Cheap Key Fob Replacement?

[04330i]

I'm looking to replace my dead, beat up key fob. Where's the best place to buy a shell that I can swap out all my key guys too? Thanks for any info!

Jared

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[ELCID86]

I think OE from dealer is the best (only?) reliable option. You have to take proof of ownership and they order it. I'm sure there is someone on eBay selling them though.


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[Hermes]

Cost on a new key is around $150, just so you know what kind of "deal" you are getting

FYI: all E46's were built with 10 keys, so unless you have already ordered replacements there are 8 keys sitting in a warehouse in Germany waiting for you

[04330i]

Thanks for the info. I ordered a replacement shell from eBay for $6. I read through the reviews from previous purchasers and they reported positive feedback on it. I figure $6 is a risk worth taking. I'll let you know if it's any good. Here is the link: http://pages.ebay.com/motors/link/?nav=item.view&id=141197739153

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[gmurphy]

If you order a new one please make sure you don't order the master key like these folks did. http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/04/06/garuha4u.jpg
Only joking :)


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[04330i]

If you order a new one please make sure you don't order the master key like these folks did. http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/04/06/garuha4u.jpg
Only joking :)


Sent from a Secret Location (Lincoln,NE exit 395 on I-80)

Awesome! That's hilarious :D

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[Johal E32]

Cost on a new key is around $150, just so you know what kind of "deal" you are getting

FYI: all E46's were built with 10 keys, so unless you have already ordered replacements there are 8 keys sitting in a warehouse in Germany waiting for you

I think 10 is the max you can get, but not all of them are made sitting in Germany..

I ordered a new key for my Dad's M5 and they had it in two days later. They said they had it cut in Stockton then brought to Berkeley BMW.

[Johal E32]

Thanks for the info. I ordered a replacement shell from eBay for $6. I read through the reviews from previous purchasers and they reported positive feedback on it. I figure $6 is a risk worth taking. I'll let you know if it's any good. Here is the link: http://pages.ebay.com/motors/link/?nav=item.view&id=141197739153

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What about the blade? HOw do you swap that over?

[04330i]

They are uncut. You swap over the guts then take both keys and get the blank cut.

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[ELCID86]

Thanks for the info. I ordered a replacement shell from eBay for $6. I read through the reviews from previous purchasers and they reported positive feedback on it. I figure $6 is a risk worth taking. I'll let you know if it's any good. Here is the link: http://pages.ebay.com/motors/link/?nav=item.view&id=141197739153

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Please keep us posted on how it goes.


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[04330i]

Please keep us posted on how it goes.


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Will do. It's coming from some Asian country so I may not see it for a couple weeks.

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[mLuMaN83]

Hmmm

[cakM3]

Jared, all you have to do is replace the battery in your key fob. You can use this DIY as a guide on how to take apart your diamond key to replace the battery...

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=492537&highlight=diamond+key (http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=492537&highlight=diamond+key)

I have used part of this DIY to replace the battery in my key fob :thumbsup and saved myself the $250 to replace my key. Also to note, yes you only have 10 keys assigned to your car. Once you have exceeded the 10 key limit, you will have to order a brand new ignition key/lock set and that will cost lots.....

Step 10 shows the circuit board inside our key fob and the battery which is spot soldered on (easy to remove). The battery is a CR2016 which costs somewhere around $5 or you can spend less ($3.99) and get a rechargeable CR2016 (LIR2016) here: http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/181292056957?lpid=82 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/181292056957?lpid=82)

If you have any question on how to do this just send me a PM :thumbsup

[04330i]

Jared, all you have to do is replace the battery in your key fob. You can use this DIY as a guide on how to take apart your diamond key to replace the battery...

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=492537&highlight=diamond+key (http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=492537&highlight=diamond+key)

I have used part of this DIY to replace the battery in my key fob :thumbsup and saved myself the $250 to replace my key. Also to note, yes you only have 10 keys assigned to your car. Once you have exceeded the 10 key limit, you will have to order a brand new ignition key/lock set and that will cost lots.....

Step 10 shows the circuit board inside our key fob and the battery which is spot soldered on (easy to remove). The battery is a CR2016 which costs somewhere around $5 or you can spend less ($3.99) and get a rechargeable CR2016 (LIR2016) here: http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/181292056957?lpid=82 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/181292056957?lpid=82)

If you have any question on how to do this just send me a PM :thumbsup

Thanks for the info! I was wanting to actually replace the shell because it looks a bit beat up like the last owner sloppily attempted to knife it open to replace the battery. I figure I could finish it off cutting it open, pull all the guts, solder a new battery in, and stick it all in a new shell, then have the local locksmith copy the blade cut into the blank one.

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[04330i]

Ok, so I finally got the key shell in the mail the other day. It seems to be oem quality except the silly BMW sticker for the lock button. I just pulled off the BMW sticker off the old key. The weird thing is I tried to pry the metal tab from the top of the battery but it wouldn't budge. I bent everything back to normal and put everything back in the old key fob till I was able to get over to the key guy to laser cut the new blade. For shites and giggles, I tried out the buttons on the old key fob and it unlocks and opens the trunk now but the lock button doesn't work. So I guess the battery wasn't as dead as it seemed. What do you think? Sounds like a ghost in the machine to me :)

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[ELCID86]

Is the battery charged in the "old" key? It charges while in the ignition switch.

[04330i]

Same battery. I attempted to take out the old one but it was soldered in pretty good so I left the old one in. That's why it's so weird, because it didn't work before I messed with it and now it does work except the lock button still doesn't work. Here is a pic with the old and new.

Old:
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/04/17/a4e2any7.jpg

New:
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/04/17/5ebyje9a.jpg

Old (left) New (right)
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/04/17/qenyde2e.jpg

So I must conclude that this was a good $5 spent on making my key fob look like I just bought it from the dealership.

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[jakksfor20]

You can get keys cheaper than $250. Getbmwparts charged $140 or so when I got one 2 years ago. Just need a copy of your drivers license and valid registration of the vehicle. You have to call them though.


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[WOLFN8TR]

You can get keys cheaper than $250. Getbmwparts charged $140 or so when I got one 2 years ago. Just need a copy of your drivers license and valid registration of the vehicle. You have to call them though.


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Ah good to know! That's much better than $250...Thanks!

[Tnhl1989]

With PASoft you can actually see how many keys your car has used. I believe my car had a total of 4 keys. I disabled the two I did not have and only enabled the 2 I have. The computer module actually controls how many keys each car can pair with and 10 is the max. Once you hit that max you would need to replace everything.

[ELCID86]

With PASoft you can actually see how many keys your car has used. I believe my car had a total of 4 keys. I disabled the two I did not have and only enabled the 2 I have. The computer module actually controls how many keys each car can pair with and 10 is the max. Once you hit that max you would need to replace everything.

I saw that tonight but assumed it was 4 as a standard. How do you know which keys you have?


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