BMW X1 Key Fob Issues: Fix That Pesky Remote System

Hey! I have some experience with BMWs as I own a 2015 BMW X3 (previously had a 3 Series too). Funny enough, I faced the exact same issue last month. The key fob just stopped working properly and I got those annoying warning messages. Took it to my regular workshop and turned out it was just a dead battery in the key fob, such a simple fix! Cost me 37 Euro for the battery replacement and reprogramming. Works perfectly now. Quick tip: when the key battery gets low, the keyless entry starts acting up first, then you get those dashboard warnings. It's usually a clear sign the fob battery needs changing. What's your exact engine variant? Just asking because some X1 models can have slightly different key fob types. Let me know and I can share more specific details about the replacement process.

Thanks for sharing your experience! I have the 2.0L gasoline engine model with 142656 KM on the clock. Last service was just done 2 months ago, but they didn't mention anything about the key fob battery. Your situation sounds exactly like what I'm experiencing. Good to know it was just a battery issue in your case, that's much better than having to deal with complex electrical problems! Did you notice any other warning signs before the key fob completely stopped working? Mine started being a bit inconsistent with the central locking first, then gradually got worse. Guess I'll head to the workshop tomorrow to get this sorted. Really hoping it's just the battery like in your case!

Ah I know exactly what you're going through with that X3 of mine! And yes, that's pretty much how it started for me too, the central locking began acting weird first. Sometimes it would work from 5 meters away, other times I had to be right next to the car. Super annoying! Before it completely died, I noticed the range getting shorter and shorter over about two weeks. The most obvious sign was when the comfort access started being really finicky, you know, when you grab the door handle and it's supposed to unlock automatically? That feature became really hit-or-miss. Actually, with both my previous 3 Series and current X3, I've learned these batteries typically last about 3-4 years. Since your last service was just 2 months ago, they probably didn't check the key fob because it wasn't acting up yet. These things tend to deteriorate quite quickly once they start going bad. One thing I forgot to mention in my first reply, if you want to save some cash, you can actually buy the battery yourself. It's a CR2032 for most BMW key fobs. But honestly, I'd still recommend getting it done at the workshop because they'll need to reprogram it anyway. Learned that the hard way when I tried to DIY it with my first BMW! Let me know how it goes at the workshop. Pretty sure it'll be the same simple fix as mine.

Thanks so much for all the detailed info! You're absolutely right about the comfort access, mine's doing exactly that inconsistent unlocking thing you described. It's reassuring to hear this is such a common issue with a straightforward fix. Really appreciate the tip about the CR2032 battery, but I think I'll follow your advice and just let the workshop handle everything. Don't want to risk messing up the programming trying to save a few bucks. Plus, it'll be good to have them check if there's anything else going on just to be safe. I'll drop by the workshop first thing tomorrow and get this sorted. Thanks again for sharing your experience, it's helped calm my worries about potential bigger issues. I'll definitely keep an eye on the key fob performance in the future and not wait until it completely dies next time!