kash Posted June 28, 2012 Report Share Posted June 28, 2012 If your key is pooped, try the following. Cost me £15 in total to replace my key when the dealer wanted £100 Order this battery from eBay. The Panasonic VL2020 battery that's recommended has the soldering pins required, in slightly different places meaning it has to be modified which is very hard. I tried 2 different Panasonic batteries and ruined them both. This inst a Panasonic battery but its perfect and just as good and needs no modification; and its only about £2 more then the Panasonic http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/300705709562?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649 As you can see, from this link, they are slightly different. Do not order it if it looks like this: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/260760969116?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649 You can order a new BMW key chassis like such - it will just need to be cut like any normal key. I ordered this one: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/160801606253?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649 Once you have the bits, carefully cut open the key. I used a Stanley knife. unsolder the original battery and replace with the new one. check you have the correct polarity - to make it easier, the pins only fit in one way into the circuit board Put the chip, back into the chassis and close it up. to test, reprogrammed the key. a guide to doing this can be found here: http://www.e46zone.com/forum/forum/45-e46-diy-guides-only/ if this works, go get your key cut as per any normal key. That should be it. Give it a nice long run now and again to keep it charged. If anyone would like a hand with this, im happy to do this for you. send me the key or chip, and ill replace the battery and send it back to you. I'll do everything from start to finish if you'd like I'd just like the cost of postage, battery, key and key cutting covered at worst case, even if this doesnt solve your problem, at least you'll have a new nice looking key Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kash Posted June 28, 2012 Author Report Share Posted June 28, 2012 If i do this again, i'll take some better and more detailed pictures. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raj24v Posted March 3, 2013 Report Share Posted March 3, 2013 I need to get this done!! I'm from Heston so not far from you at all. I don't get why you need a new case though?? Aren't you just opening the original key to replace the batt and then resealing it back up? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Packer Posted March 4, 2013 Report Share Posted March 4, 2013 I think he replaced the case just so it would look new. Which is a good reason to do it since the cost is low. Where did you get the key cut? I don't think most key cutters can do this style of key. Would be interesting to know if any of the highstreet chains can do it. Also a word of warning: if you switch the case as described above make sure the new key starts your car before you throw away the old casing. Usually the transponder for the immobiliser is built onto the remote circuit board so you will be fine, but I believe in some keys the transponder is housed somewhere in the plastic of the key casing, so in this case you cannot switch your casing without losing the ability to start the car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Packer Posted March 4, 2013 Report Share Posted March 4, 2013 P.S. I recently asked my BMW dealer if they could get me a spare remote key for my car since I only have one. They said no problem... £140 please. Think I can live without the spare then... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mit Posted March 4, 2013 Report Share Posted March 4, 2013 Nice DIY I bought 2 spare keys when I got my e46 for £270 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adeel43 Posted March 4, 2013 Report Share Posted March 4, 2013 Thats a great guide, been needing to do this for a while. kash 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
albino-jay Posted November 30, 2013 Report Share Posted November 30, 2013 anybody ever changed the switches on their fobs? i know my switches are fooked, and was gonna have a bash at soldering them myself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robotson Posted December 26, 2016 Report Share Posted December 26, 2016 (edited) I followed this guide, and had to re-program the key to the car to get the doors to open remotely.. but.. my car now thinks the key is new, and it won't start. Had AA out, they confirmed this. Car is immobilised! Even worse, I'm in Norwich for Christmas and New Year, but I don't think the local BMW dealerships are open till new year.. and even if they are, I think I need the actual logbook to order the new key.. and the log book is back in Manchester! I'm fooked! Does anyone know if the dealers definitely need the physical log book, or maybe a photo of it or the details from it would do? Edited December 26, 2016 by Robotson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
