[TucErDoc]

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Not sure if this is worthy of a new thread... but here it goes.

Does anyone know if the M2C has the new version of the key? My wife’s 2016 X5 has a nice, heavy, thinner M key. My 2017 M2 key feels like VCR in comparison. I searched through Lotus99’s thread, couldn’t find an answer.

[SW19]

Originally Posted by TucErDoc

Not sure if this is worthy of a new thread... but here it goes.

Does anyone know if the M2C has the new version of the key? My wife’s 2016 X5 has a nice, heavy, thinner M key. My 2017 M2 key feels like VCR in comparison. I searched through Lotus99’s thread, couldn’t find an answer.

You could send Lotus99 a PM and ask him but I don’t think they will update the key for this generation of the 2 series.Its to bad because the M key looks amazing.My wife’s 2018 540i M Sport has that key.

[//M]

If you know somebody that can lift chips off a board it is possible to make the conversion. I'll probably make a guide for the brave once I get mine. But forewarning this is not a DIY project if you don't know how to micro solder already forget it.

[Xchange43]

The key is the same, no changes

[AndrewC1989]

As others have said the key is the same. Luckily there's a forum member in Shanghai who can do X5M key conversions if you mail him a key. I had him do one for me and it came out awesome. More info here:

https://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1331334

[infinitekidM2C]

Originally Posted by andrewc89

As others have said the key is the same. Luckily there's a forum member in Shanghai who can do X5M key conversions if you mail him a key. I had him do one for me and it came out awesome. More info here:

https://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1331334

how much did you pay for this conversion? seems a bit extreme to me but it's your money

[TucErDoc]

Originally Posted by infinitekidM2

how much did you pay for this conversion? seems a bit extreme to me but it's your money

Also should be noted (because I’ve looked into it with this member) is that the key shells he uses are not bmw original parts. Thy are high quality counterfeit

[infinitekidM2C]

Originally Posted by TucErDoc

Also should be noted (because I’ve looked into it with this member) is that the key shells he uses are not bmw original parts. Thy are high quality counterfeit

Only the best!

[chris719]

If I decide to buy an M2 I have thought about recreating the entire key PCB so it can be much smaller and making some, but I wouldn't hold your breath .

[AndrewC1989]

Originally Posted by infinitekidM2

how much did you pay for this conversion? seems a bit extreme to me but it's your money

Not really that extreme. You have 2 keys (one of which isn't in regular use presumably) so why not do something cool with it? It's on par with any other cosmetic modification. Cost is reasonable: $350 + shipping. Less than the cost of an OEM replacement key from BMW and MUCH higher quality. This thing is legit. It's worth it to me as I'm someone who notices and appreciates small details. It might not be for everyone but it's right up my alley.

Originally Posted by TucErDoc

Also should be noted (because I’ve looked into it with this member) is that the key shells he uses are not bmw original parts. Thy are high quality counterfeit

It's not OEM but It's very high quality. Nicer than OEM in my opinion. Feels heavy and expensive. Looks and functions perfectly. I'm extremely happy with mine. 0 regrets. 10/10. Would buy again in a heartbeat.

[Motivate]

Originally Posted by TucErDoc

Also should be noted (because I’ve looked into it with this member) is that the key shells he uses are not bmw original parts. Thy are high quality counterfeit

Thanks for sharing. I just don't get why go through the trouble and money so you have a key now made of counterfeit parts. Kind of beats the purpose of prestige, coolness etc.

[chris719]

Originally Posted by Motivate

Thanks for sharing. I just don't get why go through the trouble and money so you have a key now made of counterfeit parts. Kind of beats the purpose of prestige, coolness etc.

The point is to get a smaller key. The plastic parts are pretty much identical, maybe they even come from the same supplier.

[//M]

QUOTE=chris719;23512656]If I decide to buy an M2 I have thought about recreating the entire key PCB so it can be much smaller and making some, but I wouldn't hold your breath .[/QUOTE]

No need you can transfer the transponder chip to one of these x5m PCB's. Unless you're going to make a completely custom outer shell.

