[luckylingy]

I go through key fob batteries much more quickly with our G05 than with any previous BMW we’ve had. We originally stored the car keys near (within 10’) of the X5. (It occupies the garage stall nearest the door into the house, and the keys were about 3’ inside the door.). My SA recommended storing the keys further away from the vehicle, in order to prevent them from constantly chatting with each other.

Since moving the keys to the opposite side of that entry space (now ~15’ from the X5), batteries last 2-3 times as long but still not nearly as long as key batteries for ‘F’ generation BMWs we’ve had (parked in same garage space, with keys stored just inside the house).

Since batteries are covered under maintenance and I’m at the dealer often anyway, it’s no big deal to get them replaced whenever they begin dying. But once the warranty period is past, I’m foreseeing this as a somewhat expensive nuisance.

Has anyone else experienced this phenomenon, and how far from the parked vehicle did you have to store the keys to prolong their battery lives?

[JayInVa]

Had a similar experience and spoke to my SA as well. He suggested not only the distance from the vehicle, but also making sure that you're not storing the key anywhere that might get jostled (e.g drawer, key hook bumped by other keys, etc). This seems to have helped empirically speaking.

[Tenac]

How often are you actually replacing the batteries? I have yet to replace any but the wife's X3 it was cheap and quick to to do (same key design). But that is once in going on 3 years of ownership. Is it both fobs? Have you tried the other fob for your daily use?

[nZtiZia]

Originally Posted by luckylingy

...I’m foreseeing this as a somewhat expensive nuisance.

"expensive nuisance" for a CR2032 battery?!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071D4DKTZ...TD627NQG2ND8FQ

[Pro55]

I have the display key which i used for a while before confining it to a drawer. It used to last about 10 days between charge, but if i washed the car with the key in my pocket and the doors unlocked, i was lucky to get 6 hours before discharged. It must be communicating with the car whilst it was being washed!!! Now i use the normal key fob and its about 10 months and still going strong.

[jg05]

I wonder if there is a way to tell when the key is communicating with the car to determine a good location for storing the unused keys. I have always left our extra key on a hook about 20 ft from our car but I wonder if that’s enough.

I do agree that the batteries and change process aren’t that big of a deal (I.e. fairly cheap and easy to do) but I wouldn’t want my wife to grab her key to drive my car on that rare occasion and have her key battery dead.

I’m sure there are plenty of unscrupulous folks that steal the fob signals that could probably determine how the key is communicating but I would like to see if there is a ‘legal’ way to tell. Not a big deal, more of a curiosity and I probably wouldn’t have even thought about it had I not read this post

[MystroX5]

I can get 2+ years from our BMW keys. That said, I generally just replace them every year as it takes me 2 minutes and cost $1. I consider it preventative maintenance. I’ve also found with all my cars that have remote start, the range is extended a lot further by keeping fresh batteries in the fob.

FYI: BMW had a bad batch of cr2032 batteries we discovered in the 2019 G05 fobs. Many were batteries that sat around the warehouse for years before use. These types of batteries don’t have a long shelf life so it is very possible a new car could have a fob battery 3/4 used up.

[Eu001939]

Originally Posted by luckylingy

I go through key fob batteries much more quickly with our G05 than with any previous BMW we’ve had. We originally stored the car keys near (within 10’) of the X5. (It occupies the garage stall nearest the door into the house, and the keys were about 3’ inside the door.). My SA recommended storing the keys further away from the vehicle, in order to prevent them from constantly chatting with each other.

Since moving the keys to the opposite side of that entry space (now ~15’ from the X5), batteries last 2-3 times as long but still not nearly as long as key batteries for ‘F’ generation BMWs we’ve had (parked in same garage space, with keys stored just inside the house).

Since batteries are covered under maintenance and I’m at the dealer often anyway, it’s no big deal to get them replaced whenever they begin dying. But once the warranty period is past, I’m foreseeing this as a somewhat expensive nuisance.

Has anyone else experienced this phenomenon, and how far from the parked vehicle did you have to store the keys to prolong their battery lives?

Don't you find it a bit risky to post the location of your car keys on a public site for anyone to see ?

All that's needed extra is your street and house number (the city is in your profile) and a crow bar to open the door, and poof, your car is goner...

[M40i4me]

Originally Posted by nZtiZia

"expensive nuisance" for a CR2032 battery?!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071D4DKTZ...TD627NQG2ND8FQ

I am guessing the dealer will charge $100 to replace it, once out of warranty!

[Qsilver7]

A dead key battery would only prevent lock/unlocking (and arming/disarming the alarm siren system)...not the ability to start the vehicle.

So if family members were to take a key with a low voltage or dead battery...they would only need to know how to manually get into the car. Once inside the car, the ring antenna (located in the steering column) will power up the key to allow it to start (if needed).

So just a little education of how things work would prevent family members from freaking out if the key's battery did die on them. Show your family members how to manually unlock the driver's door...and where to place the remote next to the steering column if the remote needed to be powered up by the car's Ring antenna.

Instruction should be in the owners manual if back-up or refresher instructions are needed.

[SmartSaves]

G05 key fobs have some sort of accelerometer built in to detect motion, fobs goes to sleep mode (no signal transmitted) after a set time. It was designed to prevent relay attack, but the byproduct is extended battery life. When the fobs are stored just don't wake those by any type of movements.

[MystroX5]

Originally Posted by SmartSaves

G05 key fobs have some sort of accelerometer built in to detect motion, fobs goes to sleep mode (no signal transmitted) after a set time. It was designed to prevent relay attack, but the byproduct is extended battery life. When the fobs are stored just don't wake those by any type of movements.

This is a good point to make as storing a fob in a kitchen drawer that gets open a lot will wear down its battery. Store in a cabinet or china closet where it will get no residual motion.

[luckylingy]

Thanks all, I now have a solution to try for prolonged battery life. I moved both keys from a bowl <10’ from the vehicle to a frequently used drawer ~15’ from the vehicle. So the drawer’s movement is constantly awakening the keys. I’ll move the secondary key to a more distant shelf and the primary key to someplace convenient yet stationary.

I’ve been going through batteries about every 2-3 weeks on the primary key and every couple months on the secondary, rarely used key. At $1.50 per battery (for a Duracell, not some cheap off-brand alternative), it’s not nothing on an annual basis at the current life expectancy.

And worry not, Eu001939, our home is protected by an alarm system and indoor/outdoor surveillance cameras — not to mention a pair of boisterous terriers.

[thereef510]

I had no idea this was an issue. I keep my key in my backpack which is constantly jostling about and I have yet to receive a low battery warning almost one year into ownership.

[SmartSaves]

Originally Posted by thereef510

I had no idea this was an issue. I keep my key in my backpack which is constantly jostling about and I have yet to receive a low battery warning almost one year into ownership.

Does the backpack (with key fob) stay within transmissible connection range to the vehicle when you're out and about? In OP's case the key fob wakes up and starts communicating with his vehicle parked nearby.

[thereef510]

Originally Posted by SmartSaves

Does the backpack (with key fob) stay within transmissible connection range to the vehicle when you're out and about? In OP's case the key fob wakes up and starts communicating with his vehicle parked nearby.

Ohh that makes sense. No you're right. After I park I'm way far away.l from my car. Even at home the keys stay in my backpack which is on the complete opposite side of the house than the garage.