Invalid key on diagnostic computer - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

Rampage · 15th October 2005, 14:18

Hi,

Went to pick up the beast from the bodyshop who had been doing a little paint work while I was on holiday, to find them with a diagnostic computer plugged in (non BMW). They say they cannot start it, due to battery having gone flat and are investigating.

Being an untrusting sole (or just sensible) I took a photo of the mileage when I left it... 52831 though it now reads 52830

They say they have no idea why this might be and I need to ask BMW... its only 1 mile but I am perplexed...

Having left them to it, I just got a call to say the diagnostic computer now shows "invalid key", I can't believe that just battery going flat would cause this?

Anyone ever had a similar experience or can shed any light on what they might have been doing.

Just waiting for the stealer to call me back...

Cheers
-Steve

aaronmiles · 16th October 2005, 05:17

The key is pretty easy to fix .. probably due to the EWS computer having lost the details of the key, have you changed the battery recently? I've had this problem before.

The process to re-sync the key is in the manual, its a pretty simple process actually.

Rampage · 16th October 2005, 23:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by aaronmiles

The key is pretty easy to fix .. probably due to the EWS computer having lost the details of the key, have you changed the battery recently? I've had this problem before.

The process to re-sync the key is in the manual, its a pretty simple process actually.

Hi,

The battery was changed over 6 months ago as it wasn't keeping charge and kept going flat after about 2 days, though I never had the key details disappear.

Or are talking about the battery in the key fob? I know it charges when in the ignition, so could it need replacing? Though why would that cause the KWS not to recognise it? I would have thought the central locking and settings stored in it would be lost until it was charged again???

I had a quick look through the manual but could find nothing on the key programming, only several pages on the keys themselves. Do you happen to remember which pages?

Would the re-syncing mean the key is added as a new one? I believe you can only ever have 10 keys added before the KWS? need replacing???

I also find it very strange that it has lost a mile, maybe they were trying the Ferris Bueller driving in reverse trick

Cheers
-Steve

aaronmiles · 17th October 2005, 02:00

The mile thing is indee very wierd ....

What year is your car? because the online manual is for the new type of key which works a bit differently than our EWS keys.

When I go out to the car at lunchtime I will bring in my 1999 manual and type out what you need to do (if its a 1999 that is)

Rampage · 18th October 2005, 15:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by aaronmiles

The mile thing is indee very wierd ....

What year is your car? because the online manual is for the new type of key which works a bit differently than our EWS keys.

When I go out to the car at lunchtime I will bring in my 1999 manual and type out what you need to do (if its a 1999 that is)

Cheers,

its a 12/99 build...

got a lift to the bodyshop yesterday and tried the emergency plastic key and it started fine, so atleast it not a massive electrical fault...

The stroppy guy in the shop starting moaning that I was accusing them of driving customers cars then clocking them... which I hadn't, just stated it seemed very strange the key "stopped working" at the same time the mileage "altered"...umm maybe he was concerned that someone had finally spotted it... who knows and impossible to prove.!?!

-Steve

aaronmiles · 18th October 2005, 15:47

Sounds like it ... if they have nothing to hide they should not get shitty as a first course of action.. If they is no great reason why you went to this place, I would steer clear in future

frylord · 18th October 2005, 15:54

Why would a bodyshop plug your car into the diag computer? And why would they have a diag computer in the first place? It's a bodyshop, the car is their for a paintjob not an electronics overhaul. I think you vae good reason to be suspicious. This happend while the car was under their care, they plugged it into a computer so they should be the one explaining to you how it's possible the mileage suddenly changes and the keys don't work. If they can't then they had no bussiness pluging the car into the computer int he first place.

Rampage · 18th October 2005, 15:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by aaronmiles

Sounds like it ... if they have nothing to hide they should not get shitty as a first course of action.. If they is no great reason why you went to this place, I would steer clear in future

had used them before, though I dealt with an extremely helpfuly guy last time... and do great work.

Funnily he said "if you are accusing us of that we should have sit down and a chat" I said "sure" he then said "I'm too busy at the moment..."

Certainly not the best customer service I have ever come across.

Any luck with digging out the re-syncing details...

-Steve

aaronmiles · 18th October 2005, 16:13

Page 140 of the owners manual (Minor Repairs)

"If you begin to operate a new remote control (a replacement of an addiional transmitter, it must first be initialised:

1) enter the car and close the doors.

2) insert the ignition key into the steering lock, turn briefly to position 1 (max. 5 seconds) then back to 0; remove the key

3) press button 1 (the open button - bottom left of key) and hold it in. Press button 2 (the big round lock button) three times in quick succession (within 10 seconds) while holding button 1 pressed in.

4) release button 1. LED will flash slowly for a maximum of 10 seconds.

5) The central locking system indicates that initilisation has been performed successfully by closing and releasing the locks in quick succession.

If the LED does not flash and the central locking system does not operate, the initilising procedure must be repeated.

If you use further remote control transmitters for this car, all of them (0 to four) must be re-initilised within 30 seconds each. repeat steps 3 and 4 for each of the transmitters. The central locking will confirm each initilising operation as described in step 5."

Hope that helps .. worked fine for me (tested it again just before). Let me know if you have drama's .. I can scan the page, but you should have it in your manual also in roughly the same spot?

Cheers,
Aaron

Rampage · 18th October 2005, 21:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by frylord

Why would a bodyshop plug your car into the diag computer? And why would they have a diag computer in the first place? It's a bodyshop, the car is their for a paintjob not an electronics overhaul. I think you vae good reason to be suspicious. This happend while the car was under their care, they plugged it into a computer so they should be the one explaining to you how it's possible the mileage suddenly changes and the keys don't work. If they can't then they had no bussiness pluging the car into the computer int he first place.

Managed to speak with the owner of the shop (I knew from school funnily)who has assured me that nothing funny was going on and they happen to have a diagnosis centre (not just for BMW's) about 3 doors up the road which helps them out with minor problems... ie an M5 which won't start.

He is arranging with BMW for a new key and agreed that he could see my point of view. So unless I get a speeding fine through the post for the period it was in the shop (how funny would that be) I'll give them the benefit etc

Still no one can (even BMW) tell me how 1 mile came off... driving in reverse seems to be the suggested "funny" answer

Many thanks Aaron for the details I will have a go with the "broken" key when I get the car back tomorrow

Cheers
-Steve