I bought my R55 MINI with Comfort Access 'pre-owned' from a dealer over 100 miles away. They had lost one of the keys, so promised me they'd send it.

They finally did, but duh.. of course it doesn't actually work. Before I call them (they're not exactly great, whereas I know this forum IS )
...Is there a way for me to 'pair' them myself?

If not do you think this is something my local dealer will do for 'free' or do I have to get dealer A to pay dealer B?

thx
paul

 

If starting the car with the key does not pair it (and I don't think it will) you will have to pay the dealer a visit to program it.

 

Thanks Motormouth...
Actually, I gave it another go and...what happened this morning was ....
- remote wouldn't work. (I did this last night and assumed it wasn't paired, wasn't the right key or it was flat battery... but I thought I'd try it again).

- opened door with 'physical' key
- put it in the dash and it did start the car.
- took it out, remote still didn't work.
- put it back in and drove to work
- now it works

So it appears that a) miracle of miracles ... the original dealer got it all right b) the key has a rechargable battery.

cool, I'm happy now No visit to dealer, just needed more patience and faith

 

Awesome! You might rotate keys every several months to keep them both charged if you only use 1 regularly.

 

I thought that the comfort access keyfobs didn't have the rechargable battery.

 

They have two batteries (99% sure). One is a button cell and the other is rechargable. Take the button cell out and you can still start the car by inserting the key in the slot.

 

I have comfort access and have seen nothing in the manual or otherwise about charging the battery. I never put the fob in the slot and have had the car for almost a year with no need to charge (or to replace the battery for that matter). I wonder if the system still works with battery removed because of some internal power storage (a capacitor?).

 

I'm not 100% sure about a second battery but somehow it can start the car without the button cell or back installed. If not a second battery perhaps it works like a RFID chip?

 

It's good to know the car will start even if the battery dies.

 

comfort access remote does not have a charging battery. only the non-comfort access has a charging battery. if the battery dies you can still access the interior of the car via the metal key and as others have stated, still start the car by docking it to the ignition.

 

The starting portion is RFID as long as the fob is in the slot. As others hve stated there is no charging on the comfort access fobs.