Well, at this point I am committed to getting my key fob to work again. Recently picked up this 06 MCS with only one key and it was dead. I thought I could just replace the battery, but quickly learned it needed to be resoldered. Luckily, a good friend is well equipped to do this. The battery was replaced and tested with a full charge after opening the key using a box cuter carefully around the edges. Unfortunately, still no luck with the remote access features. With the key still open, we checked the buttons and they are in fact working, noticed a drop in battery power when pressed.

Next, we used his RF scanner and searched for a ping at 315 hrz. Unfortunately, we didn't see anything come up on the scanner.

My question, can anyone confirm that we would see a ping if the vehicle's receiver was not working? Meaning, since I didn't see a ping can I rule out that the key is sending the signal, but the receiver is not so the ping at 315hz is never seen. I believe the receiver is in the rearview mirror. If anyone has any ideas how to test this I would love to know. Also, are there any other components to this system that I haven't thought of yet?

I searched the forums, but didn't see anyone really dig into this.

Thank you!

 

Sometime your key transmitter can change frequency from 315MHz to 433MHz,due to incorrect key setting maneuvers.Here you have a video with what to do to set your key transmitter to 315MHz.Also check if the switches are in good condition and if they are not detached from the board.
If not work, can buy a cheap key fob replacement from Amazon, which also contains the electronic board.
New board is provided with a usual CR2032 battery.Can set to your car receiver using this tutorial.
This is my spare key board, I used many times to different R53 facelift car to test for friends if they have a bad keyfob or a bad receiver on car.

back side

front side

battery CR2032

 

FYI: 05/06 cars, the battery charges from being in the ignition. Did you replace the battery with a rechargeable unit?

 

The board is delivered with a nonrechargeable battery CR2032.

 

thank you! A few follow up points. When we used the RF scanner we didn’t see any pings register across all frequencies. We check the 433 range as well.

Should I take this to mean the board is bad? Said another way, if the key fob transmitter is good, but the receiver is bad, would an RF scanner still pick up a ping at either the 315 or 433 hz level?

Will the board from the $20 key you linked actually work in my original key? I thought there was something within the key for the ignition that required it to be reprogrammed for my car-beyond the simple process you linked to above?

Are you suggesting to buy the amazon key replacement, install it in my key, and then attempt to reprogram it to the car using the process linked above? If that doesn’t work, I can rule out the transmitter and assume it is the receiver in the mirror?

Is there any other component of the system that could be wrong? I looked up a schematic for the system and can’t seem to find much.

The replacement battery I installed is rechargeable and was received with a full charge. The button work properly, but I don’t know if it’s transmitting anything. See my point above

Thank you all for your responses!

 

Quick Follow:

Two things: I noticed my key has an FCC ID of LX8 F2V and is 315Mhz. I noticed the key on amazon has a FCC ID: LX8 FZV and only gives directions for setting to 433 Mhz. Any issue with this and have you used it at 315 as well?

 

Amazon key work on both frequency,i'm 100% sure.I don't know if the board fit perfect in original key ,but can cut the Amazon key and replace also the immo chip from old key.Amazon key is delivered with a blanck immo chip.
You can test the remote key receiver if you have a friend who can give his.key and try to pair with your car
If work, is ok, if not, you also must disconnect the front mirror and check for damages on electronic receiver module.

 

Thank you. So the IMMO chip is the transponder chip (ID44) that completes the immobilization circuit? Isn't this soldered to the board in several locations as well? Removing that from the old board and installing it on the new board sounds difficult or is this just detaching it.

I don't have any friends with a Mini cooper to check the receiver against.

 

If your key fob board is the same as my daughter’s 2004 R50, there is an LED on the component side of the board that lights up when either button is pressed.

The LED isn’t visible when the board is in the key fob case.

Edit: The Immobilizer chip is all by itself in a corner of the lower case on my daughter’s 2004.

 

Hmmmm, as a last resort, you can bite the bullet, order a key though the dealer and have it programmed to the car. A bit pricey, but then you have key that does what it was designed to do. However, if just tinkering around is your forte...

 

Before you buy a new key check out this diagnosis I did on the keyless entry receiver in the rear view mirror. DIY on cleaning corrosion from the receiver on post #5.
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...diagnosis.html