vehicle key: battery empty

smaglik · 05-01-2022, 08:58 PM

Hey all. I started getting this error last last week, and am now getting it every time I start the car, though it hasn't made any impact on operation. Anyone see this before? Pic attached. Also, I'm still getting a "battery management" error occasionally, even after the dealer "fixed" that with a software update, just in case they could be related. Pic also attached. Thanks!

Ximian · 05-02-2022, 08:51 AM

Take it to the dealer.

smaglik · 05-02-2022, 09:08 AM

Lol. I came to that conclusion already. 😊 Appointment is already made; was just looking to see if anyone had any insight on this. BMW service centers don't seem to always be the center of competence.

'Cane · 05-02-2022, 09:35 AM

Change the battery and re-pair the key (side of the steering column), may save you a trip to the dealer.

luckylingy · 05-02-2022, 08:05 PM

... and do yourself a favor by getting a quality replacement battery (not the cheap ones the dealer may stock). You'll go months vs. weeks for key battery life.

Related tip: store your car keys in a stationary spot at least 15' from the vehicle. That way the vehicle and key don't constantly 'talk' to each other, and the key doesn't 'wake up' every time it moves (if stored in an often used drawer; ask me how I trialed and erred).

smaglik · 05-02-2022, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luckylingy

... and do yourself a favor by getting a quality replacement battery (not the cheap ones the dealer may stock). You'll go months vs. weeks for key battery life.

Related tip: store your car keys in a stationary spot at least 15' from the vehicle. That way the vehicle and key don't constantly 'talk' to each other, and the key doesn't 'wake up' every time it moves (if stored in an often used drawer; ask me how I trialed and erred).

Hmmm...my key is only about 10' away, but it doesn't move, unless the house shakes. Good thought though. I'll have to move it.

Regarding the battery, I would "hope" this would be covered under warranty....so I'll take whatever the dealer provides. If I have to replace it myself, batteries plus it will be.

M4Tejas · 05-03-2022, 07:06 AM

Mott the hoople

MassComp · 05-03-2022, 07:34 AM

The the G8x give the option of turning off the key FOB to save on battery, as well as protect against repeater theft?

smaglik · 05-03-2022, 07:41 AM

Quick update. I got to thinking about what luckylingy said about the car and key constantly talking to each other, and thought that perhaps that could be what is causing the vehicle 'battery management' issue. That, along with the fact that I had a pack of the 2032 batteries in the house, led me to swap the battery on the key, and then just see what plays out. My dealer appointment isn't until a week from Thursday, so I'll have time to see what shakes out. If I still have the vehicle 'battery management' issue then, I'll probably still take it in. Also, for reference, I did not have to re-pair the key after swapping the battery. I'll update this thread if things change. Oh, and I did move the car keys to further away from the vehicle...impromptu key rack photo attached.

TJR_///M3 · 05-03-2022, 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BMWTEJAS

Mott the hoople

Oh no!
In the RWD vs AWD thread I just had to confess to a severe case of nostalgia because of my RWD preference.
Seeing this just made the nostalgia worse...

On the actual thread subject, I have had this message once. A key off and back on fixed it in my case and it hasn't repeated.

luckylingy · 05-03-2022, 07:27 PM

We too stored our car keys in a bowl 10' from where we used to park our G05 X5. The primary key battery expired prematurely, and the secondary key battery (barely used) expired nearly as quickly. Then we moved them to a spot 15' away -- albeit the drawer where we charge our iPhones and iPads (i.e., frequently awoke the key every time the drawer was opened or closed). The keys' batteries expired just as quickly.

Our dealer replaced the key batteries free of charge. Problem was, they sourced replacement batteries at the lowest price they could find (a no-name brand from who-knows-where). That only compounded the issue.

Now the keys are stored on a shelf 15' away from the nearest Gxx BMW parked in the garage, and replacement batteries are DuraCells we bought and install ourselves. No re-pairing the keys required after replacing the battery. Problem solved!

