system and then carry out an engine start.
  
  

Note! If the remote control key is a replacement for a lost, stolen or defective remote control key, the previous remote control key still has to be blocked using the service function "Block/Release remote control key". To use the Car/Key functions, the service function "Remote key, change personalisation number" has to be run. Alternatively, this can also be done in the iDrive menu.

Note! For vehicles with a newly taught-in BMW display key: To ensure the right graphic for the vehicle is displayed on the BMW display key, the vehicle must be driven one time at above 40 km/h. After teaching, completely switch off the display key once as follows: Deblocking the display Pressing and holding the OFF button on the left side for 4 seconds Confirming the message in the display