so my 2008 justa left me stranded today. I went to start it after leaving the grocery store, and when i put the key into the slot, i got no reading at all.
like the car didn't recognize the key...no lights on the dash, no start...NOTHING!
its never done this before...the key in the FOB is good, i can lock and unlock the car, and the interior lights come on, so i know the car battery is good.
i dont think its the starter, because i simply get no reading at all when i insert my key.
what do you guys think?

 

my car did this before and it was the key fob slot. Try to insert the key slowly, maybe on an angle, perhaps side to side motion as you insert it.

 

How do you know the car battery is good?
Also, just because the battery is good, are you 100% sure of the connections to the battery?

It doesn't take much power to light up the cabin.

 

I tried everything minitobe.....slowly, on an angle, i pressed down a little, up a little.....and nothing. How did you resolve your issue?
I know its not the battery, because when i insert the key, i get absolutely no lights on the dash, and also i tried to boost it...same effect.

 

In my case, it would finally catch when I push it sometimes forcefully. At the end of it, I replaced the key fob docking. https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/sho...diagId=61_2106

 

thank you minitobe...if i buy that docking piece, will it still talk to my FOB? do you have a DIY i can follow to remove it and replace it?

 

The docking is plug and play. Just pop the upper trim and lower trim. Then you have 4 x t-20 screws.

 

I put money on the battery.

 

I tried to boost it AZdsrt.....and still got the same result. Can it still be the car Battery?

 

Don't over think it. It takes very little amps to drive a cabin light. I have dead batteries in other cars that had enough energy left to drive the cabin light but not enough to engage the starter solenoid.

 

If the battery has a couple of dead cells, jumping it might not work. If the battery is more than 3 years old, replace it as it's due anyways..

 

Yep. That is what usually happens. They design the batteries so eventually enough segment forms at the bottom of the batter to short out one of the cells. So now you have a 9 volt battery, instead of a 12 volt battery. Plenty voltage to run things like cabin lights which careless what the voltage is whereas other things that need 12 volts won't work at all. For a 5 year battery instead of a 3 year, they just make the battery deeper so more segment can form.

 

so a dead battery wont even take a boost?

 

If you don't know how to boost a car and you hook negative terminal to negative and positive to positive, you stand a good chance of destroying the battery in the good car. You hook the positive to the positive terminal and you hook the negative terminal to your car's chassis. Then, you are driving the good car's batter current only to your starter and ignition system "bypassing" your dead battery. At that point, it is like you are using a brand new battery and ignoring the bad one.

 

if i buy a start/stop switch and key from a wrecker, or a parted out car, will it be a plug and play install?

 

the switch is a plug and play. the donor key wont do anything since it is a VIN specific. I also thought about the fuse box and the infamous sunroof leaks. inspect the wires and the fuse box for water damage. Personally, anytime I connect the booster, I get a crank no matter what the batter condition is.

 

can the dealer code the key to my car?

 

if the key is used, no. it has to be new. if you need a new key, try these guys https://www.minipartsdirect.com OR https://www.minipeabody.com/mini-parts.htm. you have to send them a copy of you DL and car registration.

 

I also remember when I was programming an aftermarket key for my mini, I got what you described earlier. I can lock/unlock but when I put the key in, nothing happens. I ordered a key from the dealer (I had to anyway) and same thing. I think the key didnt even register. So, I took out the CAS and cloned it then inserted the key and I was back in business.

 

omg...CAS...cloned??

 

Where is the CAS located on my car,and how do i remove it? I cant seem to find anything on a google search.

 

The CAS is under the dashboard. A lot of screws to take off but easy nonetheless. Check newtis.info for howtos. Where are you located anyway?

 

Toronto.

 

Thank you miniTobe
newtis.info is in German.....i cant figure out how to get where i need to.

 

https://www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/

your browser might have changed it. it is in english here in the US. try the link above again. notice the "en" at the end, that's for english.