I have a 2007. My CA and fobs had been working perfectly until two weeks ago, changed both batteries, checked the fuse. Dealer says the radio control for the remotes is "in" the rear view mirror. Wants over $100 just to switch mirrors to diagnose. Anybody know this for sure. Says "if" it is that the whole mirror assembly needs replacement. Anybody know about this or have this problem with their CA and fobs?

 

Can you describe the nature of the problem with Comfort Access?

Does it work intermittently, or is it consistently broken?

Have you done anything to the car recently such as install window tint which may reduce the range of the antennae? Try with the windows rolled down to see if it works better.

Is it failing on both the driver and passenger side door? If it's only failing on one side, it's likely not the mirror and may be a failure of the door handle.

Is there power reaching the mirror? Is the Auto Dim function still working, for example? If Auto Dim is no longer functioning, you may no longer have power reaching the mirror. Mirror may still be the root cause, but at least you know what to look for.

Comfort Access in Mini's are a simplified form of the same system BMW uses in BMW cars. The only antenna is in a central location (mirror in this case). Unless both your door handles or keys failed at the same time, the antenna is likely a cause. But you can try the simple things I pointed out as a method of isolating the problem.

 

It does not work at all. The buttons on fobs do not work on the locking or unlocking or hatch buttons.

I have done nothing to the car. parked it one night the next morning both fobs
did not work. I replaced the batteries in the fobs. Still did not work.

it is failing on all doors with all fob buttons as well as comfort access.

Mirror dim feature still works.

Fuse is intact.

So you are saying the receiver is indeed in the mirror? and that replacing the whole mirror needs to happen. Th

Thank you in advance for your help!

 

How long did you have the batteries out of the remote? Typically you want to swap them out quickly as not to loose the programming. If they were out for a while then may need to be reprogrammed to the car.

 

they were out as long as it takes to remove and reinstall new ones. everything failed at once. Neither battery was that old before the "incident"

I replaced one battery in one immediately with the extra battery I always kept on hand. Then I purchased two fresh batteries and replaced them both immediately.

Exactly what would need to be reprogrammed? I consistently switched remotes....

The car battery has never been disconnected. Everything works fine manually.

 

If your dealership says it's in the mirror, I don't see why he would lie. Typically, on BMWs, the module is up front in by the mirror but the antenna runs along the length of the roof liner.

Given the description of your problem, replacing the receive module at the mirror does not sound like a bad way to go. It's unlikely both doors or both keys would die at the same time. And while I forgot to ask, I'm assuming the car will not start without the key in the ignition slot either?

 

you are correct. it will not start without the key fob in the ignition.

It just stymies me sometime that specific repairs can not be done on a part and that an entire unit has to be replaced.

For instance. A plastic part that receives the lens cover on the hatch handle was chipped and would no longer hold the lens cover. Instead of replacing the plastic I had to buy a whole new chrome hatch handle.

In this instance..there is a bad unit inside the "rearview" and I have to replace the whole thing? Mirror is in fine condition and the dimmer unit still works. I imagine the Garage door opener does too but I have to replace it all for a receiver?

I did not say the "dealer" lied. I just want to confirm that the root of the problem is contained in the mirror itself. Thanks for the help!

 

It's about cost savings. That's why your mirror would be serviced as a "swap & replace" module. There a cost to making that unit serviceable. It would have to be designed differently, and have all the supporting materials and parts inventory to allow a dealership to replace a specific part. Second, local labor costs also play a factor. It's cheaper to swap out the mirror than to have to service the mirror.

 

So what was the outcome to this? Did you get it serviced and did it fix the problem? Did they have to replace the whole mirror? What was the cost and was it the mirror with the garage door opener?

I am having a similar problem but mine is only not working intermittently. Yes the receiver is in the mirror. Last year i had my windshield replaced and the idiots didn't seal the upper portion correctly. I didn't know this until i went through a high pressure car wash this winter and had water dripping into the car through the rear-view mirror. I'm thinking it corroded a wire causing the intermittent functionality. I know i need to call the dealership but in Utah there is only 1 dealership and it takes a month to get a car in and my schedule is so wonky i never know when i can take it in. So i keep putting it off.

 

I am going to trust the diagnosis. I received it from more than one person. Including the a tech at the one dealer in the state that I live. However, the part alone "mirror" is over $400.00. I have chosen to get the part from a MINI bone yard for half the cost and install it myself. Which will take a couple weeks for shipping and installation.

In your situation... I would go back to the "idiots" that caused your problem and have it fixed on their dime.

Through my research I have found comfort access always includes Garage opener. While the part "receiver" is a small part of the mirror. No one will waste the time to replace the part.

Once I have completed the repair. I will post of my success or failure!

 

I'm just going to hijack this thread a little bit--

I have a question about the comfort access thing, of course. When one is inside the car, can someone outside the car press the button and get in, even if you don't want them to? Meaning, will locking the doors from the inside or something override the ability to enter using the outside button? Can a person still program doors to lock automatically when the car starts moving?

I love the idea of convenience...but I'm pretty spooked about security. Its a long story, but power locks and quick thinking saved me from an attacker one time. I just worry that there's no way to keep people OUT once I'm in the car.

 

NO.... only the person with the key has control. IN or OUT. Once I am in the car my son can not open the passenger door without me doing it for him. You can program it to open only the driver door or both. Yes you can lock them upon moving. yes you can program only the drivers door to open.

While searching how to repair my CA I found many threads dedicated to "how it works" You can find some useful info in those or the manual is pretty clear on "how to program it" BUT NOT how to fix it when it breaks.

 

I found a mirror with the electronics in tack. I will let all know once the dealer installs it and reprograms my keys which they say is necessary if I have my CA back up to par!

 

The car is intelligent enough to detect that the key is inside the vehicle. If the key is inside the vehicle, the external door locks won't work. While it provides the security you're after, I believe the real intent is to prevent you from accidentally leaving the car with the keys still inside. You can test the feature by leaving the key inside the car and keeping one door unlocked (in case you're nervous), walk outside the car to the door which is still locked and try to unlock it. It won't work.