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key fob stopped working on your BMW or
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got a new one that won't lock or unlock
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the doors you can actually program most
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BMW remotes yourself no special tools
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needed just the right steps and timing
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hey I'm Tom from Car Justify if you're
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driving a BMW from the early 2000s up
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through the mid 2010s E46 E39 E60 X3 X5
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you can often sync the key fob at home
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without a trip to the dealer let me walk
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you through the method that works on
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most of these before you start check two
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things one the physical key has to be
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able to turn in the ignition two the key
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fob battery needs to be fresh or at
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least not totally dead some of the older
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diamond- shaped fobs charge wirelessly
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while you drive so if it hasn't been
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used in a while take the car for a spin
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first now here's the process get in the
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car close all the doors and make sure
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everything's off no lights no radio have
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all the key fobs you want to program
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with you because they all need to be
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done in one session stick your working
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key into the ignition and turn it to
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position one just the first click where
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the dash lights come on not the engine
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then turn it back to off and pull it out
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right away within 5 seconds press and
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hold the unlock button on the key fob
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while holding unlock press the lock
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button three times then release unlock
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the door should lock and unlock quickly
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to confirm the remote synced got more
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than one remote do the same button
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sequence for each additional key within
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30 seconds of the first one hold unlock
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press lock three times then release you
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should see the lock cycle again after
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each successful sync once you've
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programmed all the remotes wait a few
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seconds then test each one lock unlock
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trunk everything should respond if
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nothing happens don't panic make sure
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the battery in the key is good and that
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you started with a working master key
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sometimes timing is the issue this
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process is picky so just go through it
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again if needed couple notes this method
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works for most BMWs with the older style
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key fobs not the newer push start fobs
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with comfort access for those you
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usually need a diagnostic tool like BMW
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ISTA or a third party programmer also
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programming the remote doesn't program
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the immobilizer chip inside the key if
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your key turns the ignition but won't
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start the car that's a separate issue
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this method only pairs the remote
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functions lock unlock and trunk let's
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recap real quick turn ignition to
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position one then back off remove key
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hold unlock press lock three times
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release unlock repeat for other remotes
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within 30 seconds locks will cycle if it
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worked test each remote after that's it
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if your key turns the ignition and you
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follow the timing this works on most
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classic BMW fobs if it helped get your
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remote back in action hit that like
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button and subscribe to Car Justify for
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more hands-on car fixes that save you a
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trip to the shop see you next time
