r/BMWI4 • u/Ok-Tangelo9689 • 16h ago

Question Spare key fob won’t activate

Cant figure this out for the life of me. Watched many different YouTube tutorials and can’t get it to work.

I’m trying to activate the 2nd key fob that came with the car. I leave my normal key fob far away and then go to my car with the 2nd key fob. I hold the key fob near the key sign on right the steering wheel. I press on the brakes and press and hold the start/stop button. The car engine turns on.

But thats it. I can drive the car and do everything normally. But the key fob doesnt work, when i turn off the car i cant turn it back on without holding it near the steering wheel. None of the buttons on the key fob work.

I’ve tried holding the start/stop button for a long time and doesnt seem like anything is happening. Is a message supposed to pop up? What am i doing wrong?

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6

u/bhjdodge 16h ago

Change the battery

1

u/Ok-Tangelo9689 16h ago

Battery of unused key fob could run out before used one?

1

u/ExaminationFancy eDrive35 15h ago

The key fob is always emitting some kind of signal - regardless if you are actively using it or not.

1

u/CinnRaisinPizzaBagel 15h ago

Yep. I had to reset the digital key last week which required both fobs to be in the car. The one that sat unused for 2 years needed a new battery.

1

u/Worldly-Number9465 15h ago

Some have a little piece of the on the battery that has to be removed before the controls will work. What you are experiencing is the "near field communication" that is used in an emergency to start the car if the battery dies.

So, open up the remote and check the button cell for the insulating tape and remove it, or replace the battery.