An Elmhurst BMW employee demonstrated that a driver could start his vehicle with a dead key and gave a helpful demonstration to his followers on social media.
Sam Herrera showed TikTok users how to jump start a BMW with a dead key fob in a video this month.
Herrera attached the keychain to the steering wheel, pressed the key icon, put his foot on the brake and pressed the vehicle’s start button.
He noted that this method is worth remembering not only in case the key fob is dead, but also if the vehicle cannot read the battery.
The Illinois car dealer’s viral video received nearly 400,000 views and quickly became his most-viewed TikTok.
Sam Herrera, a BMW employee in Elmhurst, showed TikTok users how to properly start a BMW with a dead key fob in a video this month.
Key fobs are electronic devices that allow someone to control a car without using actual keys.
These small devices have become increasingly common in modern vehicles.
In 2019, Edmunds’ Jessica Caldwell said the key fob trend was “obviously going to continue” after 91 percent of vehicles available that year had keyless ignition, according to CNBC.
“Most consumers who buy new cars or even those who recently purchased used vehicles will likely use some type of push-button keyless entry system,” Caldwell added.
These days, BMWs typically come with two key fobs, and some offer a digital key, which allows someone to unlock their car with a phone.
The Illinois car dealer’s viral video received nearly 400,000 views and quickly became his most-viewed post on TikTok.
BMWs typically come with two key fobs, and some offer a digital key, which allows someone to unlock their car with a phone.
A regular key fob can typically last four to six years, and smart key fobs typically last two to three years.
Factors such as low signal strength, delays in locking and unlocking a vehicle, and the need for multiple clicks are all things to consider when questioning a key fob’s battery.
BMW drivers looking to save money can replace their key fob battery from home.
To replace the battery in a BMW key fob, the driver must hold down the button on the base and slide out the internal key blade.
They then need to find a hole near the edge of the keychain and use it to remove its backplate.
Depending on the size of the key fob, vehicle owners will need either a CR2450 or CR2032 battery for it to work.
Once the new battery and back plate and internal key blade are back in place, the key fob for BMW drivers should work perfectly.
Drivers with key fobs have the option of replacing the battery from home instead of taking them to a car dealership.
Some TikTok users welcomed Herrera’s advice, but several commenters insisted it wouldn’t work.
“I have a Jeep Grand Cherokee. If the battery is dead, the door won’t open,” one user wrote.
Another person wrote: “The sensor is located in various areas of many cars. However, this will be of no use if the battery is dead.”
Other TikTok users spoke negatively about key fobs and expressed gratitude for being able to drive vehicles that don’t have them.
“This is another example of manufacturers adding too much electronic junk to vehicles. I have no problem inserting a key,” one person wrote.
