1991 325ic remote locking fob battery problem

[povertyspec]

my 91 cab has two remotes for the central locking which may (or may not) have been fitted from new. theyre certainly dealer retrofitted in 90's if not. the black fob stopped working and now the other has. how do i fit a battery to the long slim remote, tried every way of opening it!!! no dice. can i disconnect the immobiliser?? will the car start any other way?? i think the black fob was original and the other a later replacement for the faulty first one.maybe.possibly.

[Speedtouch]

Does it have a groove down the side? If so, try prying it open with a pen-knife or similar, but check to see if there's any retaining screws on the back first.

[povertyspec]

its got a super fine groove but all attempts with scalpel/pen knife etc have resulted in zero give. i assume but hope it isnt sealed for life??

[povertyspec]

[Gert_8]

Are you able to open it from the actual button you would press down on? It may be that the tape is holding it down and in position from a previous attempt?

[Speedtouch]

It may well be a sealed unit, like the glovebox torches are.

Try gently bending it to see if the groove separates at all.

Otherwise, you'll probably have to cut it open using a Dremel or similar, replace the battery then re-glue it.

You could practice on the black one first.

[hennared323i]

The black one looks like it has a cap to unscrew the battery cover judging by the second photo

The other one looks like the silver bit fits/snaps into the black casing - I'd be having a probe and lever around the bottom right of the silver face

[hennared323i]

This fella thinks the silver face peels off

http://forum.bmw5.co.uk/topic/73234-3t- ... tton-type/

[Brianmoooore]

I've had a BMW with one of these. The round cap either prises off or unscrews - can't remember which.

[Speedtouch]

The indentations in the round cover would suggest it twists off, rather like some watch backs.

You can use a pair of thin-nosed pliers, spead apart to achieve this.

[aze30]

the round cap on the black fob unscrews buddy....if you get stuck those are sigma alarm fobs ...im sure any alarm leccy who deals in sigma alarms can sort you out without much hassle

[bss325i]

It does twist off.

Both these remotes were from an alarm made by Sigma and the later version remote (black one pictured) was still available new from Sigma recently.

[povertyspec]

many thanks everybody , the screw off cap fob works but wont attact to the key so its an accident waiting to happen and the other is or appears to be a sealed unit. now i know the setup is sigma i can figure out a way forward, using the black fob til i can get a replacement.

[Speedtouch]

Can't you drill a hole in the corner of the black one, and attach the key ring through that?

[BenHar]

Or tape it onto a standard key fob?

Ben

[povertyspec]

drilled the black fob in the corner with trusty dremel. now fitted with new battery and remote central locking means nobody with a modern car wonders why im pushing my key into a hole in the door anymore. i dont know how popular remote locking options were in the 80's but my daughter just finds our daily E30 "totes weird and a bit stinky inside". if she wants us to get a white rangerover with a TV inside she better get saving.

[Speedtouch]

Good to hear you solved the problem in the end.

It would be worth investigating opening up the other remote, before the battery gets a chance to leak and spoil the PCB.

[povertyspec]

Good to hear you solved the problem in the end.

It would be worth investigating opening up the other remote, before the battery gets a chance to leak and spoil the PCB.

good thinking, im going to get the thinnest dremmel blade, hobby vice and steady hand on that this holiday. better than Royale family repeats.