And Define counterfeit because the BMW key shells are made in China. I've gotten several before and if you buy them from the right supplier they are very comparable quality but the rubber on the underside of the keys is usually different so I don't think it's the OEM supplier.

There's plenty of high-end stuff coming out of China if you work with the right suppliers Problem is all the time some people buy stuff and look for the cheapest price and get the cheapest quality. Like on Alibaba people look for the cheapest supplier but there's usually a reason why theyre undercutting the other ones. Many of the OE turbo manufacturers Cast their wheels in China/Taiwan, and you don't see turbine and compressor Wheels on OE turbos failing.

[chris719]

Originally Posted by //M

No need you can transfer the transponder chip to one of these x5m PCB's. Unless you're going to make a completely custom outer shell.

And Define counterfeit because the BMW key shells are made in China. I've gotten several before and if you buy them from the right supplier they are very comparable quality but the rubber on the underside of the keys is usually different so I don't think it's the OEM supplier.

There's plenty of high-end stuff coming out of China if you work with the right suppliers Problem is all the time some people buy stuff and look for the cheapest price and get the cheapest quality. Like on Alibaba people look for the cheapest supplier but there's usually a reason why theyre undercutting the other ones. Many of the OE turbo manufacturers Cast their wheels in China/Taiwan, and you don't see turbine and compressor Wheels on OE turbos failing.

Agreed. I wasn't the one that called it counterfeit. The point of redesigning the PCB would be to make it fit in an even smaller shell, yes.

[CSBM5]

Why are these key fobs so gigantic compared to the E9x? I have three E9x cars, all with Comfort Access (not that it makes a difference), and the key fobs are small, rather thin, and not annoying to have to deal with. At least the M2C is my wife's car, so she'll have to deal with and complain about the monster key.

[DasMonkey]

Originally Posted by Motivate

Thanks for sharing. I just don't get why go through the trouble and money so you have a key now made of counterfeit parts. Kind of beats the purpose of prestige, coolness etc.

I’d pay $350 to not have to carry around a freaking football in my pocket.
Can’t tell you how many times I’ve gone out to my car (F80 with the same fatass key) after work to find my trunk open or alarm going off. For some reason the same damn three buttons that have been used for twenty years kept being put on larger and larger fobs.

[chris719]

Originally Posted by CSBM5

Why are these key fobs so gigantic compared to the E9x? I have three E9x cars, all with Comfort Access (not that it makes a difference), and the key fobs are small, rather thin, and not annoying to have to deal with. At least the M2C is my wife's car, so she'll have to deal with and complain about the monster key.

There is no real point, at least electrically, to the thickness. Antenna performance may be impacted by shrinking it in other dimensions, but that could be implemented in other ways. Well, actually it's probably limited by what looks like the RFID transponder coils.

[Sideshow]

Originally Posted by Motivate

Thanks for sharing. I just don't get why go through the trouble and money so you have a key now made of counterfeit parts. Kind of beats the purpose of prestige, coolness etc.

Maybe people like the size and feel better. Maybe they're not hung up on the "prestige" (no idea what that means for a key fob) and want something that fits and works better. Maybe they think the "conterfeit" (your word) parts are better.....

[//M]

Originally Posted by chris719

There is no real point, at least electrically, to the thickness. Antenna performance may be impacted by shrinking it in other dimensions, but that could be implemented in other ways. Well, actually it's probably limited by what looks like the RFID transponder coils.

Yeah they use ceramic antennas that are tiny compared to the rest of the circuit board so that's not why and they havent increased the battery cell size, it's a design choice... Which I don't get either.

[chris719]

Originally Posted by //M

Yeah they use ceramic antennas that are tiny compared to the rest of the circuit board so that's not why and they havent increased the battery cell size, it's a design choice... Which I don't get either.

Have you seen the PCB pics of the X5M key in the other thread? I was curious because there are some Epcos/TDK parts that I can't find a datasheet for based on the markings. They are large rectangular 2 terminal devices that are either ceramic antennas or encapsulated inductors for RFID I am pretty sure. They look most like Epcos RFID transponder coils to me.

https://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/at...1&d=1481228405