Dropped key in water

gizmo335i · 09-17-2010, 01:41 AM

GDamnit....anyone ever do this? What did you do? I know these damn things have to cost an arm at least....we had to get a new Mercedes key the other day and it was 228 EURO!!!

I'm thinking I could open it up and dry it good and change the battery..but I couldn't figure out how to get the damn thing open..but I gave up pretty quick...

WWONG · 09-17-2010, 01:48 AM

Did it stop working? I've never taken apart my BMW key fob, but I have taken apart my sister's 2000 Toyota remote to replace the battery and it looks like everything is sealed pretty well, including use of rubber lining to prevent water intrusion.

sleepyx637 · 09-17-2010, 01:59 AM

people have dropped it in water, dried it okay, and had it work fine after. dont use it until it's dry though.

bsamoul · 09-17-2010, 01:59 AM

ya just give up, don't try and open it. it will probably still work, let it dry. you can also stick it in a bowl of rice because that will absorb the water in it.

Jred22 · 09-17-2010, 02:00 AM

go to the dealership, tell them it just stopped working. They'll warranty it.

SS e93 · 09-17-2010, 02:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jred22

go to the dealership, tell them it just stopped working. They'll warranty it.

do these things have the water test things that change color like phones?

gos · 09-17-2010, 02:15 AM

put it in a ziploc baggie with a few cups of uncooked rice, it'll be fine in a day or so. The little battery inside probably doesn't generate enough voltage to damage electronics if it shorts to something.

2M · 09-17-2010, 02:15 AM

I dropped my fob while i was taking a piss. I just put away the one i dropped and took my spare. Tried it after a week or so and it worked.

gizmo335i · 09-17-2010, 03:24 AM

Well, this sounds hopeful then. It definately doens't work after a couple days...

Here's what happened...I was standing over the sink and I guess I had it in my hand when I put this pot in there and I dropped it in and didn't realize....the bad thing is this pot had just been used for frying...so I think it sat and soaked in grease as well...so I hope that didn't make it worse....I'll try the rice thing tho...

Man, some of you guys stay up late, lol...

cb1111 · 09-17-2010, 07:18 AM

Go to the lokal Baumarkt and buy a container of desiccant. Wrap the key loosely in a paper towel and stick it in the desiccant. If it isn't fixed in a few days then it is dead.

On the up side, you won't need a new key cut - just the electronic bits.

wankelrx · 09-17-2010, 07:53 AM

If you dropped it in vegetable oil or animal fat then it should be ok since both of those don't conduct electricity. I've also successfully baked out water logged phones in an oven at 150F (65C) for a couple hours.

I saw a guy that had a PC with the motherboard completely submerged in vegetable oil in an aquarium. He used a refrigeration system to cool the oil so he could overclock. Those PC overclockers get insane.

Jred22 · 09-17-2010, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by icyhot e92

do these things have the water test things that change color like phones?

i don't think so. i ran my through the wash and it was shot, took it into the dealership and told them that it just stopped working outta nowhere. They replaced it no question asked.

I335 · 09-17-2010, 10:06 AM

I've heard of a couple people running their key through the washing machine and it still worked!

GregTheStig · 09-17-2010, 10:23 AM

If it's not dry yet try putting it on a bed pillow and setting it near a fan so that the breeze is hitting the key. It's worked before on other electronics.

ss134 · 09-17-2010, 02:48 PM

I left mine in a pair of jeans and put the jeans through the washing machine ......next day the key was fine.

Jred22 · 09-18-2010, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ss134

I left mine in a pair of jeans and put the jeans through the washing machine ......next day the key was fine.

your washing machine is broken.

e90TiAg335i · 09-18-2010, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jred22

your washing machine is broken.

haha, my wife has put mine throught the washer AND dryer at least twice so far! It still works fine!!!

TiAg335i · 09-18-2010, 12:20 PM

my key went through my washing machine a couple times and it was perfectly fine

ss134 · 09-18-2010, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jred22

your washing machine is broken.

Quote:

Originally Posted by e90TiAg335i

haha, my wife has put mine throught the washer AND dryer at least twice so far! It still works fine!!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by TiAg335i

my key went through my washing machine a couple times and it was perfectly fine

Lots of broken washing machines on the forum apparantly.

