Hi all, although I have a 2002 X5, I suspect this question will apply to all the older models?

The ignition key battery is dead. I tried hacking in a new battery (rather than buy a new key) but it didn't happen.

So there's no battery in the key any more.

However the key works fine for the central locking & ignition circuits.

I went to Mister Minit to get a spare key cut.

The guy took one look and said he couldn't copy it because of the immobilizer.

???

Can that be right?

Seems illogical!

Thanks, Norm.

Morning Norm

He is quite right the key blade has a chip which is read by an induction coil in the key slot

The battery only powers the radio link to the Access system to provide remote operation.

I did read of a guy in the states who moved the blade to a new Fob then registered the fob to the car

BMW will probably want £100 + for a new key

Dave

News to me! Thanks Dave.

A wee quick drive 120km to the coast. Apparently there's a place in Benidorm wot copies them.

Probably next to a pub that sells beer at £1 a pint. Whoopee...

I have all the stuff to code new keys for the x5 e53….. 😝😉 

what you need is a blank key, cut to your barrel.

a copy of bmw 1.4.0 or equivalent to see what key slot you have. A piece of kit called an ak47 key reader I think… you need to remove the dme module from the car and read it, copy it, allocate the key, write the programme to the chip in the key and refit the dme (then hope you have done it right or you have bricked a new key… ) 

enjoy the drive and a beer! 

On 3/19/2025 at 6:45 PM, X5smw said:

I have all the stuff to code new keys for the x5 e53….. 😝😉 

what you need is a blank key, cut to your barrel.

a copy of bmw 1.4.0 or equivalent to see what key slot you have. A piece of kit called an ak47 key reader I think… you need to remove the dme module from the car and read it, copy it, allocate the key, write the programme to the chip in the key and refit the dme (then hope you have done it right or you have bricked a new key… ) 

enjoy the drive and a beer! 

Hi Stu, sorry I missed you reply, thanks for that.

Seems I have an odd problem. The key reader can't read the existing key. Even though it works fine.

Nevertheless, I got a copy made and sure enough, it doesn't work!

Is it possible to disable the immobiliser?

I would guess that you have a Blade cut to operate the door lock but it is just that a blade no chip in it. Stu knows more as he has done it but the Key reader should see the chip 

Do you have a working key that starts the car if so then it is the Fob which needs replacing and registering to the car

Dave

Hi Norrimac.

the key you had cut, did they programme the key to the ignition? They would have had to read the key from your car and remove the dme unit and circuit board from your car. 
the chip in the key is a small black rectangular thing about the size of a rice grain… this is what needs programming. 
what key reader was used? If the ignition key works, then the reader doesn’t. 
The key reader I use is actually an AK90… 

I can send you a link if you are tech savvy. 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/256870344200?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=P-zHGgE2SZ6&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=Ht4YuRv-Sdq&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

20 hours ago, X5smw said:

Hi Norrimac.

the key you had cut, did they programme the key to the ignition? They would have had to read the key from your car and remove the dme unit and circuit board from your car. 
the chip in the key is a small black rectangular thing about the size of a rice grain… this is what needs programming. 
what key reader was used? If the ignition key works, then the reader doesn’t. 
The key reader I use is actually an AK90… 

I can send you a link if you are tech savvy. 

Thanks Dave & Stu, this is a big help, thanks.

I have the original key which starts the car. The locking doesn't work, but I'm not bothered.

I took it to a copy shop. The guy couldn't get a reading from the transponder. (That's the immobiliser, right?)

So I said to him to make me a copy anyway. 25 quid.

The copy operates the doors and the ignition but not the starter.

So I now have a key with a transponder chip *SEE PHOTO* (I assume the red bit) and I need to copy the code from the original key and copy it into the new one.

I did see a thing online but I don't know if it'll copy.

https://www.amazon.es/-/en/gp/product/B0DY7VCTQZ/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A18I26BYARIXXP&psc=1

Sorry Stu, should have said I'm fairly tech savvy.

https://amzn.eu/d/ac9zWzG
 

this one is from the Spanish site. Hope this helps!

The chip can be seen on these pics and its location. This needs to be near the ignition barrel or it won’t be read. 
 

the kit from Amazon worked well with mine. I’m sure you can only write to the chips and not rewrite, so it’s a one shot. I programmed it before getting it cut jut in case. 
 

P.s… the original key might work if you change the battery. The door locks are not linked to the immobiliser or chip. The keys can be synced to the car doors once the battery is replaced. 

Stu, this is tremendously helpful, can't thank you enough.

I've ordered the unit from AZ. I'll update you on the results.

Thank you.

Norm.

On 4/7/2025 at 6:58 PM, Norrimac said:

Stu, this is tremendously helpful, can't thank you enough.

I've ordered the unit from AZ. I'll update you on the results.

Thank you.

Norm.

Hi Stu, sorry for the delay in getting back 2U.

We had the grandchild here from Ozztralia for 2 weeks. (OMG!) I got the programmer as you suggested.

Can you tell me where the unit is located I plug the AK90+ unit into?

Thanks, Norm.

Hi Norm, great news on the grandchild. Hope you had a great time. 
 

here is a video of a great step by step guide. 
my ews module is on the drivers side footwell… (rhs ) it’s a light grey box, looks like a cigarette box size. 
it’s a faff to do at the start, but once you understand how to read and write, it’s a breeze. 
 

 

You need to remove the module from the car and scrape the microchips coating to read it. It’s not difficult if you follow the imstuctions

 

21 hours ago, X5smw said:

Hi Norm, great news on the grandchild. Hope you had a great time. 
 

here is a video of a great step by step guide. 
my ews module is on the drivers side footwell… (rhs ) it’s a light grey box, looks like a cigarette box size. 
it’s a faff to do at the start, but once you understand how to read and write, it’s a breeze. 
 

 

Thanks Stu. Yes, we had a great time with wee Max. (20 months)

They're back in Brisbane now.

Thanks for the video. I've followed the install instructions to the letter. (EG disabling the anti-virus & firewall.)

The laptop says there are no drivers available. So the AK90 won't connect to the computer at all.

I think maybe the driver download might be outdated for Windows 11.

If you have any suggestions, let me know mate.

Thanks again, Norm.

Oh dear! Mine runs on windows 7. Can you get a copy of 7/ xp? 
create a second partition or run a virtual machine? 
I didn’t think about windows 11… 

or does anyone you know have an old laptop

Morning 

Just set up a Virtual Machine on your laptop running Win 7 and you should be away 😁

Dave

10 hours ago, X5smw said:

Oh dear! Mine runs on windows 7. Can you get a copy of 7/ xp? 
create a second partition or run a virtual machine? 
I didn’t think about windows 11… 

or does anyone you know have an old laptop

Thanks Stu, I'm looking into it.

7 hours ago, Greydog said:

Morning 

Just set up a Virtual Machine on your laptop running Win 7 and you should be away 😁

Dave

Hi Dave, thanks for that, but I see Windows 7 is no longer available to download. Do you know of anywhere I might find it?

I think it is standard with the VM ware virtual machines I will have a dig later to see

Dave 

35 minutes ago, Greydog said:

I think it is standard with the VM ware virtual machines I will have a dig later to see

Dave 

I'll take a look too Dave altho I'm not as savvy as you! Thanks, Norm.

Found a couple of online Vid's to download VMware to Win 11 so I think you will be OK

Dave