E91 remote locking woes
Discussion
Hi,
My remote locking failed a week or so ago (locks fine from the key), I have tried another diversity module which didn't make any difference (didn't get better or worse) so put the original back in.
I suspected a broken wire so had an auto electrician take a look, he has confirmed that there is a break somewhere as there is no feed to the module but also says that there is a possible issue with module as it still wouldn't work when he put power to it.
Just looking for peoples thoughts\previous experience, not sure where to go from here, all I can see are big bills...
My remote locking failed a week or so ago (locks fine from the key), I have tried another diversity module which didn't make any difference (didn't get better or worse) so put the original back in.
I suspected a broken wire so had an auto electrician take a look, he has confirmed that there is a break somewhere as there is no feed to the module but also says that there is a possible issue with module as it still wouldn't work when he put power to it.
Just looking for peoples thoughts\previous experience, not sure where to go from here, all I can see are big bills...
My car, also an E91, is going into Sytner for this very issue tomorrow morning.
It was in just before Christmas for the same problem, and they replaced the diversity module, which seemed to fix the issue, but it started again 2 days afterwards, with FM reception also disappearing this time round.
I've since discovered that it's exacerbated by opening the boot - next to the boot hinges are 3 rubber grommets which have the wiring in for the antenna, and rear heated screen. I've stopped using the boot for the past two weeks, but in cases where I have needed to open it, the locking has always stopped working immediately afterwards. I can then get it working again by manipulating the wires in the grommets on the right.
I did a quick google earlier today, and apparently the tubing for the rear window washer also goes through the same grommet as the wires, and the tubing has a abrasive finish to it. As a result, years of opening and closing the boot will cause the tubing to wear through the wires.
I've got a warranty, but I'm just hoping that they're not going to try and label this as 'normal wear and tear'.
It was in just before Christmas for the same problem, and they replaced the diversity module, which seemed to fix the issue, but it started again 2 days afterwards, with FM reception also disappearing this time round.
I've since discovered that it's exacerbated by opening the boot - next to the boot hinges are 3 rubber grommets which have the wiring in for the antenna, and rear heated screen. I've stopped using the boot for the past two weeks, but in cases where I have needed to open it, the locking has always stopped working immediately afterwards. I can then get it working again by manipulating the wires in the grommets on the right.
I did a quick google earlier today, and apparently the tubing for the rear window washer also goes through the same grommet as the wires, and the tubing has a abrasive finish to it. As a result, years of opening and closing the boot will cause the tubing to wear through the wires.
I've got a warranty, but I'm just hoping that they're not going to try and label this as 'normal wear and tear'.
Had this on my E91, but mind was simply down to water ingress into the diversity antenna. It stopped working after we arrived back at the car after a rainy walk. All soaked and not able to get into the car!
I had a 3rd party warranty but it didn't cover water ingress.
BMW wanted £460 for the part + fitting, after me paying them their £99 diagnosis fee. I told them i'd sort it myself. Turned up to collect the car and the fella drove it round the front with the rear spoiler missing. Opened the boot to find that and the screws sitting there. Deepest apologies from the service manager. Then 10 mins later the car arrives back round the front again all in one piece.
I later found out that it's £290 ish for the part from BMW, so they wanted £170 for about 20 mins work. Asked for a discount but none came.
Bought new part of ebay for £250. Fitted it myself in 1/2 hr, wrapping it in cling film and silicone. All was fine.
I've heard about the boot opening causing fatigue in the wiring. Just hope it's not too inaccessible and a decent auto-electrician should be able to sort it out.
I had a 3rd party warranty but it didn't cover water ingress.
BMW wanted £460 for the part + fitting, after me paying them their £99 diagnosis fee. I told them i'd sort it myself. Turned up to collect the car and the fella drove it round the front with the rear spoiler missing. Opened the boot to find that and the screws sitting there. Deepest apologies from the service manager. Then 10 mins later the car arrives back round the front again all in one piece.
I later found out that it's £290 ish for the part from BMW, so they wanted £170 for about 20 mins work. Asked for a discount but none came.
Bought new part of ebay for £250. Fitted it myself in 1/2 hr, wrapping it in cling film and silicone. All was fine.
I've heard about the boot opening causing fatigue in the wiring. Just hope it's not too inaccessible and a decent auto-electrician should be able to sort it out.
PTF said:
Had this on my E91, but mind was simply down to water ingress into the diversity antenna. It stopped working after we arrived back at the car after a rainy walk. All soaked and not able to get into the car!
I had a 3rd party warranty but it didn't cover water ingress.
