Back to square one...
With the BMW key fob nightmare.
The dealer in Minnesota texted me to let me know that they have no idea when BMW might find it within their alleged souls to make a new key for my car since there are over 700 others waiting in front of me and over 300 below my name on the list. Over a thousand people waiting for their car keys from the car company.
Without my car for months.
I took the advice I received last week, here on DU, and went to the True Value store and they sent me to the only locksmith who might be able to help. After three hours of the locksmith, who makes fob replacement keys for other cars, called me back to explain why he can't help me... confirming what I related earlier, only BMW can replace these keys.
So now what do I do? I was hoping to sell this car to bring my inventory down to one car, the Toyota I'm restoring. Bought the BMW as interim vehicle while the other was being worked on, it will be done around the first of Feb.
= new reply since forum marked as read
And year of the X3i series. They HAVE to be remade by BMW, period. Locksmith spent three hours researching this after I have spent untold hours on it myself. If I could have had it done elsewhere at any point in time, it would have been done by now and I would not be complaining about it here.
This has been months of my trying to resolve this issue and I am out of ideas and coming up quickly on out of f'ks too.
Another locksmith .
Somebody will be hungry enough to try to configure a fix .
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The biggest one over in the next county with the biggest city in 100 miles. If these guys can't do it, it probably can't be done. Apparently the circuit board is welded to the battery inside, from what the locksmith said. He makes all the other kinds of keys and BMW is the only kind that nobody can work on. I might try the dealership in Idaho but I don't have much hope at this point. I would have to go to another state to see if there's anyone who can do it.
Plenty of charge time, they do get old which I understand. The part about I can;t change the battery on it is the part that messes with my head the most.
I'll look around for those alleged "buttons" somewhere in the console or wherever in a day or two, when it gets above freezing again. Not into sitting in a cold car trying to find some mystical button somewhere or whatever hoop dance was related.
I am so over this. If I didn't have so much invested in it, I'd junk it. I'm so pissed at this point I'm ready to go into the realm of outrage. Maybe I'll trailer this thing all the way to BMW HQ and leave it there, perhaps in flames.
(And I never use this emoji)
Been there
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I'll browse through it. 
Call this guy tomorrow and see what we can arrange. It sounds like he has the blanks and can actually make and program replacements for a reasonable fee. I read through a few pages, about the G5 modules, which is what I have, and explain how the whole set up works. If I have to pull anything out, I'll take it to my mechanic and connect them so they can work it out. Bet would come to about $350! I'd gladly give it to them instead of BMWCorp.
Thanks a kazillion! Maybe this will be the answer.
I read in his description on the page. I read through the whole GM2,3,4,5 to see what he works on and how it's done. I coincides with what the locksmith and I discussed. I have had this conversation with a few people and this is the consistent theme.
Fortunately, I have both original keys with the diamond fob although one doesn't have the logo on it so perhaps this has already happened once?
The site says* he has just what I need, I just have to call and chat about the issue to make sure that's all it is. If not, though, it sounds as though the GM5 component can be removed whole and replaced or he can repair and ship back... I might be able to get my mechanic here to help with that. And all of that is still less than $350.
I am really hoping I can send this guy the key and some $ and have the problem solved in a couple weeks. really hoping. He's in LA so I have to wait a little while, I'm an hour ahead.
Thanks again, this could be the magic answer!
*Update of the page(s) is late 2023 so I need to call for certain.
Can you clarify the last part of this sentence, not sure what "all" is and what is happening three times while holding the lock button?
Next, while pressing and holding the unlock button the center 'lock' button was pressed 3 times. Release all buttons.
I'll do this before I head to the PO to send the key off to that guy in LA. Just talked to him on the phone and he can repair my original key, which is fine as long as it works. But this calibration thing was mentioned Friday, I just haven't got to that part of the list but it's next.
It's stopped snowing and the sun's coming out, good tie to go check on that.
Thanks
I'll give it try in just a few minutes, I'm catching up with a bunch of missed calls. Nobody ever calls until I'm walking out the door to go do something.
If the battery was not low, I give it a 50/50.
I'll have my buddy bring up his charging until when it warms up in s few days, it's in the 20s with a stout breeze and threatening worse so I have to be patient for a couple days more. I'll send the key to that guy if none of that works after charging the battery. Even the manual lock button on the dash doesn't work right now, which means the battery is low. It's a new battery, might not mean anything but it should charge pretty quickly. After that I can mess with this key process. One thing at a time.
I'm done thinking about it for now, I have an action plan for later, so have a happy evening and hope next year is better than the last one.
Up to that. The class action suit sounds like it might be worthwhile. I have to assess how much to charge for a daily rate of not being able to use my car. And then these months o aggravation.
Taxi, above had a link to someone in LA whole actually cuts and programs them, don't know if it was mentioned earlier, I'll have to look to give them credit for it too. After reading a few pages of info and repair steps, that guy might be the one I need to end my misery and at a reasonable price. I'll call tomorrow.
Now to find legal representation. 