What do you do when

Z4Rick · Post by **Z4Rick** » Fri Mar 03, 2017 6:35 pm

you are out somewhere and your key/fob's battery dies, or gets soaked with water or you just lose it?

Mactran · Post by **Mactran** » Fri Mar 03, 2017 7:13 pm

Call bmw the will unlock the door remotely.

Do you have the plastic key? That can be used to start the engine.

Not sure if the Z came with that but most bmws do.

Z4Rick · Post by **Z4Rick** » Fri Mar 03, 2017 7:37 pm

Mactran wrote:Call bmw the will unlock the door remotely.

Do you have the plastic key? That can be used to start the engine.

Not sure if the Z came with that but most bmws do.

Well there is a key inside the fob, which would help if the fob dies, but if I lose the fob, then I am in trouble.....

willgill · Post by **willgill** » Fri Mar 03, 2017 8:00 pm

you have BMW assist, you call them and they bring you a new car

otherwise, you are knackered

DMC63 · Post by **DMC63** » Fri Mar 03, 2017 8:00 pm

Doesn't it come with 2 keys and the plastic emergency key? Don't tell me it's an E89

If it is there should be a starter handle in the boot.

eff1guy · Post by **eff1guy** » Fri Mar 03, 2017 8:03 pm

Theoretically the battery shouldn't die if you pop it in the dash, the battery is rechargeable and the car charges the battery in the fob as you drive. If you have comfort access and don't put it in the dash then pop it in the dash now and again to keep it topped up. If you lose it, call the other half to bring you the spare

Smartbear · Post by **Smartbear** » Fri Mar 03, 2017 8:05 pm

DMC63 wrote:Doesn't it come with 2 keys and the plastic emergency key? Don't tell me it's an E89 If it is there should be a starter handle in the boot.

Change the record, you're getting tedious now

Rob

Z4Rick · Post by **Z4Rick** » Fri Mar 03, 2017 9:20 pm

Now I am totally confused. My fob-key opens the driver's door, console and glove box - so it isn't gonna get me home.
The battery in the fob is a watch-type battery, not rechargeable. I have 2 fobs and replaced both batteries when I took delivery just to be sure, (E89 35i).
I do not have BMW assist.
I do not have a 'plastic key'. (Not sure if one came with it originally...)
If I am reading you all correctly, it seems if I am out and lose the fob, I am well and truly screwed .....
Which suggests that if I am taking a long trip, I should take the second fob with me - or perhaps hide it under a fender in a weather tight container.

So, losing the fob = not going anywhere without the backup fob.
Is this the correct understanding?

willgill · Post by **willgill** » Fri Mar 03, 2017 9:38 pm

If you are insanely pessimistic or not confident in your retention capabilities then yes this is a good plan of attack

E89s don't have the crappy little plastic keys btw

Nictrix · Post by **Nictrix** » Fri Mar 03, 2017 9:41 pm

I suppose its really like losing any car key, the fob you are talking about IS the key, and you are stuffed if you lose any other key.
Normal keys/fobs recharge in the car and ones with comfort access have a replaceable battery in them.

And yea DMC let it go

If you dont like E89s, stop visiting the section

Maniac · Post by **Maniac** » Fri Mar 03, 2017 9:58 pm

eff1guy wrote:Theoretically the battery shouldn't die if you pop it in the dash, the battery is rechargeable and the car charges the battery in the fob as you drive. If you have comfort access and don't put it in the dash then pop it in the dash now and again to keep it topped up. If you lose it, call the other half to bring you the spare

Comfort access keys are replaceable coin battery powered and are not rechargeable like the normal keys.

ronk · Post by **ronk** » Sat Mar 04, 2017 12:43 am

There's an app for the iPhone that will lock / unlock the car.

Z4Rick · Post by **Z4Rick** » Sat Mar 04, 2017 2:21 am

ronk wrote:There's an app for the iPhone that will lock / unlock the car.

Figures....I use an Android phone....

Z4Rick · Post by **Z4Rick** » Sat Mar 04, 2017 2:38 am

willgill wrote:If you are insanely pessimistic or not confident in your retention capabilities then yes this is a good plan of attack

I am crossing the country this summer - about 6,000 miles all told, and the wife will be with me, so i will definitely hide the spare somewhere under the car - insanely pessimistic or not!

Thanks for giving this clarity for me. This question comes up from a near miss last week when I dropped the fob getting out of the car and had parked over a stormwater drain.....it landed with about 2mm of the fob hanging over one of the holes in the grate! Safe to say I was a little tense as I picked it up. I used to give my wife a hard time since her key chain has about 20 keys hanging on it along with a goofy toy of some kind, and weights about a pound. She even has keys on there from our first house which we sold 22 years ago. She calls it a "weaponized" keychain. But HER keys would never have fit through one of those grate holes!

I will now make it a habit to put the fob in my pocket BEFORE disembarking!

djstan · Post by **djstan** » Sat Mar 04, 2017 8:42 am

Why not just put the spare set in your wife's handbag? (Assuming she has one). Surely it's a bit safer than concealing a key on the car itself....?

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