Experiencing issues with your BMW key fob can be frustrating, especially when you think a simple battery replacement will solve the problem. Like many BMW owners, I recently encountered a key fob malfunction. Thinking it was a straightforward fix, I grabbed a brand new CR2032 battery, the type commonly used in these remotes. To my surprise, even with a fresh, unopened battery reading a healthy 3.1 volts, my key fob remained unresponsive. I even tried a second new battery, with the same disappointing result.
This led me to a service appointment at BMW San Francisco, where the service advisor presented me with a couple of options, none of them particularly appealing to my wallet. The choices were: try a BMW branded CR2032 battery for $9, and if that didn’t work, a hefty $458 diagnostic fee to assess the remote. If the diagnostic pointed to a faulty remote, a replacement would cost an additional $650, on top of the diagnostic charge. Alternatively, I could skip the diagnostic after trying the BMW battery and simply replace the remote for $650. Suddenly, a simple battery issue was potentially escalating to over $1100! The Bimmertech key fob replacement, priced at $485, started looking like a much more reasonable alternative. (You can explore their options here: https://www.bimmer-tech.net/category-bmw-key-fob). Just be sure to input your VIN on their site to see the correct key fob and price for your specific BMW model, as the initial image might show a different style remote.
Out of curiosity and a bit of desperation, I decided to invest the $9 in a BMW branded CR2032 battery. Speaking with the parts department, I asked if they frequently saw customers in my situation – replacing a battery with a brand new one, only to find it didn’t work. The parts guy confirmed that this was a surprisingly common occurrence, happening at least once a month. And guess what? The $9 BMW battery worked like a charm! My key fob was back in action. Initially, I had received a key fob error message on my dashboard (the exact wording escapes me now). The fob was still functioning at that point, but I preemptively decided to change the battery. The original battery, despite reading 2.9 volts, was indeed still working. However, the two brand new, aftermarket batteries I tried, despite showing higher voltage readings initially (one at 3.1v and later dropping to 2.7v), failed to power the remote. Interestingly, another Sony battery I tested later, reading 3.0v, actually did work. The logic behind this remains unclear to me.
The good news is that I avoided a costly diagnostic and a new remote, resolving the issue for just $9 and a bit of my time. This experience highlights a potential quirk with BMW key fobs and aftermarket batteries. While seemingly identical CR2032 batteries might be readily available, opting for a BMW-supplied battery could save you time, money, and unnecessary dealership visits in the long run. It’s definitely something to consider before assuming a new battery from just anywhere will solve your BMW key fob woes.
