Replacing battery in key fob

Gbtr6 · 04-20-2019, 08:31 PM

My car is telling me I need to replace the battery in the key fob. Cheeky bugger. Replacing the battery seems straight forward. Do I need to do any hocus locus to make it work again, like registering it to the car, or is it as simple as just replacing the battery? That seems too easy.

Thanks,
Perry

harperium · 04-20-2019, 08:39 PM

Nope, easy to do. I always keep a couple in the glove box. The remote died on me on a road trip once and it was not easy to find a replacement...

Billfitz · 04-21-2019, 08:48 AM

Buy two batteries, replace both. If one is old enough to need replacing the other will soon follow. Don't dawdle, from the time I first got a dash warning to the key not working was less than 24 hours.

Fliplegend · 04-22-2019, 02:04 PM

The ease of this fix is on par with adding windshield washer fluid.

Billfitz · 04-22-2019, 03:20 PM

If I had a dollar for every time someone put windshield washer fluid into the coolant overflow tank...

Gbtr6 · 04-22-2019, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fliplegend

The ease of this fix is on par with adding windshield washer fluid.

Glad I won't need a wrench. I just wondered if there was any interface issues with the car once I replaced the battery. I have my 5 best guys on it.

Perry

ooshnoo · 04-22-2019, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gbtr6

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fliplegend

The ease of this fix is on par with adding windshield washer fluid.

Glad I won't need a wrench. I just wondered if there was any interface issues with the car once I replaced the battery. I have my 5 best guys on it.

Perry

Why would any car maker design a car that would have problems after changing the the battery in its own remote?

You're overthinking this, change the battery and move on.

Gbtr6 · 04-22-2019, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ooshnoo

Why would any car maker design a car that would have problems after changing the the battery in its own remote?

You're overthinking this, change the battery and move on.

Not overthinking, just checking. I’ve never had a car that when you replace the cars battery, you have to ‘register’ it.

Perry

bimmer456 · 04-22-2019, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gbtr6

Quote:

Originally Posted by ooshnoo

Why would any car maker design a car that would have problems after changing the the battery in its own remote?

You're overthinking this, change the battery and move on.

Not overthinking, just checking. I’ve never had a car that when you replace the cars battery, you have to ‘register’ it.

Perry

You have to register the 12v battery but not the key fob.

ooshnoo · 04-23-2019, 06:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gbtr6

Not overthinking, just checking. I've never had a car that when you replace the cars battery, you have to 'register' it.

Perry

Why are we talking about the car battery now? I thought you wanted replace the battery in the key fob? Now you're just confusing everyone

Fliplegend · 04-23-2019, 07:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gbtr6

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fliplegend

The ease of this fix is on par with adding windshield washer fluid.

Glad I won't need a wrench. I just wondered if there was any interface issues with the car once I replaced the battery. I have my 5 best guys on it.

Perry

You won't need a wrench but maybe a little screwdriver or pry tool.

Gbtr6 · 04-23-2019, 03:16 PM

Ok, Ok, just trying to be funny with the wrench. And the only reason I brought up the main car battery is I know you have to register it. I've never had a car that required that. Sorry for the confusion. I did a frame up on my TR6 so I am mechanically inclined. But, that car is stone age tech. That was my point with the original question. Just being preemptive.

Now we return you to your current program in progress.

Perry

EDWYER · 04-24-2019, 02:38 PM

Just replace the battery.

Wolfus Aurelius · 04-24-2019, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ooshnoo

Why are we talking about the car battery now? I thought you wanted replace the battery in the key fob? Now you're just confusing everyone

I think his point was that, if BMW requires you to register the *car* battery -- which is something I've never run across either in decades of driving -- what *else* may they do differently from other makers?

Billfitz · 04-24-2019, 03:25 PM

It's a fair question, but if there was any special procedure it would be in the one place I suspect the OP didn't look: The Owner's Manual.

Zentan · 04-24-2019, 04:41 PM

lol, all these responses for just a quick battery replacement in your key fob. This should have all been resolved with one response on this thread

Gbtr6 · 04-24-2019, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wolfus Aurelius

I think his point was that, if BMW requires you to register the *car* battery -- which is something I've never run across either in decades of driving -- what *else* may they do differently from other makers?

