How to get a dead Digital Key to come alive

How to get a dead Digital Key to come alive

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Discussion

pikey

Original Poster:

7,702 posts

291 months

Friday 13th October 2023
quotequote all
Bought a G31, came with a Digital Key. Appears to be dead. Have tried charging it with a USB, but nothing. Tried putting it on the charging pad and asking the car's menu to reset it, but is still dead.

Is there a pin hole / key sequence or something that can 'wake it up' ?

Bought from auction so previous owner not contactable. From the docs it appears the car has been dormant for a few months.

(The normal key works fine, and I have the metal stick thing)

Ta


NelsonM3

1,718 posts

178 months

Friday 13th October 2023
quotequote all
Battery will be goosed. You can buy a replacement from bmw they look like the old school phone batteries.

Collectingbrass

2,393 posts

202 months

Friday 13th October 2023
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It may also be worth checking the key hasn't been removed from the car's list of approved keys remotely

pikey

Original Poster:

7,702 posts

291 months

Friday 13th October 2023
quotequote all
NelsonM3 said:
Battery will be goosed. You can buy a replacement from bmw they look like the old school phone batteries.
Had a quick google. Thanks, looks like a goosing battery could well be the culprit. Will give that a shot

Sixpackpert

4,704 posts

221 months

Friday 13th October 2023
quotequote all
More than likely battery. If it doesn't jump into life when you plug in the USB cable then I would say battery.

I had one, honestly, don't bother. It's bulky and does some of the things that the app does better.

I just used the standard fob and app on my phone in the end.

pikey

Original Poster:

7,702 posts

291 months

Thursday 16th November 2023
quotequote all
Turns out the thing was dead

Replaced under warranty.

Interestingly they (main dealer) had the car 2 days to do it. I look at the videos of people nicking cars in 10 seconds and wonder where the 2 days comes in? (Still, they always give it back incredibly clean!)