Key Fob Battery

M3Dreamer · 10-13-2008, 03:16 PM

I have just started getting the low-battery warning for my primary key fob, did a search here and saw that the battery inside the fob in a comfort access car apparently is not rechargeable. So my question is...how on earth do you open up the fob to replace the battery?

I did manage to find the button to release the trunk key portion tho

MDCTFTW · 10-13-2008, 03:35 PM

It's not just a trunk key. It can open your driver's side door also. Just FYI.

M3Dreamer · 10-13-2008, 03:39 PM

Did not know that, thanks!

Sedan_Clan · 10-13-2008, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M3Dreamer

I have just started getting the low-battery warning for my primary key fob, did a search here and saw that the battery inside the fob in a comfort access car apparently is not rechargeable. So my question is...how on earth do you open up the fob to replace the battery?

I did manage to find the button to release the trunk key portion tho

Not rechargeable? That's odd!

rzm3 · 10-13-2008, 06:42 PM

Here you go:

rzm3 · 10-13-2008, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M3Dreamer

Did not know that, thanks!

also if you insert the key fob into the slot, your can still start the car even if it doesn't have a battery.

GregW / Oregon · 10-13-2008, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M3Dreamer

I have just started getting the low-battery warning for my primary key fob, did a search here and saw that the battery inside the fob in a comfort access car apparently is not rechargeable. So my question is...how on earth do you open up the fob to replace the battery?

I don't know why they didn't make it rechargeable so you could stick it in the slot once in a while to keep it going.

M3Dreamer · 10-14-2008, 07:30 AM

Rldzhao, thank you SO MUCH for taking the time to post that step by step pictorial, that worked perfectly! I probably would never have noticed that extra compartment if you hadn't shown it, guess I'm just getting old

Much appreciated my friend!

It does seem rather strange that BMW chose to go this route with the fobs, considering that other models have rechargeable batteries in theirs.

ersin · 10-14-2008, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rldzhao

Here you go:

Great post. Not only do we get to see how to change the battery but also we can see how big it is.

I guess BMW figures that with CA you won't be putting the fob into the slot much so why bother with a rechargeable battery.

BTW M3Dreamer,

How long did the battery last for you?

masmole · 10-14-2008, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GregW / Oregon

I don't know why they didn't make it rechargeable so you could stick it in the slot once in a while to keep it going.

Because a rechargeable battery of the size that can fit into the current key fob design will not hold a charge as long as a replaceable battery.

It's a convenience issue for those who opted to have the comfort access feature.

For those who don't have comfort access, I agree that it makes sense to have a rechargeable fob since it's going to be inserted in the slot every time the car is driven anyway. But comfort access owners who don't make a habit of inserting it into the slot may find that a rechargeable version will lose its charge more often and at inopportune times, making it an annoyance.

daltonnnn · 10-14-2008, 11:20 AM

Wait, so the battery is not rechargeable? But is replaceable?

rzm3 · 10-14-2008, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daltonnnn

Wait, so the battery is not rechargeable? But is replaceable?

if you have CA, then it's replaceable. If you don't have CA, it is rechargeable.

mkoesel · 10-14-2008, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rldzhao

if you have CA, then it's replaceable. If you don't have CA, it is rechargeable.

Exactly.

Though I've often wondered both if it is possible to actually replace the non-CA fob battery, and whether it is possible to get a rechargeable battery for the CA type fob. In the latter case the battery would need to be recharged in some external charger of course. Or, how bout this - since I have both types of fob, I wonder if I can put the CA-fob battery in the non-CA-fob and have it charge? Hmm, now that really has me curious.

M3Dreamer · 10-14-2008, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ersin

BTW M3Dreamer,

How long did the battery last for you?

I received my car in May and it just started getting the warning, so about 5 months. Up until recently I thought it was rechargeable, so I put it in the slot once a week or so for a day's worth of driving. Evidently to no avail

mikey19 · 10-14-2008, 09:06 PM

you are from ATL? so am I
i drive a white sedan haha

Sedan_Clan · 10-14-2008, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M3Dreamer

I received my car in May and it just started getting the warning, so about 5 months. Up until recently I thought it was rechargeable, so I put it in the slot once a week or so for a day's worth of driving. Evidently to no avail

Is the warning a chime or something?

M3Dreamer · 10-15-2008, 03:28 PM

Yes, and a message came up on the Idrive screen.

