E36 alarm fob initialising after changing battery

[JohnH]

The battery in the spare original alarm fob for the e36 was dead so I changed it earlier today. The red led lights up when the buttons are pressed and it appears to work but won’t open or lock the car.

Does anyone know if there’s some initialisation process I need to go through for the fob after changing the battery?

Thanks
John

[Andy]

I have heard if this before. I believe the issue is with the car. This is a common occurrence. It’s essentially the car’s way of telling you it doesn’t like you anymore. The only way of sorting it to to get rid of the car. As I am such a nice guy, I will take it off you. Hope this helps.

🤪

[JohnH]

I have heard if this before. I believe the issue is with the car. This is a common occurrence. It’s essentially the car’s way of telling you it doesn’t like you anymore. The only way of sorting it to to get rid of the car. As I am such a nice guy, I will take it off you. Hope this helps.

🤪

Sure I need space on the drive for that gold G Wagen. 🤣🤣🤣

[Ketron]

Car is scrap, I'll take it off you at a good price


I'm sure there is some in way of doing it, rebel.ranter might help:

http://www.bmw-driver.net/forum/showthread.php?t=26665

[JohnH]

Car is scrap, I'll take it off you at a good price


I'm sure there is some in way of doing it, rebel.ranter might help:

http://www.bmw-driver.net/forum/showthread.php?t=26665

Thanks Ketron

[rebel.ranter]

Car is scrap, I'll take it off you at a good price


I'm sure there is some in way of doing it, rebel.ranter might help:

http://www.bmw-driver.net/forum/showthread.php?t=26665

You have no idea the amount of times I’ve searched for things only to arrive at an answer that I’ve actually written!

When you’re changing the battery in a key you are better off doing it after unlocking the car rather than while locked, if you do,it while locked you have to wait around.

[JohnH]

So I tried that tonight and got no joy. Am I right in thinking that guide is for changing the battery in the key?
I changed the battery in my remote (below) not in the key.

Interestingly the car won’t start with the spare key either unless it has just been turned on and off with the other key a second previously.

[rebel.ranter]

Have a read of this:

https://zroadster.org/articles/3g-ew...rogramming.24/

[FunkySeeFunkyDoo]

I think you need to reprogram the fob but it looks like you have a 3g alarm so you can do it yourself.

Remove the glovebox and find the alarm unit(black box, should say “sigma” on it). There’s a grommet that can be removed revealing a switch, you might need to unbolt the unit to find it.

Note the original position it’s in, with ignition on flick the switch turning on the learn function then press one of the fob buttons . Flick the switch back and it should work now. Repeat for the other fob button if needed.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[JohnH]

Have a read of this:

https://zroadster.org/articles/3g-ew...rogramming.24/

I think you need to reprogram the fob but it looks like you have a 3g alarm so you can do it yourself.

Remove the glovebox and find the alarm unit(black box, should say “sigma” on it). There’s a grommet that can be removed revealing a switch, you might need to unbolt the unit to find it.

Note the original position it’s in, with ignition on flick the switch turning on the learn function then press one of the fob buttons . Flick the switch back and it should work now. Repeat for the other fob button if needed.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks lads. Does this explain the spare key not starting the car all the time too? Or is that another problem?