BMW wanted £460 for the part + fitting, after me paying them their £99 diagnosis fee. I told them i'd sort it myself. Turned up to collect the car and the fella drove it round the front with the rear spoiler missing. Opened the boot to find that and the screws sitting there. Deepest apologies from the service manager. Then 10 mins later the car arrives back round the front again all in one piece.
I later found out that it's £290 ish for the part from BMW, so they wanted £170 for about 20 mins work. Asked for a discount but none came.
Bought new part of eBay for £250. Fitted it myself in 1/2 hr, wrapping it in cling film and silicone. All was fine.
I've heard about the boot opening causing fatigue in the wiring. Just hope it's not too inaccessible and a decent auto-electrician should be able to sort it out.
I had tested the Diversity module by swapping it for another off eBay (presuming it wasn't faulty) which didn't make any difference and certainly it didn't get any worse, there's no sign of water ingress, the module looked dry so suspected the wiring, the auto electrician I took it to confirmed that there is a break somewhere but I could tell he didn't want to do the work from his "it's a new loom job" comment when I asked and he seems to be the only one around here.I had a 3rd party warranty but it didn't cover water ingress.
BMW wanted £460 for the part + fitting, after me paying them their £99 diagnosis fee. I told them i'd sort it myself. Turned up to collect the car and the fella drove it round the front with the rear spoiler missing. Opened the boot to find that and the screws sitting there. Deepest apologies from the service manager. Then 10 mins later the car arrives back round the front again all in one piece.
I later found out that it's £290 ish for the part from BMW, so they wanted £170 for about 20 mins work. Asked for a discount but none came.
Bought new part of eBay for £250. Fitted it myself in 1/2 hr, wrapping it in cling film and silicone. All was fine.
I've heard about the boot opening causing fatigue in the wiring. Just hope it's not too inaccessible and a decent auto-electrician should be able to sort it out.
Contacting my local BMW specialist to see what they suggest.
We also had this happen to ours last year - after it had been parked up for a couple of weeks whilst we were on holiday.
It was dead completely, and then after our local BMW specialist had a poke around under the spoiler it started working again intermittently.
At this point, the module tested fine - so they decided that it was most likely a wiring fault. However, when they started testing, they couldn't find anything wrong with the wiring - and on closer inspection, it turned out that the diversity antenna module had tiny hairline cracks on the circuit board, which were almost impossible to see. New module fitted, and all has been good ever since. I can't remember how much we paid, but it was possibly £300 to £400 (including the time they took to diagnose the problem, and supply and fit the part).
We had no problem with radio reception during the period when the module wasn't working properly.
I sympathise with you whilst you're sorting it out - its most annoying to have to quickly get in the car to silence the alarm every time you unlock it with the manual key :-)
Take in to account that there also a few fuses you could check (if you haven't already).
It was dead completely, and then after our local BMW specialist had a poke around under the spoiler it started working again intermittently.
At this point, the module tested fine - so they decided that it was most likely a wiring fault. However, when they started testing, they couldn't find anything wrong with the wiring - and on closer inspection, it turned out that the diversity antenna module had tiny hairline cracks on the circuit board, which were almost impossible to see. New module fitted, and all has been good ever since. I can't remember how much we paid, but it was possibly £300 to £400 (including the time they took to diagnose the problem, and supply and fit the part).
We had no problem with radio reception during the period when the module wasn't working properly.
I sympathise with you whilst you're sorting it out - its most annoying to have to quickly get in the car to silence the alarm every time you unlock it with the manual key :-)
Take in to account that there also a few fuses you could check (if you haven't already).
Martyn76 said:
PTF said:
Had this on my E91, but mind was simply down to water ingress into the diversity antenna. It stopped working after we arrived back at the car after a rainy walk. All soaked and not able to get into the car!
I had a 3rd party warranty but it didn't cover water ingress.
BMW wanted £460 for the part + fitting, after me paying them their £99 diagnosis fee. I told them i'd sort it myself. Turned up to collect the car and the fella drove it round the front with the rear spoiler missing. Opened the boot to find that and the screws sitting there. Deepest apologies from the service manager. Then 10 mins later the car arrives back round the front again all in one piece.
I later found out that it's £290 ish for the part from BMW, so they wanted £170 for about 20 mins work. Asked for a discount but none came.
Bought new part of eBay for £250. Fitted it myself in 1/2 hr, wrapping it in cling film and silicone. All was fine.
I've heard about the boot opening causing fatigue in the wiring. Just hope it's not too inaccessible and a decent auto-electrician should be able to sort it out.
I had tested the Diversity module by swapping it for another off eBay (presuming it wasn't faulty) which didn't make any difference and certainly it didn't get any worse, there's no sign of water ingress, the module looked dry so suspected the wiring, the auto electrician I took it to confirmed that there is a break somewhere but I could tell he didn't want to do the work from his "it's a new loom job" comment when I asked and he seems to be the only one around here.I had a 3rd party warranty but it didn't cover water ingress.
