How did you determine the key was bad? I called the dealer to ask if they can check my key, and they said theres no way without the car being present, but i believe they might be misleading me.

 

Typically when you start your car, everything on the dash lights up before you crank the engine. In my case, nothing on the dash lit up. Nothing. The car recognized that the key was present (it would beep when I opened the door with the key in the ignition), but nothing lit up on the dash. Radio worked, lights worked. I thought it was a bad battery, ignition switch, or wiring, but the it was the key. Once I got a new key, the car started right up.

Hope this helps.

 

How did you get a new key without taking the car to a dealer?

 

I just took the title and ID. They ordered it and got it within a week. They offered to initialize the key for me, but I found a video for it online to do myself.

 

What about your spare key or the plastic key those didn't work either?

 

HF, unfortunately... I only had the one key. But yes, if I did have another key, I would have tried that.

 

Ohh too bad. a spare coulda saved u the cost of a new one. I think this is the first case that Ive heard of this happening. Its good to know those symptoms in case it happens to someone else.. You have an 04 and key is almost 10 years old. Wonder if its gonna happen more often as other cars start getting to that age.

 

It just depends on how the key is handled. The earlier remote keys had a transponder chip and remote. The newer remote head keys have integrated the transponder in to the remote circuit board. If the remote gets to damaged, it might not be able to transmit the correct data causing a no start problem. Transponder chips are more durable, but they are breakable.

Also on the EWS systems there are only 10 keys available. As these cars age, keys get lost and keys get damaged. When you hit that magic number, parts are needed. And from what I've heard, it's not cheap. There are locksmiths that can produce a working transponder for the vehicle no matter the key count. I am one of them. If you are the owner of one of these vehicles, that is on key 10. Shop around and do your homework. You want someone who is a Certified Automotive Locksmith. And even then ASK questions..... If you want to know what key you have, it is stored on the key. I have a reader that will tell me what system EWS or CAS, and what key number. I hope this helps.

Travis Wright, CRL, CAL

 

My bmw 545i was dripping petrol underneath de left rear left wheel, l stopped and left the car indling whilst l check the licking......it suddenly stopped.l replaced the crank senser and bought new petrol pump and it still don't start,what else can l check before l take it to the mechanic?

 

If it was leaking fuel near the left wheel, more that likely it wasn't the pump, it was some of the piping.

You need to check the ODB codes.