battery life in remote control question

[zag]

any idea how long those 2032 batteries lasted before comfort access remote control becomes limp?
getting paranoid now keeping spare batteries in car...

 

[Slater]

Re: battery life in remote control question

i believe the key fob charges each time u slot it into the ignition slot whilst the car is started.

cusious, what kinda batteries u keeping for the key?

 

[Jason8822]

Re: battery life in remote control question

If this is the key, then the battery dun need to be changed as mentioned by slater.

 

[patpoh]

Re: battery life in remote control question

I think the non-comfort access remotes can be charged. The other type will need battery replacement. Not sure what's the life span as I'm using one too. But based on my experience with my previous IS250, the battery should last about 1.5 years.

 

[Slater]

Re: battery life in remote control question

so long as its a key fob shown in the pic above it does not require batteries like the "IS250" It charges wireless via the ignition slot.

Do you guys see any openings on the key that allows batteries to be fitted? i rest my case.

 

[Azrielsc]

Re: battery life in remote control question

I think the non-comfort access remotes can be charged. The other type will need battery replacement. Not sure what's the life span as I'm using one too. But based on my experience with my previous IS250, the battery should last about 1.5 years.

I agree. I did a write up on replacing the batt in the FOB a while back but I can't find the link... oops... Its the 2032 batt as well. Bought a replacement batt for that.

 

[zag]

Re: battery life in remote control question

so long as its a key fob shown in the pic above it does not require batteries like the "IS250" It charges wireless via the ignition slot.

Do you guys see any openings on the key that allows batteries to be fitted? i rest my case.

the comfort access key fob look just like the one posted above. yes it uses non rechargeable "2032" flat battery. there is a cover that needs to be removed to expose the battery..

comfort access does not require the driver to slot in the ignition slot.. but i wonder why BMW doesn't want to keep the rechargeable key FOB design.. user could just every now and then slot it in to recharge..

i have been using for six months or so.. i feel the range to trigger the lock starting to get shorter...

 

[Azrielsc]

Re: battery life in remote control question

Having a tint does affect the performance of the comfort access as well, FYI.

 

[zag]

Re: battery life in remote control question

I agree. I did a write up on replacing the batt in the FOB a while back but I can't find the link... oops... Its the 2032 batt as well. Bought a replacement batt for that.

so how long it lasted?

 

[Slater]

Re: battery life in remote control question

the comfort access key fob look just like the one posted above. yes it uses non rechargeable "2032" flat battery. there is a cover that needs to be removed to expose the battery..

comfort access does not require the driver to slot in the ignition slot.. but i wonder why BMW doesn't want to keep the rechargeable key FOB design.. user could just every now and then slot it in to recharge..

i have been using for six months or so.. i feel the range to trigger the lock starting to get shorter...

ZAG what model are you currently driving? even with comfort access, you will still have the ignition slot no? just slot it in now and then to charge. window tints will affect range of unlocking door from outside, but in no way the start of the car whilst inside.

 

[zag]

Re: battery life in remote control question

ZAG what model are you currently driving? even with comfort access, you will still have the ignition slot no? just slot it in now and then to charge. window tints will affect range of unlocking door from outside, but in no way the start of the car whilst inside.

no.. comfort access as far as i know.. you keep the key fob in the pocket or bags.. and press start button and push the gear to drive and go... i touch the door handle to lock or unlock the doors...
all these with key fob in the pocket..

i attached the picture above of the key FOB...

sorry .. may be i suaku what is your understanding of comfort access? or may be now the new key fob for comfort access is rechargeable.. Darn!

 

[Slater]

Re: battery life in remote control question

yeah, i think they picture u showed are for older keys? tried the Z4 3.5L and the key was like mine, without the ability to open. it is one solid piece. i did enqure with the sales person and he said to slot it into the ignition slot (Even for comfort access) to recharge.

 

[zag]

Re: battery life in remote control question

yeah, i think they picture u showed are for older keys? tried the Z4 3.5L and the key was like mine, without the ability to open. it is one solid piece. i did enqure with the sales person and he said to slot it into the ignition slot (Even for comfort access) to recharge.

so they did improve the new key fob for comfort access.. with no battery replacement required?
haven't seen the Z4 key fob.. does it look like the new 7 key FOB ? they are nice...

can you show pic of your key FOB? and how old is yr ride? are yours comfort access which means you start the engine without the key FOB in the slot.

mine is 7 months old...