This exactly.

Perry

Gbtr6 · 04-24-2019, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billfitz

It's a fair question, but if there was any special procedure it would be in the one place I suspect the OP didn't look: The Owner's Manual.

Guilty as charged. I did see how change it on Youtube.

Perry

04-20-2019, 08:31 PM	#1
Gbtr6 Private First Class 58 Rep 166 Posts Drives: 2015 328i XDrive Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Titletown, Wi The ONLY one iTrader: (0)	Replacing battery in key fob My car is telling me I need to replace the battery in the key fob. Cheeky bugger. Replacing the battery seems straight forward. Do I need to do any hocus locus to make it work again, like registering it to the car, or is it as simple as just replacing the battery? That seems too easy. Thanks, Perry __________________ 2015 328i X-Drive, M-Sport, Cold Weather Pkg, Lighting Pkg, Premium Pkg, Harman Kardon, Black Grilles, Hands-Free, M-Perfomance side sills, X-Drive floor liners.
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04-20-2019, 08:39 PM	#2
harperium Major 1312 Rep 1,064 Posts Drives: G80 M3cx Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Chicago iTrader: (0)	Nope, easy to do. I always keep a couple in the glove box. The remote died on me on a road trip once and it was not easy to find a replacement...
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04-21-2019, 08:48 AM	#3
Billfitz Lieutenant General 8243 Rep 16,081 Posts Drives: '15 328iX GT Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: New Hampshire iTrader: (0)	Buy two batteries, replace both. If one is old enough to need replacing the other will soon follow. Don't dawdle, from the time I first got a dash warning to the key not working was less than 24 hours.
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04-22-2019, 02:04 PM	#4
Fliplegend Captain 1471 Rep 975 Posts Drives: 2015 435ix F33 Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: NH iTrader: (0)	The ease of this fix is on par with adding windshield washer fluid. __________________ 15' 435i F33 Metallic Grey/Dakota Black/Contrast Blue \| AWD \| M Sport 15' 328i F30 Mineral White/Dakota Saddle Brown \| AWD \| Luxury Line
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04-22-2019, 03:20 PM	#5
Billfitz Lieutenant General 8243 Rep 16,081 Posts Drives: '15 328iX GT Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: New Hampshire iTrader: (0)	If I had a dollar for every time someone put windshield washer fluid into the coolant overflow tank...
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04-23-2019, 03:16 PM	#12
Gbtr6 Private First Class 58 Rep 166 Posts Drives: 2015 328i XDrive Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Titletown, Wi The ONLY one iTrader: (0)	Ok, Ok, just trying to be funny with the wrench. And the only reason I brought up the main car battery is I know you have to register it. I've never had a car that required that. Sorry for the confusion. I did a frame up on my TR6 so I am mechanically inclined. But, that car is stone age tech. That was my point with the original question. Just being preemptive. Now we return you to your current program in progress. Perry __________________ 2015 328i X-Drive, M-Sport, Cold Weather Pkg, Lighting Pkg, Premium Pkg, Harman Kardon, Black Grilles, Hands-Free, M-Perfomance side sills, X-Drive floor liners.
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04-24-2019, 02:38 PM	#13
EDWYER Yoda of mods 1674 Rep 3,006 Posts Drives: X5 RWD Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: NC iTrader: (40) Garage List 2015 X5 RWD [0.00] 2016 BMW M2 [10.00]	Just replace the battery. __________________ Current: 2020 Explorer ST (Agate Black Metallic), F15 SGM RWD F87 AW (retired) F30 SBM 316rwhp/440rwtq (retired) Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/EdwyerCLT YT: https://www.youtube.com/@DWYERGARAGE/videos
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04-24-2019, 03:25 PM	#15
Billfitz Lieutenant General 8243 Rep 16,081 Posts Drives: '15 328iX GT Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: New Hampshire iTrader: (0)	It's a fair question, but if there was any special procedure it would be in the one place I suspect the OP didn't look: The Owner's Manual.
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04-24-2019, 04:41 PM	#16
Zentan First Lieutenant 132 Rep 302 Posts Drives: 2019 M2C / 6MT / SO Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Queens, NY iTrader: (0)	lol, all these responses for just a quick battery replacement in your key fob. This should have all been resolved with one response on this thread
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