05-01-2022, 08:58 PM	#1
smaglik First Lieutenant 529 Rep 360 Posts Drives: 2007 X3 MT Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Flagstaff, AZ iTrader: (0)	vehicle key: battery empty Hey all. I started getting this error last last week, and am now getting it every time I start the car, though it hasn't made any impact on operation. Anyone see this before? Pic attached. Also, I'm still getting a "battery management" error occasionally, even after the dealer "fixed" that with a software update, just in case they could be related. Pic also attached. Thanks! Attached Images __________________ 2007 X3 2022 M3 Base
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05-02-2022, 08:51 AM	#2
Ximian . 1949 Rep 1,908 Posts Drives: E92 M3 Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: MN iTrader: (1) Garage List 2011 BMW M3 [0.00] 2021 BMW M3 [0.00]	Take it to the dealer. __________________
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05-02-2022, 09:08 AM	#3
smaglik First Lieutenant 529 Rep 360 Posts Drives: 2007 X3 MT Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Flagstaff, AZ iTrader: (0)	Lol. I came to that conclusion already. 😊 Appointment is already made; was just looking to see if anyone had any insight on this. BMW service centers don't seem to always be the center of competence. __________________ 2007 X3 2022 M3 Base
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05-02-2022, 09:35 AM	#4
'Cane Major General 8656 Rep 5,418 Posts Drives: 2022 Aventurin/SS G82 xDrive Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: South Florida iTrader: (0) Garage List 2022 M4 Comp AWD [8.00]	Change the battery and re-pair the key (side of the steering column), may save you a trip to the dealer.
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05-02-2022, 08:05 PM	#5
luckylingy Lieutenant Colonel 3237 Rep 1,661 Posts Drives: X3M Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Up North iTrader: (0)	... and do yourself a favor by getting a quality replacement battery (not the cheap ones the dealer may stock). You'll go months vs. weeks for key battery life. Related tip: store your car keys in a stationary spot at least 15' from the vehicle. That way the vehicle and key don't constantly 'talk' to each other, and the key doesn't 'wake up' every time it moves (if stored in an often used drawer; ask me how I trialed and erred).
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05-03-2022, 07:06 AM	#7
M4Tejas Lieutenant 807 Rep 501 Posts Drives: 22 G82 M4xDrive Join Date: Jan 2022 Location: Fort Worth iTrader: (1)	Mott the hoople __________________ 2022 M4 Comp xDrive Aventurin Red Metallic https://wieninger.de/ Seit 1666
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05-03-2022, 07:34 AM	#8
MassComp Major 2124 Rep 1,241 Posts Drives: Porsche Macan GTS Join Date: Mar 2022 Location: Massachusetts iTrader: (0)	The the G8x give the option of turning off the key FOB to save on battery, as well as protect against repeater theft? __________________ 3/19/22: Deposit placed on MY2023 Skyscraper Grey M3 Comp xDrive / 6/08/22: Dealer order placed - Status 047 / 6/25/22: Added Full Leather / 8/05/22: Received Allocation & Added Personal eSIM 5G / 09/18/22: Asked Dealership to Add M Drive Professional to My Build and They Canceled My Order
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05-03-2022, 07:41 AM	#9
smaglik First Lieutenant 529 Rep 360 Posts Drives: 2007 X3 MT Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Flagstaff, AZ iTrader: (0)	Quick update. I got to thinking about what luckylingy said about the car and key constantly talking to each other, and thought that perhaps that could be what is causing the vehicle 'battery management' issue. That, along with the fact that I had a pack of the 2032 batteries in the house, led me to swap the battery on the key, and then just see what plays out. My dealer appointment isn't until a week from Thursday, so I'll have time to see what shakes out. If I still have the vehicle 'battery management' issue then, I'll probably still take it in. Also, for reference, I did not have to re-pair the key after swapping the battery. I'll update this thread if things change. Oh, and I did move the car keys to further away from the vehicle...impromptu key rack photo attached. Attached Images __________________ 2007 X3 2022 M3 Base
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05-03-2022, 07:27 PM	#11
luckylingy Lieutenant Colonel 3237 Rep 1,661 Posts Drives: X3M Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Up North iTrader: (0)	We too stored our car keys in a bowl 10' from where we used to park our G05 X5. The primary key battery expired prematurely, and the secondary key battery (barely used) expired nearly as quickly. Then we moved them to a spot 15' away -- albeit the drawer where we charge our iPhones and iPads (i.e., frequently awoke the key every time the drawer was opened or closed). The keys' batteries expired just as quickly. Our dealer replaced the key batteries free of charge. Problem was, they sourced replacement batteries at the lowest price they could find (a no-name brand from who-knows-where). That only compounded the issue. Now the keys are stored on a shelf 15' away from the nearest Gxx BMW parked in the garage, and replacement batteries are DuraCells we bought and install ourselves. No re-pairing the keys required after replacing the battery. Problem solved!
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