 

[MapleLeaf]

Re: battery life in remote control question

. window tints will affect range of unlocking door from outside, but in no way the start of the car whilst inside.

Window tint, unless it is metalic like V-Kool, wont affect range because it uses RF (radio-frequency), no infrared. You don't need line-of-sight - it can be in your pocket or handbag and it still works.

One of my FOB went dead one day. I plugged it into the ignition slot whenever I drives, for the next few days, and now it's normal. Somehow... it does recharges...

Clarification: Mine is E60 LCi. with Comfort Access (officially known as E60 XL)

 

[Slater]

Re: battery life in remote control question

so they did improve the new key fob for comfort access.. with no battery replacement required?
haven't seen the Z4 key fob.. does it look like the new 7 key FOB ? they are nice...

can you show pic of your key FOB? and how old is yr ride? are yours comfort access which means you start the engine without the key FOB in the slot.

mine is 7 months old...

hi bro i do not have comfort access. also i would like to correct the earlier statement about not having an opening on the key fob. believe that for all comfort access key fobs, there is a opening. but you shld still be able to insert the key into the dash and have it recharged. unless the batteries in your key fob is faulty i dun see why u shld ever change it.

the reason for the battery access on comfort access is simple. if you have comfort access, you can go for years using your key without ever inserting it into the dash and thus never getting it recharged. eventually the battery will drain and you will need a new battery, thus an access to the battery on the back of the key is necessary

 

[Slater]

Re: battery life in remote control question

Window tint, unless it is metalic like V-Kool, wont affect range because it uses RF (radio-frequency), no infrared. You don't need line-of-sight - it can be in your pocket or handbag and it still works.

One of my FOB went dead one day. I plugged it into the ignition slot whenever I drives, for the next few days, and now it's normal. Somehow... it does recharges...

Clarification: Mine is E60 LCi. with Comfort Access (officially known as E60 XL)

it works no doubt, but only at a much closer range it seems. Can only open it at 3m away from car.

charging will definitely occur upon slotting it into the ignition when engine is started. no worries about battery being dead

 

[zag]

Re: battery life in remote control question

hi bro i do not have comfort access. also i would like to correct the earlier statement about not having an opening on the key fob. believe that for all comfort access key fobs, there is a opening. but you shld still be able to insert the key into the dash and have it recharged. unless the batteries in your key fob is faulty i dun see why u shld ever change it.

the reason for the battery access on comfort access is simple. if you have comfort access, you can go for years using your key without ever inserting it into the dash and thus never getting it recharged. eventually the battery will drain and you will need a new battery, thus an access to the battery on the back of the key is necessary

Slater by the way, you said the key fob you have is newer than mine in term of look.. this make me wonder... can you share how your looks like?
mine looks like the pic below..

ok.. i just called up my SA about if there is new comfort access FOB design that is rechargeable.. she will come back to advice..

anyway i don't think those normal 2032 batteries are rechargeable.. they are simply not designed to be rechargeable otherwise it will explode!?

anyway the owner's manual i have says that replacing battery is needed...

i just wondering if anyone knows how long the battery last before the FOB goes limp...

 

[Slater]

Re: battery life in remote control question

my key fob looks exactly like the one in the pic. old keys cannot recharge meh? do u even have an ignition slot (left side under the signal stick) to plonk ur key in? if have shld be able to recharge wan leh

 

[zag]

Re: battery life in remote control question

my key fob looks exactly like the one in the pic. old keys cannot recharge meh? do u even have an ignition slot (left side under the signal stick) to plonk ur key in? if have shld be able to recharge wan leh

Bro, so my key is not old key design lah..scare me! phew! thot BMW AG shitting me on back dated design for an Oct 2008 production car?

yes have slot to plug the fob... below the start button...

but for my key fob somehow for comfort access uses replaceable battery so need to replace as stated in the manual attached. as yes i am holding 2032 battery on my hand out of the key...

 

[davidtch]

Re: battery life in remote control question

Zag, why worry so much? Juz drive until no key fob batt dead or change it every yr. CR2032 cheap cheap only. Over a period of 12 months, i used up a couple of it for my heart rate monitor.

If key fob batt dead, what is the worst case scenerio? Take cab home to pick up spare fob.