M3Drivincraze · 10-15-2008, 03:44 PM

I hope these batteries dont die every 5 months, thats an annoyance! If they do, I would have rather had the annoyance of the rechargeable battery!

grayshrk · 10-15-2008, 03:57 PM

Interesting. When I picked up my car my CA made a point to tell me that the key battery was rechargeable. This is the first I've heard of it not being rechargeable.

C17MooseDriver · 10-15-2008, 03:59 PM

My CA said the battery was rechargeable for the Comfort Access also.

tooshay · 10-15-2008, 04:08 PM

the manual says it rechargeable. so i don't know what you guys are talking about being irrechargeable

MysticBlue · 10-15-2008, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by C17MooseDriver

My CA said...

Anybody who was in the military can relate to any statement that starts with the words, "But my recruiter told me..."

10-13-2008, 03:16 PM	#1
M3Dreamer New Member 5 Rep 15 Posts Drives: AW E92 M3 DCT Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Atlanta iTrader: (0)	Key Fob Battery I have just started getting the low-battery warning for my primary key fob, did a search here and saw that the battery inside the fob in a comfort access car apparently is not rechargeable. So my question is...how on earth do you open up the fob to replace the battery? I did manage to find the button to release the trunk key portion tho
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10-13-2008, 03:35 PM	#2
MDCTFTW Lieutenant Colonel 123 Rep 1,973 Posts Drives: E92 DCT Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Norcal iTrader: (0)	It's not just a trunk key. It can open your driver's side door also. Just FYI. __________________ MDCT ... so you can drive and eat a hamburger at the same time.
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10-13-2008, 03:39 PM	#3
M3Dreamer New Member 5 Rep 15 Posts Drives: AW E92 M3 DCT Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Atlanta iTrader: (0)	Did not know that, thanks!
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10-13-2008, 06:42 PM	#5
rzm3 Moderator 675 Rep 4,737 Posts Drives: E92 M3 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: USA iTrader: (18)	Here you go: Attached Images
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10-14-2008, 07:30 AM	#8
M3Dreamer New Member 5 Rep 15 Posts Drives: AW E92 M3 DCT Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Atlanta iTrader: (0)	Rldzhao, thank you SO MUCH for taking the time to post that step by step pictorial, that worked perfectly! I probably would never have noticed that extra compartment if you hadn't shown it, guess I'm just getting old Much appreciated my friend! It does seem rather strange that BMW chose to go this route with the fobs, considering that other models have rechargeable batteries in theirs.
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10-14-2008, 11:20 AM	#11
daltonnnn Driver 17 Rep 504 Posts Drives: F80 M3, MSM, Clubman S Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bay Area, CA iTrader: (2)	Wait, so the battery is not rechargeable? But is replaceable? __________________ Go Navy! Go SF 49ers!!! Go SF Giants!!! Go Warriors!!!!!
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10-14-2008, 09:06 PM	#15
mikey19 n00b 14 Rep 45 Posts Drives: 2008 E90 M3 / White / 6MT Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Atlanta, GA iTrader: (0)	you are from ATL? so am I i drive a white sedan haha
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10-15-2008, 03:28 PM	#17
M3Dreamer New Member 5 Rep 15 Posts Drives: AW E92 M3 DCT Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Atlanta iTrader: (0)	Yes, and a message came up on the Idrive screen.
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10-15-2008, 03:44 PM	#18
M3Drivincraze Private 7 Rep 64 Posts Drives: E92 M3 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: York, PA iTrader: (1)	I hope these batteries dont die every 5 months, thats an annoyance! If they do, I would have rather had the annoyance of the rechargeable battery!
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10-15-2008, 03:57 PM	#19
grayshrk Private 1 Rep 95 Posts Drives: 2008 Graphite E92 M3 DCT Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: SoCal iTrader: (0)	Interesting. When I picked up my car my CA made a point to tell me that the key battery was rechargeable. This is the first I've heard of it not being rechargeable.
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10-15-2008, 03:59 PM	#20
C17MooseDriver Captain 20 Rep 878 Posts Drives: E92 AW M3 6MT Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: San Antonio, TX iTrader: (0)	My CA said the battery was rechargeable for the Comfort Access also. __________________
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10-15-2008, 04:08 PM	#21
tooshay Captain 313 Rep 757 Posts Drives: G20+M3 badge Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Temecula iTrader: (6)	the manual says it rechargeable. so i don't know what you guys are talking about being irrechargeable __________________ G20 with some ///M3 stuff = G80
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