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      07-15-2015, 09:02 AM   #1
rsutoratosu
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"Charging" the key fob

So before I tear it down and replace the key fob battery or something, I thought I should try to recharge the key.

Does the car actually need to be on or can you plug it into and turn it on to accessory mode ?

My thought is if i'm unable to charge it, with the tender on, I can leave the key in the car and let it charge in accessory mode without turning the engine on.

Any ideas ?
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      07-15-2015, 10:00 AM   #2
koruptor
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rsutoratosu View Post
So before I tear it down and replace the key fob battery or something, I thought I should try to recharge the key.

Does the car actually need to be on or can you plug it into and turn it on to accessory mode ?

My thought is if i'm unable to charge it, with the tender on, I can leave the key in the car and let it charge in accessory mode without turning the engine on.

Any ideas ?
The manual does say the car needs to be driven to recharge the key, and that you only need to drive with the key at least twice a year to keep it recharged. I'm not sure if leaving it in ACC mode would help.

Have you tried reprogramming your keys yet? When I bought my car one of the keys didn't work. I thought it was a battery issue, but it turns out I only needed to reprogram it. Try this before tearing apart the key.
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      07-15-2015, 10:43 AM   #3
rsutoratosu
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both key works its just one key needs to be like 2 ft away to lock and unlock, the other works like 30ft away. I figure ill test it, i left it in acc mode and ill test it later today to see if the distance is better or not.

I have the car on tender in garage so doesn't hurt to try..
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      07-15-2015, 12:13 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rsutoratosu View Post
both key works its just one key needs to be like 2 ft away to lock and unlock, the other works like 30ft away. I figure ill test it, i left it in acc mode and ill test it later today to see if the distance is better or not.

I have the car on tender in garage so doesn't hurt to try..
Touch the tip of the "dying" key to your chin, then press the lock or unlock button. Range will increase by 5X - guaranteed.
This is an interim step (assuming you don't mind looking like an idiot) before digging deep for a new key. I'm totally serious.
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      07-15-2015, 12:56 PM   #5
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Originally Posted by Kimo View Post
Touch the tip of the "dying" key to your chin, then press the lock or unlock button. Range will increase by 5X - guaranteed.
This is an interim step (assuming you don't mind looking like an idiot) before digging deep for a new key. I'm totally serious.
I've tried this and it actually works. My keys don't work further than 10 feet otherwise.
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      07-15-2015, 02:28 PM   #6
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Originally Posted by koruptor View Post
I've tried this and it actually works. My keys don't work further than 10 feet otherwise.
I been trying that trick for a while.. doesn't seem to work for me. Its weird, sometimes I can unlock my car like 50ft away, some days, i can be right in front of it, 3 inches away and buttons wont do anything
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      07-15-2015, 09:16 PM   #7
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I have the same problem. can we simply replace the batteries in the key fobs or is opening them rather destructive?
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      07-15-2015, 09:28 PM   #8
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They can be replaced("simply" isn't the term I would use though). Too bad they didn't just design it to be replaced periodically.
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      07-16-2015, 10:04 AM   #9
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Apple's current iPhone battery engineering department all started in the BMW key battery engineering department.
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      07-19-2015, 03:03 PM   #10
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Thanks for the reminder. My spare has been sitting in a drawer for years. I need to switch my daily key ASAP.
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      07-19-2015, 11:33 PM   #11
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I switch mine once a month, round about the first of the month.
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      07-20-2015, 08:45 AM   #12
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Anytime something needed long term that is powered by a battery and the battery can't be replaced easily means the design was poor. Every rechargeable battery eventually needs to be replaced and I don't want to buy a new key/remote because the battery finally expired.
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      07-27-2015, 01:52 PM   #13
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My car is still garaged... I have a minivan in drive way and a suv, so z4 never sees day light.. sad sad year...
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      07-27-2015, 01:55 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rsutoratosu View Post
My car is still garaged... I have a minivan in drive way and a suv, so z4 never sees day light.. sad sad year...
Huh? No sun in Chicago yet? And I thought I was bad, only driving the Z4 2-3 days a week on a good week. Most weeks I only drive it once because there is always a 20% chance of thunderstorms (I leave it in the garage on those days).
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      07-27-2015, 09:55 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kimo View Post
Touch the tip of the "dying" key to your chin, then press the lock or unlock button. Range will increase by 5X - guaranteed.
This is an interim step (assuming you don't mind looking like an idiot) before digging deep for a new key. I'm totally serious.
It works even better if you hold your key to your temple. Jeremy Clarkson demonstrates it here:

.

There's another video by a British scientist who demonstrates the phenomenon which is essentially using the large mass of liquid in your brain to amplify the signal. It even works using a gallon of water instead of your head. Edit: found it:

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Last edited by SD ///M4; 07-27-2015 at 10:04 PM..
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      08-01-2015, 03:03 PM   #16
rsutoratosu
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Twixboy View Post
Huh? No sun in Chicago yet? And I thought I was bad, only driving the Z4 2-3 days a week on a good week. Most weeks I only drive it once because there is always a 20% chance of thunderstorms (I leave it in the garage on those days).
Shoot, i should update my profile, im in the north east now. And around march of this year, they grind down a major section of the I95 in new england, around 10-15 mile of the highway and have not repave it yet.. There are still tons of large pot holes.. i rather not take the risk of even driving it...
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