I've got a 2012 Countryman with the comfort access system on it. I know the key fob has a replaceable battery in it (awesome), but I was wondering how long they typically last?

I'm sure YMMV, but I'm good for a ballpark number. So far, this battery has lasted about 15 months and still kicking.

 

It will last until BMW finds a way to make it MINI proprietary and can put a $150 price tag on it.




Sealy - Who's real answer is: I have no idea. Twentyfour months and no problems as of yet.

 

Isn't that the truth

 

I may be completely mistaken, but I had read or heard somewhere that inserting the key in the slot charges the key? I don't remember if the manual or dealer told me its advisable to use the comfort access key in the slot from time to time to ensure a full charge.

 

I had heard that too, but I think that was on older MINIs. The current key fob uses a standard CR-2032 coin cell battery which is not rechargeable.

 

I've started getting the low battery warning in my wife's Clubman when I use my key. We've had it a little over 3 years.

I saw a post that said according to the manual, the regular key has a rechargeable battery but the comfort access key doesn't.

 

Only for the non-comfort access peeps. Comfort access would run the rechargeable battery down too fast and render the feature useless.

 

Now I'm confused. I have comfort access and just opened my key. It has a CR2032 battery.

 

Why are you confused? That's what it should have.

 

I was confused by what pyrrhusmj said.

 

Check with the dealer...I bought my 2013 about 2 months ago and was specifically reminded by the salesperson that my comfort access key fob is rechargeable when inserted into the steering column and there was no need to change the battery.

 

I was told the same thing when I bought my first MINI, a 2003 (rechargeable keys didn't come until the 2005s). The sales people are wrong quite often. Check your manual to confirm, but unless things have changed the comfort access keys are not rechargeable, while the regular keys are.

edit: snapshot of 2013 manual:


Just in case anyone is on a phone and can't read it, it says: "Each remote control contains a rechargeable battery that is recharged when it is in the igni- tion lock while the car is being driven. You should therefore use each remote control at least twice a year to maintain the charge status. In vehicles equipped with Comfort Access, the remote control contains a replaceable battery, page 35."

 

Look at the back side of your comfort access key. You will find a circular hatch with a small tab to flip it open. Inside that hatch is a CR2032 3-volt lithium cell. You can buy a replacement at prices that range from 25 cents to a few dollars, depending on where you shop.

 

It was my fault, I left out "rechargeable". I fixed my post. Sorry about that.

 

Thanks for clearing that up chrunk! I couldn't access my manual at work, yet I did have access to an X-ray machine. I almost put the key under the machine to see if there was a secondary battery in addition to the CR2032!

 

It is confusing and many MINI MAs also seemed confused about this. I have comfort access and got 3 yrs on the battery. You will get a warning in the tach display when battery gets low. I never insert fob in slot as it does not charge if you have comfort access.

 

No problem. This is a topic that has come up repeatedly ever since I've been on the forum, so I guess it's not going away. There's just so many intricacies of the various models and changes from year to year that there's never been a succinct answer, hence confusion on part of the MAs and on here as well. This has actually been one of the more civil discussions--sometimes people get furious!

The other topics that have become tedious for me are (1) can runflats be repaired? (yes), (2) the sport button tightens the suspension (false), and my favorite, which is new with the countryman, (3) what are these things? (it's always rail dividers and/or bag clips for the rail). If you have a question on any of these, just do a search; they've been beaten to death.

In the end, it's probably just a sign that I've been around here for too long.

 

Just to summarize.

• It looks like people get about 3 years out of a battery on their CA remotes.

• CA does not recharge in the slot (battery is a consumable).

• Non-CA does recharge in the slot.

• CA should be put in the slot from time to time to have the latest data on it for the key reader when you go to the dealer. It stores all kinds of service data as well as changes the blinker and light functions as well as radio and auto-AC setting between keys. The world will not end if you CA people don't put the key in the slot, but it is a good idea once in a while to have that latest set of service data.

 

Do you have a reference for that? I didn't see anything like that in the manual, and I don't see why it wouldn't transfer the data wirelessly.

 

I can testify to this one. When I took my CMS in for the 9000 mile service, they said according to the fob I wasn't due for anything (as it read ~4500 miles - from the last time they had it to install stripes). The car clearly read 9000. We put the key in the ignition and ran the car for a few minutes, and then their reading from the key fob was accurate.

Their advice to me was just to put the key in wen I'm driving to the dealer so it'll be up to date by the time I get there.

 

It does transfer the data wirelessly. This is all done by induction, but the module that send and receives data must not be strong enough as the one that knows the CA key is in the car.

See the below for the bit from the manual for my '10 R55

 

Interesting, good to know!

 

Well obviously it's still wireless, but you know what I mean :P