BMW iX1 Key Fob Dead? Keyless System Issues Explained

Hey there! I had a similar issue with my 2020 BMW iX3 last year (I also own an i4). I have some experience working with cars but mostly basic maintenance stuff. I ended up going to my regular workshop, and they confirmed it was just a dead battery in the key fob. They replaced it in about 15 minutes, cost me 37 Euro total. The symptoms were exactly like yours, key fob stopped responding and got those annoying dash warnings. Could you tell us if you've noticed any other symptoms? Also, how old is your key fob? Sometimes there can be other issues with the key's electronics, so knowing more details would help figure out if it's just a simple battery replacement or something else. Hope this helps!

Thanks for sharing your experience! My car has about 146731 KM on it, and I just had it serviced last month. Actually, I'm noticing that sometimes the car does recognize the key fob when I get really close to the door, but it's super inconsistent. The fob is original from when I got the car in 2022, so it's probably about time for a battery change anyway. I'll try the battery replacement first since it seems like the most logical and cost-effective solution. Just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing anything major before heading to the workshop.

Hey again! Thanks for the additional details about your BMW iX1. Yeah, that behavior you're describing with the key working only when you're super close to the door, that's exactly what happened with my iX3 before I got the battery replaced. It's like the key fob is struggling to send a strong enough signal. Since your car's a 2022 model and the fob is original, it makes total sense that the battery might be giving up now. These key fob batteries typically last around 2-3 years, depending on usage. When my iX3's key started acting up, I actually waited a bit too long and ended up having to use the physical key hidden in the fob one morning, not fun when you're in a hurry! I'd definitely go with your plan to replace the battery first. It's the most common fix for these symptoms, and like in my case, it'll probably sort everything out. Quick tip from my experience, after they replace the battery, make sure they test the key from different distances to confirm it's working properly. My mechanic did this, and it gave me peace of mind that everything was back to normal. Let us know how it goes after you get it checked out!

Thanks everyone for your helpful responses! I really appreciate all the advice, especially about the battery replacement. You've definitely made me feel more confident about my initial suspicion that it's just a battery issue. I've scheduled an appointment at the workshop for tomorrow morning, they said they'll take care of it right away. Good tip about testing the key from different distances after replacement, I'll make sure they do that. It's actually reassuring to know that this is a common issue that happens around the 2-3 year mark. Better to deal with it now than risk getting stuck somewhere! I'll definitely come back and let you all know how it turned out. Thanks again for taking the time to share your experiences, this community is always so helpful!