BMW wanted £460 for the part + fitting, after me paying them their £99 diagnosis fee. I told them i'd sort it myself. Turned up to collect the car and the fella drove it round the front with the rear spoiler missing. Opened the boot to find that and the screws sitting there. Deepest apologies from the service manager. Then 10 mins later the car arrives back round the front again all in one piece.
I later found out that it's £290 ish for the part from BMW, so they wanted £170 for about 20 mins work. Asked for a discount but none came.
Bought new part of eBay for £250. Fitted it myself in 1/2 hr, wrapping it in cling film and silicone. All was fine.
I've heard about the boot opening causing fatigue in the wiring. Just hope it's not too inaccessible and a decent auto-electrician should be able to sort it out.
Contacting my local BMW specialist to see what they suggest.
Look for ever so slightly corroded parts. You're not looking for it to be dripping wet, just signs of weathering
stevesuk said:
We also had this happen to ours last year - after it had been parked up for a couple of weeks whilst we were on holiday.
It was dead completely, and then after our local BMW specialist had a poke around under the spoiler it started working again intermittently.
At this point, the module tested fine - so they decided that it was most likely a wiring fault. However, when they started testing, they couldn't find anything wrong with the wiring - and on closer inspection, it turned out that the diversity antenna module had tiny hairline cracks on the circuit board, which were almost impossible to see. New module fitted, and all has been good ever since. I can't remember how much we paid, but it was possibly £300 to £400 (including the time they took to diagnose the problem, and supply and fit the part).
We had no problem with radio reception during the period when the module wasn't working properly.
I sympathise with you whilst you're sorting it out - its most annoying to have to quickly get in the car to silence the alarm every time you unlock it with the manual key :-)
Take in to account that there also a few fuses you could check (if you haven't already).
Using the key is ok but the alarm is starting to wear a bit thin, I watched a guy with a 2000 reg Astra use his remote fob yesterday with a pang of jealousy!It was dead completely, and then after our local BMW specialist had a poke around under the spoiler it started working again intermittently.
At this point, the module tested fine - so they decided that it was most likely a wiring fault. However, when they started testing, they couldn't find anything wrong with the wiring - and on closer inspection, it turned out that the diversity antenna module had tiny hairline cracks on the circuit board, which were almost impossible to see. New module fitted, and all has been good ever since. I can't remember how much we paid, but it was possibly £300 to £400 (including the time they took to diagnose the problem, and supply and fit the part).
We had no problem with radio reception during the period when the module wasn't working properly.
I sympathise with you whilst you're sorting it out - its most annoying to have to quickly get in the car to silence the alarm every time you unlock it with the manual key :-)
Take in to account that there also a few fuses you could check (if you haven't already).
The electrician chap tested all the wires that supply the power ( right hand side as you look at the module when connected) and did say that there was no voltage coming through, he checked the fuses but gave them the all clear, he knew his stuff but just wasn't interested in sorting it for whatever reason.
Martyn76 said:
The electrician chap tested all the wires that supply the power ( right hand side as you look at the module when connected) and did say that there was no voltage coming through, he checked the fuses but gave them the all clear, he knew his stuff but just wasn't interested in sorting it for whatever reason.
If it is a broken wire, the proper way to fix it is apparently to replace the entire loom (that's what I guess the main dealer would do). But our local specialist were - I think - intending to just repair the broken wire if they could find it. Probably a lot cheaper than a new module.Although it probably is a broken wire, did he definitely check all the fuses?
Edited to add - this wasn't my problem in the end, but when I originally posted on e90post, someone said they had solved the problem by changing 5 amp fuse protecting the antenna diversity module "diversity antenna amp also has its own fuse (a pink 5A fuse), which was blown. On my car (a 2008) it was #63. After replacing it, remote locking was fixed instantly". I seem to recall mine wasn't fuse #63 (I have a 2005), but there were 5 amp fuses that I checked which could have been related. See http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?p=203...
Edited by stevesuk on Friday 17th February 19:24
stevesuk said:
If it is a broken wire, the proper way to fix it is apparently to replace the entire loom (that's what I guess the main dealer would do).
Yes, Sytner called me earlier to tell me that they'd found a broken wire and were intending to replace the whole loom repair than repair in situ. All going to be done under warranty, and they are trying to waive the excess too given that it was in just before Christmas with the same problem.ladderino said:
Yes, Sytner called me earlier to tell me that they'd found a broken wire and were intending to replace the whole loom repair than repair in situ. All going to be done under warranty, and they are trying to waive the excess too given that it was in just before Christmas with the same problem.
