Hey guys,

So I just picked up a beautiful 2007 MCS with 22,000 miles. The thing is immaculate, and after some VIN research with Mini USA, I determined that it had all four major packages (premium, cold, convenience and sport).

Obviously, Comfort Access is part of the convenience package, as I have the fob with the removable battery and the black buttons on the door. Unfortunately, these buttons don't do anything when I press them (whether I press them firmly or softly, momentarily or for a few seconds). I also can't start the car unless the fob is in the slot. Keep in mind everything else with the fob and car seems to work exactly as it should. Also worth noting that the car only came with one key fob.

I searched on the forums and it seems like this is just a key fob reprogramming issue with the dealer, correct? Anyone had their Comfort Access go out and had it fixed? If so, how long will the reprogramming take, and it should be covered under warranty, yes?

Thanks in advance for any advice! It's not like the Comfort Access is a huge deal, but if I have it, I certainly want to be able to use it.

 

The battery could be weak or dead. Do the buttons on your key fob work?

 

There are actually two batteries in the fob, one of which needs to be charged periodically (every few months, apparently) by placing the fob in its dock on the dash for some time. Take a long drive with it there, and see if that makes a difference. Perhaps someone knows what a normal recharge time would be?

 

The buttons all work on the fob just fine. It's only the comfort access feature that's out.

And I checked the removable battery in the fob already. Replaced it with a new one, and no difference.

I didn't realize the fob had two batteries in it. I'll see if through normal use over the next week or two, the second battery charges itself up. Maybe that's it. And yes, if anyone knows what the charge time for this internal fob battery is, that would be very helpful. I've driven the car quite a bit over the past few days, but it's been a lot of short drives, showing it off to friends and family. So the fob has only been in the slot for about a half an hour at a time for any given drive.

Any additional advice on this issue would be totally appreciated. I'd really like to avoid a 200-mile roundtrip trip to the Cincy dealer if at all possible..thanks!

 

The CA fob does not have a rechargeable battery. If you flip it over there are no contacts like the standard fob uses for charging.

 

OWG sorry, but you need to re-check your sources. The Comfort Access FOB does indeed have a Rechargeable Battery. Non-comformt access FOBs must be used consistently to start the car and by it being in the docking station it recharges the battery.

 

I can not find charging contacts on my key fob, it is possible that the CA key fobs are charged wirelessly.

 

RJ - is the owners manual authoritative enough?

 

Thanks, OWG. I saw that same thing in the owner's manual. It's why I (apparently correctly) thought the removable battery was the only battery in the CA key fob. Like I said, I've replaced that battery with a brand new one, so that's one factor eliminated.

I've set up an appointment with the nearest dealer to take a look at the problem in a couple of weeks. He wouldn't say yes or no on the phone with me when asked if it was just a reprogramming job with the key fob. He said he needed to see the car and fob first.

But I've read on this forum that getting a dealer to reprogram the fob to activate the CA feature is possible. We'll see what happens. If anyone has any experience with this, lemme know.

 

This is page 18 of the '08 MINI Cooper Clubman Manual...you should be looking at pages 26-27 of the same manual.

 

That is page 26. Page 18 covers the onboard monitor.
I would draw your attention to the sentence "In vehicles equipped with convent access* the remote control contains a replaceable battery, page 34" (emphasis mine).

 

The Comfort Access features of both of my keys failed yesterday, and after changing both batteries, twice, they still won't work.

I usually plug the keys in every couple of months for about an hours' drive, as per the owner manual.

Now the only way to lock / unlock the car is with the emergency key, and the car will only start with the key in the starter slot.

I did get an iPhone, but that's been 2 months ago, and have had no Comfort Access issues until now. Also, I always keep the phone in my opposite pocket from the key, and never store them together.

 

Sounds like you need to have your key re-synced with the car. I had to do this about 6 months after I purchased the car, as one of the key's no longer worked for CA. The cleared the system, and re-loaded both keys, and things have been fine ever since.

 

I have a 2009 JCW with CA. There is only 1 battery in the FOB. I will have my car for 4 years in November I changed the battery one time in my primary FOB.

 

Molly is a 2008 and I too have only had to replace the Battery once in both Fobs!!

Was thinking just today in fact that I need to remove the battery from the Spare (#3) Key Fob so it doesn't corrode and cause problems later when and if I do need to use it.

 

Could be a number of things first thing to do is replace the batteries if that does not work then do as rockridge says have the dealer re-initialize the keys. If that does not work it could be that the receiving unit for CA has gone bad and needs to be replaced.

This is NOT needed as on the CA cars there is NO WAY to charge a battery in the fob. The battery is REPLACEABLE and CAN NOT be recharged.

If you read the manual it only states that car WITHOUT CA need to be recharged.

Does this mean that even the buttons dont work to unlock the car. If that is the case then replace the batteries. They are CR2032 button style batteries. It sounds as if they mat be dead.

The only reason ANY phone will cause a problem with CA is if the phone is between the FOB and the car. And in fact any metal or semi metallic object will cause the same problem.

 

Just got my 2008 Clubman. Vehicle has comfort access. Vehicle came with two fobs. One fob works with comfort access. (chrome is heavily worn so it was the main fob that was used) The other new looking fob does not work with comfort access. Both fobs work the locks when the buttons are pressed. Bothe fobs will start the car when inserted into the ignition. I just replaced the watch battery in each fob but that did not help.
Is there a sequence / procedure that I can do to get the newer fob working with comfort access? Thanks!

 

You will need to go to the dealer to have them activate the fob.

If changing the battery has not solved the problem then the coding between the fob and car has been damaged or is not there.

 

I know this is a 10year old post and not sure how active this form is... but have the same problem with my new to me Mini 2011 R60. Comfort access door button doesn't work on driver or passenger side, but DOES work for the trunk. The fob works fine for unlocking/lock the doors starting the car, the fob doesn't need to be in the dock to start. Its just the buttons on the handles do not work. The only thing different that I haven't seen anyone mentions is when I press the button it makes a noise- 5 clicking sound, but no locks unlock. The clicks seem to be coming from the rear of the car. The clicking sound makes me wonder if it is receiving the signal, but then just can't unlock the doors, rather than just a re-programing fob issue. Plus if the fob needs to be re-programmed, I don't think the trunk comfort access would work. Any help would be appreciated, Thanks

 

did you try to disconnect the battery and reconnect it?

the key itself is not re-programmable.

 

Could you explain further why you think that would fix this? 😀 I've read that can cause even is more electric problems. Thanks

 

Reset the system.

Would you do if your battery takes a dump?

 

Thanks for the suggestion, but no luck. Same problem still, after disconnecting the battery.

 

The comfort access battery is new? When mine was getting low, i changed it and its back in action. I think the battery looses its power the sensors on some locations pick it up better then the others. CR2032

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...n-key-fob.html

 

Yes, this was my first thought. So I replaced the battery, a new 2032. It makes the comfort access pointless without the door locks. Ugh