[pynacl]

Sure you guys have seen this one done, but I though it was worth sharing regardless.

After some trial and error, I have a pretty cool new key fob for my F30! It's made of aluminum so has a pretty nice feel in the hand. Also much thinner so it fits more comfortably in my pocket. Feel like this is what BMW should have done rather than the rather unimpressive plastic one.

Side note: this did require de-soldering a chip from the OEM fob and soldering it onto this new board. The fob sizes differed so greatly that swapping the entire board wasn't possible.

This was all done by a company called Gates Innovations out of Chicago. If anyone is interested you can easily get in contact through their IG @gatesinnovations. George is an awesome dude to work with and his turnaround time and communication is the best of the best.

Link to the one I got: https://gatesinnovations.com/collect...cation-service

[upsidedownfunnel]

Our past two X5s (F15 and G05) have the same exact keyfob. So that looks like a geniuine one. I've never seen one with black buttons.

I do prefer this one over the F30 keyfob as the F30 one seems much thicker.

[s55jesus]

I just got this done from Gates Innovations. Love the design on this compared to the fat key that comes with our cars.

[pynacl]

Originally Posted by upsidedownfunnel

Our past two X5s (F15 and G05) have the same exact keyfob. So that looks like a geniuine one. I've never seen one with black buttons.

I do prefer this one over the F30 keyfob as the F30 one seems much thicker.

Turns out I was mistaken! It is an OEM key. Agreed though, thing is an absolute weapon with how heavy it is. The quality is so much better.

[pynacl]

Originally Posted by eff80m3

I just got this done from Gates Innovations. Love the design on this compared to the fat key that comes with our cars.

Same company that did mine, George over at Gates is the man. Just got my physical key part cut today too so got er fully functional!

[Rekpoint]

George at G8s is the man! Way better then the stock key.

[Griffin283]

George over at Gatesinnovations is the real deal! The key speaks for itself, but the customer service and turn around time (so you're not without your key for too long) is second to none!

[Korvo]

Originally Posted by pynacl

Same company that did mine, George over at Gates is the man. Just got my physical key part cut today too so got er fully functional!

Did you have this done at a dealership?

[s55jesus]

Originally Posted by pdegene

Did you have this done at a dealership?

No we all got it done from Gates Innovations

[Korvo]

Originally Posted by eff80m3

No we all got it done from Gates Innovations

I was asking about having the key cut...

I also wasn't asking you the question. Soooooooooo.......................thanks?

[Gen13 F36]

So what does this do again? +5 hp

No pun intended.... cool mod (expensive)

[perryo91]

Originally Posted by pdegene

I was asking about having the key cut...

I also wasn't asking you the question. Soooooooooo.......................thanks?

You're acting like your profile picture

[Korvo]

Originally Posted by perryo91

You're acting like your profile picture

[HFW003]

I’ve sent mine off to George today, can’t wait for a decent key fob!

[pynacl]

Originally Posted by pdegene

Did you have this done at a dealership?

I got the retrofit done from Gates Innovations! Then it came with a blank physical key, so I took it over to a local key shop called Tru-Lock, think it was around $40 to have it cut. Works great!

[pynacl]

Originally Posted by HFW003

I’ve sent mine off to George today, can’t wait for a decent key fob!

You'll have to post yours up once you get it back and share your experience! You going to get your physical key part cut too??

[pynacl]

Originally Posted by Gen13 F36

So what does this do again? +5 hp

No pun intended.... cool mod (expensive)

Lol! The one I got was actually super reasonable: https://gatesinnovations.com/collect...cation-service

[Korvo]

Originally Posted by pynacl

I got the retrofit done from Gates Innovations! Then it came with a blank physical key, so I took it over to a local key shop called Tru-Lock, think it was around $40 to have it cut. Works great!

Thank you. Their website made it sound like you could not get the key cut at a dealership, so I wanted to figure out what that cost would be. You went to the one in Eau Claire?

[DreamerJoe]

Originally Posted by pynacl

Lol! The one I got was actually super reasonable: https://gatesinnovations.com/collect...cation-service

the $150 is just for the opening and soldering right? doesn't include the new key fob, how much do those run? and $150 for 30 minutes of work is a little pricey, I would have hit up a cell phone repair shop for a quote maybe..

[pynacl]

Originally Posted by DreamerJoe

the $150 is just for the opening and soldering right? doesn't include the new key fob, how much do those run? and $150 for 30 minutes of work is a little pricey, I would have hit up a cell phone repair shop for a quote maybe..

The X5M aluminum fob is included in the price! The original fob has to be broken apart due to the way it’s assembled though, so you won’t be able to re-use it. But the new one can be disassembled and parts replaced easily! So that’s cool, if it gets dinged up or whatever you know it can be easily replaced.

[DreamerJoe]

Originally Posted by pynacl

The X5M aluminum fob is included in the price! The original fob has to be broken apart due to the way it’s assembled though, so you won’t be able to re-use it. But the new one can be disassembled and parts replaced easily! So that’s cool, if it gets dinged up or whatever you know it can be easily replaced.

o damn, then $150 is a good price. does comfort access still work?

[pynacl]

Originally Posted by pdegene

Thank you. Their website made it sound like you could not get the key cut at a dealership, so I wanted to figure out what that cost would be. You went to the one in Eau Claire?

Yeah just the one in EC! I brought in my original key and the new one. Thought it would be like a “come pick it up later thing”, but the guy did it in like 2 min, and had me test it on the spot to make sure it worked.