I read somewhere else that at main dealer rates, its an £1,800 job - because they have to replace the entire loom between the rear of the car and the module at the front of the car (which obviously means dropping the roof lining etc.). Bet you're glad you have a warranty 
stevesuk said:
ladderino said:
Yes, Sytner called me earlier to tell me that they'd found a broken wire and were intending to replace the whole loom repair than repair in situ. All going to be done under warranty, and they are trying to waive the excess too given that it was in just before Christmas with the same problem.
I read somewhere else that at main dealer rates, its an £1,800 job - because they have to replace the entire loom between the rear of the car and the module at the front of the car (which obviously means dropping the roof lining etc.). Bet you're glad you have a warranty Just got a letter from BMW to say my monthly premium is going up by £2 - I think I can live with that!
I bought my E61 at the weekend, on leaving, the chap said the remote keys have stopped working, I wasn't happy, but he said he would pay. Anyways.
under the rear spoiler is the control box, which gets water inside, so a soft toothbrush and some electrical spray and it was all working again, covered the seals and box with some light grease to stop further water ingress.
Remember to remove the battery terminal while doing so.
Luke
under the rear spoiler is the control box, which gets water inside, so a soft toothbrush and some electrical spray and it was all working again, covered the seals and box with some light grease to stop further water ingress.
Remember to remove the battery terminal while doing so.
Luke
Glad you sorted. I have an E93 2008, with comfort access key fob. It stopped working and used the manual key. It would lose memory of seats and radio stations saved.After reading so many scary posts on various forums, i did the cheapest which was replace the remote key battery, CR2032 for a £1 for 5. Very simple to open, see link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syiwGXPE7WY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syiwGXPE7WY
In respect to central locking problems with the E91: I spent a great deal of time on diagnosing the problem with my car, without first checking the antenna itself. Maybe this should have been obvious but there was absolutely nothing available on the internet or in my Haynes relevant to this. An experienced scrapper in Norwich told me it was located in the front screen. A well stocked auto electrical shop in Cheshire said they had no idea about a replacement antenna and referred me back to the main dealer. After repeated attempts at cleaning and drying the diversity unit (having checked all fuses and locks as well as the key fobs and wiring through the tailgate) and had intermittent but quickly failing remote locking and opening, I finally dismantled the brake light cluster and there to my delight found the problem. The ribbon antenna was broken under the lighting surround on the left hand side. I have no idea why it broke there of all places but clearly this was the source of my problem with the central locking and alarm. The replacement item is £19 + vat and available within 24 hours from the main dealer. It will need sellotape or sticky fabric to paste into the lighting surround. Four screws (1 x 10mm, 3 x 8mm; two torx screws) and two plugs to take off the spoiler and light - about ten minutes to inspect and replace in all. I recommend you do the simple thing first - start by checking the little pink ribbon circuit before shelling out on key fobs or a diversity amplifier. Incidentally, OBDStar sell a remote tester for £20. The red display is not 'fail' it just lights up for a signal at 868 mhz - the BMW key fob signal frequency. Also, with repeated use in testing the DV amplifier, the key battery will go flat. When this happens a display will light on your dash when you plug the fob in. It should re-charge as soon as you drive the car.
not at to replace a diversity unit to date, still you got it fixed so good news 
thought I'd throw this thread up again.
I had broken wires in my 2007 touring which I repaired.
However here's the thing..
I have 2Arieals now
With one fitted the radio gets reception but door locks dont
With the other doors locked OK but No radio
Can't remember which one is which as I've pulled the pcbs out of the cases
Suspect I have a later aerial that works the radio but doesn't see the key?
I can't work out is I can make 1 good from. The 2
Any ideas??????
Am
I had broken wires in my 2007 touring which I repaired.
However here's the thing..
I have 2Arieals now
With one fitted the radio gets reception but door locks dont
With the other doors locked OK but No radio
Can't remember which one is which as I've pulled the pcbs out of the cases
Suspect I have a later aerial that works the radio but doesn't see the key?
I can't work out is I can make 1 good from. The 2
Any ideas??????
Am
Hi,
I have got the same issue. My remote isn't working on my X3. I have only had the car a month so I have still got 5 months used car warranty. Just wondering if this would still be an issue for 2013 BMW? I did see some smoke also coming from the rear wiper area in the rear view mirror when using the rear washer so will see if this related to the remote not working. My rear wipers and washer are still working just both remotes aren't.
I have got the same issue. My remote isn't working on my X3. I have only had the car a month so I have still got 5 months used car warranty. Just wondering if this would still be an issue for 2013 BMW? I did see some smoke also coming from the rear wiper area in the rear view mirror when using the rear washer so will see if this related to the remote not working. My rear wipers and washer are still working just both remotes aren't.
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