Having issues with both keyfob for my 2013 JCW Coupe that started a few weeks ago. Right now, they both seem to work fine IF I hold each close to the rear view mirror. ???

1st thought it was the battery, but quickly learned the keyfob is sealed (no comfort access). Didn’t want to do surgery on them for fear of making the issue worse. Read about the remote receiver, and I guess it’s located behind the mirror? Not sure, but I’d like to resolve this issue as it has gotten on my last nerve. Any assistance/guidance would be appreciated.

 

IIRC, the keyfob's battery gets recharged while in the dash. Do you do a ton of short trips? Maybe take it out for a couple-hour spin and see the fob recharges.

 

https://www.facebook.com/minikeyhospital "Your MINI key can be repaired! And for less than the price of a new key from the dealer. We repair"

this is a side gig tho ....... so reply may take time ..... from what I see ......

 

Some people have had luck with one of those induction phone charger pads for the internal battery to give it some life.

 

In/around town-nothing over 30 minutes at a time. Thing is, even my 2nd key (wife’s) does the same thing and it very rarely gets used.

 

Thanks. I’ll give that a try. Yesterday, I got the battery is charging low message. So today, Roadshow Mini got my $400+ to install a new car battery.

My concern is - is it the keyfob/battery or the remote sensor? I asked the Mini Service Tech today about it stating that keyfob works if I hold it close to the rear view mirror. The Tech off top of head stated a new keyfob was somewhere around $275 and a new rear view mirror around $750. He said the entire mirror would have to be replaced if that was it, because you can’t just replace the remote sensor. Ugh!

 

Oh no, what did you end up doing.

 

Nothing. Yet. Had windshield replaced due to rock damage recently. Just been dealing with it, frustrated each time I unlock/lock. Almost always having to hold keyfob close to rear view mirror for it to work. Sometimes, it will unlock from a distance; but locking always has to be close to mirror.

 

Just change the keyfob battery yourself. So many YT videos to show you how. I had the same problem a few years ago and it was the keyfob battery.