[Dagstar]

So my key fob went through a wash cycle. I dried it out and replaced the battery. Upon leaving for work the remote unlocking/locking wouldn't work but I was able to open the car with the physical key and hold the fob up to the steering column to start it. Once at work it took a few tries but I was able to remotely lock it. When leaving work I couldn't remotely unlock it. As it sits every time I have to start the car I have to hold the key fob up to the steering column and lock it manually.

From my understanding if it starts this way the key fob electronics should be ok. I also tried replacing the battery a second time with no improvement, and also cleaned off all the metal inside the fob and the battery too. Lastly, I tried programming the fob to the car again using the method I saw in a Kies Motorsports video. I'm able to start the car via the column, shut it off, then start it again without holding the fob up again. I exit the car and the fob buttons still didn't work and once back in the car I have to use the column method to start it again. I did this twice. Is the fob toast or is there something else I can try?

[im_an_alien]

Put it in a bag of rice?

[Sparky68]

Might be stating the obvious here from past experience but did you remove the sticker on the back of the battery? I did this once on our Range Rover key and gave the dealership plenty of laughs when they discovered i'd left it on

Failing that I guess a trip to the dealers might help to see if its FUBAR

[HarryTee]

Did the iDrive give you any message when the fob was not working?

[eff32fl]

Originally Posted by im_an_alien

Put it in a bag of rice?

This. Rice works wonders to dry out electronics.

[fe7565]

If your FOB's remote sending circuit is damaged, you may just have a transponder chip now. Waiting some time may allow it to dry out, but slim chance.

Options: https://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1869591

Based on your own inclination, this may work: https://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1896038

[Billfitz]

In theory the fob circuitry should be water proof, but corrosion could still cause it to not function. I'd open it up and give it a thorough spraying with CRC contact cleaner.

[Dagstar]

I tried everything suggested with no success. I'm going to follow the advice in fe7565's links and contact a locksmith for a quote, but probably will take the cheaper route of having the chip moved to a different board. I'm sure some local electronics repair shop could do the soldering. My skill is pretty amateur.

[fe7565]

Originally Posted by Dagstar

I tried everything suggested with no success. I'm going to follow the advice in fe7565's links and contact a locksmith for a quote, but probably will take the cheaper route of having the chip moved to a different board. I'm sure some local electronics repair shop could do the soldering. My skill is pretty amateur.

Make sure the FCC ID frequently etc matches. It should be noted on the FOB inside.

The used OEM FOBs on EBay have a transponder but their EEPROM is already programmed. The Chinese ones are virgin but I trust the OEM internals vs Chinese. In either case you have to swap their EEPROM with yours, unless a locksmith is willing to program it for you using their EEPROM programmer.

In the DC area I was not able to find any locksmiths that wanted to work with a FEM BMW, and the same was true for national chains. It requires a lot more work and more expensive equipment than most cars and higher risk. So they ignored me. One of them wanted to charge me $100 just to sync a FOB with the car…which is shown in numerous YouTube videos and takes 2 mins. And does nothing if your remote signal circuit is broken.