I accidentally left my key in my jeans so it ended up in the laundry. My wife heard a banging noise coming from the dryer and when she investigated she found my key. I figured the key must have a battery/memory chip/etc. in it so my first thought was that it got destroyed. I let it sit overnight and gave it a go this morning. All seems to be ok. Buttons work, car starts, personal settings are still there. I'm feeling pretty lucky today.

 

It has a pretty decent seal around the battery compartment. I accidentally went swimming with my 2003 R53 key a few years ago and assumed it was going to be trashed, but it was dry as a bone inside.

Glad yours survived the wash. That would be an expensive mistake!

 

Okay, so I got curious as to how expensive after reading your reply. Found a thread that mentioned $280 (plus tax). OUCH!

 

This has been my fear with comfort access modifying old key usage habits. Just a matter of time.

 

next time put in a bowl of dry rice...trick saved my last iphone after laundering

 

That is good news that yours survived. We washed the smart key on another car. :( It did not survive, but luckily we had two keys.

The bowl of rice trick surprisingly works! I recommend putting it in there just in case and use your spare key just to make sure!

 

does it have that fresh smell now?

 

 

I would still put it in the rice overnight with it disassembled as far as you can by hand.

there may be moisture inside that will eventually corrode something and you'll still be out that big coin.

 

Or put in kitty litter (unused preferably).

 

I went swimming with my key this summer....No problems then or since!

 

go buy a lottery ticket!

 

Couldn't find any info on how to take the key apart. Looks pretty cryptic to me. I'm not sure I want to start hacking away at it with a screwdriver/etc. since it'll cost so much to replace if I mess it up. Is there any info out there on how to take the key apart? I looked in the OM and searched the forums but came up empty.

 

well that's what I meant "by hand"

if that's just remove the battery cover, then so be it. rice!

 

Hmmm. The only thing I can figure out to remove by hand is the valet key. Everything else appears to be sealed quite well.