Reset BMW IX key fob after changing key fob battery

[Europlus]

Hi all,

Bit of help if possible. I changed the battery on the key fob, after the car had a message to say it was low (can't remember the precise message) but now the car doesn't recognise the 'key'.

All the online help seems to suggest the fix is to insert a working key and re-link, but there's nowhere to insert a key with this car, so I wondered if there was an electronic alternative?

Any help gratefully received...

[Catnip64]

Try taking a working key into the car with the dead one. Then press the buttons on the dead one to get the car to recognise it.

[raspy]

Europlus said:

Hi all,

Bit of help if possible. I changed the battery on the key fob, after the car had a message to say it was low (can't remember the precise message) but now the car doesn't recognise the 'key'.

All the online help seems to suggest the fix is to insert a working key and re-link, but there's nowhere to insert a key with this car, so I wondered if there was an electronic alternative?

Any help gratefully received...

Try holding the rear of the key against the side of the steering column, and see if that gets the car to detect. Try both sides of the steering column, not sure which side it's supposed to work with.

[edthefed]

Had this a couple of times with our X1

The dealership suggested using Varta batteries

Sceptical as i thought all batteries would be similar.

BUT

Varta worked where other brands didnt

[Stamford]

I had the same issue, most brands of cell batteries now have a coating with an extremely bitter taste, that depending on where the contacts are in the key fob can get in the way of an electrical connection.

If you Google about Apple Air tag batteries they have the same issue. The solution is to chose a brand that doesn't apply the coating, or clean it off with Isopropyl Alcohol before use, if you shine a bright light on the battery you can see where it is applied.

[Europlus]

Hi all, and thanks for your responses.

I found the fault - and it is currently typing a message on here!

Ashamed to say I took the battery back out, to see what brand it was, and flipped it over when putting it back in and it worked straight away!

Apologies all, I am, as the name suggests, hopeless...

Shaaaammmmme (Modern Family reference)