I bought a 2012 MCS non-comfort access about a month and a half ago and the previous owner said he had the car off the road for 4-5 months, so both key fob batteries were drained, but that they should be fine and recharge as I drive. I've had drives between 30min to 1hr and they never recharged at all (couldn't ever get a single lock/unlock out of them), so I'm assuming they're completely dead. I found this post on the MINI2 forum by someone who DIY replaced the battery in his key and it worked. I tried it out with one of my keys but the buttons still aren't working.

Assuming I did everything properly (I'm confident that I did) and that there isn't anything wrong with the key or its components, it should just work with a new battery without needing any programming/special steps, right?

Before I go and spend $200 USD for a new key at the dealership, plus however much it will cost to program it, I figured I'd see if anyone here has any ideas/suggestions re: troubleshooting.

P.S. Here's a recent pic of Guinness - since I got him, I tinted the windows, added stripes and got him 17" wheels. Will blackout the chrome next

Edit: I learned about the receiver in the mirror after starting this thread. I will go to the dealership to have them try to confirm whether or not that is the problem. Any other ideas?

 

It’s odd that the remotes will start the car, but the buttons do not work. Are they knock off remotes that look like the originals? Does the trunk release button work?

 

I've sent keys in for new batteries to the firm below - with good results and cheaper than a new key.

https://www.facebook.com/minikeyhospital/

 

I assume without comfort access you still have a signal receiver in the car. Did you check that fuses aren't blown?

 

I just replaced the battery in one of the remotes and didn't get a new key - none of the buttons on either key are working. Both keys are from the previous owner and I highly doubt they aren't the originals.

If you're referring to the receiver in the mirror, I just learned about that after starting this thread. I will go to the dealership this week to see if they can confirm whether or not the receiver is the problem.

 

Update: MINI dealership said they can't do anything to tell me whether the problem is with my keys or the receiver, because "no one's ever asked them that before". They then said they could do a diagnostic for $150USD that may or may not tell us what the problem is, but urged me to get a new key and have it programmed for $325USD. If it doesn't work, then I could pay them the $150 for the diagnostic - which, again, is not guaranteed. And of course they wouldn't give me a refund on the key/programming if that happened.

I'm still trying to exhaust all my inexpensive options before giving in and getting a new key. I was hoping the "hold down unlock button and press lock button 3 times" trick would work...

Does anybody have any suggestions? I find it hard to believe there isn't more available tips/tricks on this!

 

Don't know where you are located, tell your dealer that some dealers (MINI of Portland for example) have started to offer an hour of diagnostic for free to identify problem. They also are at $99 hour for that instead of $150 which is insane. Why scare off customers from repairs if you are going to ding them upfront.

Find and independent MINI repair shop.

 

On the early cars, there's a simple re-learn process to do after a battery change in the key fob. It's in the Owners Manual.
Auto-Zone may have a testing station which will at least tell you if the fob is transmitting.
Later cars may be different.