BMW Question
 

Today I went to the BMW dealership to order a new key and IPod hookup for my X3. They did not work on the car. They didn't even have the keys except to order new key. Came out of the service dept and:

-My key would no longer open the door remotely. Had to reprogram.

-My mirrors were angled toward the ground.

-Air conditioner was off.

-Driver's seat started moving on it's own before I got in.

Just a few electrical issues. Question is how does this happen? I know this sound conspiracy theory but is it possible that something at the dealership effected the electrical systems? Just strange.

Any thoughts?

Just a coincidence. Your problems with the electronics are escalating, which is the normal sequence for these types of problems. Your key is probably not the source of the problems. Replacing it will not solve them.

The electronics on BMWs (as well as several other makes) are the most issue prone and greatest source of complaints from customers. Your BMW needs a full system scan (electrical and physical) to isolate and correct the issue. This will be very expensive most likely.

I'm no BMW expert by any means and I might be mistaken, but aren't the keys tied to those systems, aka when you unlock the car, it'll change your mirror position, seat position, etc to personalize it? hence when the key was reprogramed all those settings would reset?

Your key has a chip in it that they use to keep track off all sorts of things including those you mentioned. My guess is that they slipped it into the chip reader and in the process cleared all your settings.

Sounds like they disconnected the battery to install the iPod hookup and then the settings on your seat, etc. were that of the valet / car mover person for the BMW dealer since your settings would have been lost with the disconnected battery.

I replaced the battery in my 330i last fall and don't recall having to reset anything when I got the new one hooked up. Maybe the clock, but that was it.

I know on my '01 M5 when the battery was removed or replaced it would lose all its settings and I'd have to reprogram the keys.

The dealer didn't get to install the ipod hookup. Honestly the idiot, part manager, didn't know what I was talking about. He couldn't find the part anywhere in their system or in the parts dept. I walked out of the dealership without the ipod adapter. That is why I found it weird that I had a number of electrical issues popped up as I got back in the car.

Are you sure you got back the right car?

LOL

Yes. All that. If my wife takes my key and not hers, the seat moves to where she left it until I have locked it again....I think. I haven't figured out what the order is. They can tell all sorts of stuff from you key....last oil change, etc. etc. It probably reset the features.

What I hate is when I give it to the dealer valet, they always turn off my automatic headlights and mess with the radio HVAC.