R56 S Non-Comfort Access Key Battery Replacement
#1
R56 S Non-Comfort Access Key Battery Replacement
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?
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?
Last edited by pollypong33; 07-01-2018 at 01:26 PM.
#2
#3
Moderator
iTrader: (3)
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/
https://www.facebook.com/minikeyhospital/
#4
#5
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.
#6
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!
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!
#7
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.
Find and independent MINI repair shop.
Trending Topics
#8
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
amancara
R60 :: Countryman Talk (2010-2015)
22
08-22-2013 01:38 PM
Interior/Exterior Comfort Series Window Tint with Comfort Access?
ke4sfq
Interior/Exterior
3
07-11-2010 06:54 PM
bugeye1031
Stock Problems/Issues
9
07-27-2008 08:35 AM
enjoyingsilence
R56 :: Hatch Talk (2007+)
17
06-03-2008 07:39 PM