e90 Key Issues

[SeeReverse]

Hi Guys,

The battery of my non-comfort access key has reached the end of its life. I got quoted R3500 for a new key by the dealers. Its quite a lot of money so I just need some info beforehand.

1. Has anybody tried to replace the battery in this type of remote? From what I can gather on the internet its a Panasonic VL2020.

2. Is R3500 seriously the price Im going to pay for a key? Are there any other alternatives?

3. Since the remote is dead now, the alarm goes off each time I open a car door after I unlocked it with the key. Any idea why this would happen, and can I turn this off? I have the iDrive system if that may help.

Thanks a lot for any help!

 

[SeeReverse]

I have bought a battery now. Will ask an engineering friend to open up my remote and out in the new battery.

 

[KarshS]

will the key not need to be programmed again after you remove the battery?

 

[SeeReverse]

Ive read some posts saying that it just needs to be inserted into the slot again. Dont know if it will work though.
If it doesnt work I need to buy a new fob in any case so may just as well try first.

Gonna follow what was said here: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=782996

 

[Nastaliq]

The key performs a handshake with the car each time it is inserted and removed.
when this happens, the car tells the key who it is and mileage, service etc.
which the key then remembers.

When it is next inserted, the car will interrogate the key for these bits of info.
if there is a discrepancy, the car tells the key "go eff off" and you got a problem.

(I have pseudo rephrased the technical security lingo here, so non-IT guys can understand)

its easy to open up the key, with the right tools etc, but putting it back together, it will never look the same.

you have to basically crack the case open to gain access to the guts.
don't use Superglue to recombine the two halves. it will not only look shit, but the cyanoacrylate will serve to eat/consume the plastic to try and make a very weak bond.
basically one drop on the paving, and your key will look like a transformer.

use some other type of glue, particularly suited to the type of plastic used in the key.

Trust me on the above.
I have opened 2 seperate keys, changed batteries, recombined and key worked.
I cannot guarantee whether this will work seamlessly for you as well.

worst case scenario, you can always go to a scrap yard where they will have millions of these keys on hand, and you can basically buy another shell for your key, if you damage (beyond repair the original one).

One trick for getting it open, DO NOT PRY.
I repeat, DO NOT PRY open.

after the first one came out shit, I opted to use a stanley knife with the key in a towel on a counter vice to basically cut the thing right around.

Use moderate force, cut slowly and keep the blade perfectly in line with the "midline" on that key, any deviation and when you glue it back, it will look shit.

 

[nazzeem]

I have been doing much research about this. Yes all the stealers are expensive. Yesterday the key & numberplate place told me they sell the VL2020 battery for R690, They do not use the customers key as they don't open it and glue it shut again. They make a new key. Total cost is R1740. In the mean time I see the battery cost about R76