Second key works but doesn't de-activate the alarm...

[oktapod]

Hi everyone.

I got my 330Ci around five or six weeks ago. Everything largely okay but one thing I hadn't tried was using the second remote key. The other day my wife needed to use my car so picked up that key, unlocked the car using the remote fob, opened the door and the alarm went off. She needed to get the other key to disarm it.

Is there something she/we are doing wrong? Or is it a trip into a main dealer to get this sorted out? Any idea how much they'll charge for something like this?

The manual doesn't say much, but clearly I need to get this sorted as I'm effectively down to one fully operational key...

Alarm is standard integrated.

[Shelsleyf2]

I am assuming the car is secondhand?. It may be the battery in the key has gone flat, search google for battery replacement...the key is not designed to have the battery replaced and the approved method is a new key...circa £120 from BMW....Reprgramming is done by inserting key in ignition and operating buttons in sequence, again seartch google. You might try reprogramming first..then if that doesn't work off to the dealers...Not sure where you bought the car from any warrenty?.

Hope this helps

[oktapod]

Hi - I should have been more specific. The battery is working as I can remotely lock and unlock the car, it's just that this particular key is neither activating the alarm (on a lock) or de-activating it (on an open).

So the key isn't a problem other than the fact that (I suspect) it hasn't been 'paired' with the alarm, or it's been 'deactivated' from working with my alarm. Either way, I would be hacked off if I had to buy a new key...

[phelix]

Strange that one part of the car's electronics recognises the signal from the key but the other doesn't...

If the alarm sounds it can normally be silenced by putting the key into the ignition and turning it to "run"; does that work?

I would try reprogramming the system to re-recognise the keys.

[Deano_BMW]

his key wont have a battery, its charged by using it. I'd try reprogramming it first before buying a new key. I'm sure there is a guide somewhere so you can do it for yourself.

[oktapod]

I tried a 'reprogramming' procedure (based on holding down the open button and pressing the roundel three times) which has now almost fixed the second key - it does everything it should but won't open the car. It'll open the boot, or close the car and activate the alarm if it's already open, and of course it'll allow me to fire her up, but it won't open the damned doors(!!!)

So, as the first key seems to work perfectly, I'm tempted to lock key two away and only bring it out in the event of an emergency...

Not an ideal solution, and I'd be delighted to find a better one, but I'm loathe to fling money at getting a new key when there might be nothing wrong with this one, and in any event I have a fully working key so it's not like it's desperate or anything...

[StuB]

It sounds like the Z key module has been replaced and the second key hasn't been re-set at the same time as the drivers key. Not an uncommon fault on E46's and fecking expensive to replace. Mine's in tomorrow having the spare re-programmed, along with inspection 2 and MOT