09-17-2010, 01:41 AM	#1
gizmo335i Colonel 163 Rep 2,979 Posts Drives: 07 SBM E92 335i 6MT Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: New Jersey iTrader: (51) Garage List 2007 E92 335i [9.42]	Dropped key in water GDamnit....anyone ever do this? What did you do? I know these damn things have to cost an arm at least....we had to get a new Mercedes key the other day and it was 228 EURO!!! I'm thinking I could open it up and dry it good and change the battery..but I couldn't figure out how to get the damn thing open..but I gave up pretty quick... __________________ In the process of restoring an 07 335i
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09-17-2010, 01:48 AM	#2
WWONG Banned 109 Rep 1,830 Posts Drives: 2012 BMW X5 xDrive35d Join Date: May 2010 Location: Houston, TX iTrader: (14)	Did it stop working? I've never taken apart my BMW key fob, but I have taken apart my sister's 2000 Toyota remote to replace the battery and it looks like everything is sealed pretty well, including use of rubber lining to prevent water intrusion.
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09-17-2010, 01:59 AM	#3
sleepyx637 Captain 19 Rep 952 Posts Drives: '09 E92 335i Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: LA iTrader: (0)	people have dropped it in water, dried it okay, and had it work fine after. dont use it until it's dry though.
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09-17-2010, 01:59 AM	#4
bsamoul Major General 165 Rep 7,433 Posts Drives: E90 325i Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Walnut Creek, California iTrader: (2)	ya just give up, don't try and open it. it will probably still work, let it dry. you can also stick it in a bowl of rice because that will absorb the water in it. __________________ -Brian 2X 2006 BMW 325i [Electric Red & Mystic Blue] \| ZPP \| V1 \| Rear Fogs \| M3 Lip Spoiler \| EAS RemoteKey \| BMS Powerbox \| Projector90 Headlights w/ LED AE \| LED plate lights \| OEM Blacklines http://www.tech-shine.com
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09-17-2010, 02:00 AM	#5
Jred22 Meat Puppet 66 Rep 1,127 Posts Drives: '11 e90 M3 Competition Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Minneapolis iTrader: (4) Garage List 2007 Jeep Grand Che ... [0.00]	go to the dealership, tell them it just stopped working. They'll warranty it.
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09-17-2010, 02:15 AM	#7
gos Captain 27 Rep 959 Posts Drives: E90 330xi Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Colorado iTrader: (0)	put it in a ziploc baggie with a few cups of uncooked rice, it'll be fine in a day or so. The little battery inside probably doesn't generate enough voltage to damage electronics if it shorts to something. __________________ -- 330xi SG/Terra/Burl -- ZPP, ZSP, ZCW, CA, Sirius, PDC
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09-17-2010, 02:15 AM	#8
2M Colonel 503 Rep 2,200 Posts Drives: Mineral Grey M2 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: New York iTrader: (2)	I dropped my fob while i was taking a piss. I just put away the one i dropped and took my spare. Tried it after a week or so and it worked. __________________ E9X Picture Game: 8 points: (High visibility jacket; Strip Club; Pizzeria; Sobriety Test; E9x dressed for Halloween, Billiards, Oil Change, Orange Cone)
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09-17-2010, 03:24 AM	#9
gizmo335i Colonel 163 Rep 2,979 Posts Drives: 07 SBM E92 335i 6MT Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: New Jersey iTrader: (51) Garage List 2007 E92 335i [9.42]	Well, this sounds hopeful then. It definately doens't work after a couple days... Here's what happened...I was standing over the sink and I guess I had it in my hand when I put this pot in there and I dropped it in and didn't realize....the bad thing is this pot had just been used for frying...so I think it sat and soaked in grease as well...so I hope that didn't make it worse....I'll try the rice thing tho... Man, some of you guys stay up late, lol... __________________ In the process of restoring an 07 335i
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09-17-2010, 07:18 AM	#10
cb1111 I ask the questions you're afraid to ask. 44 Rep 2,489 Posts Drives: 335xi Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: DC iTrader: (2)	Go to the lokal Baumarkt and buy a container of desiccant. Wrap the key loosely in a paper towel and stick it in the desiccant. If it isn't fixed in a few days then it is dead. On the up side, you won't need a new key cut - just the electronic bits.
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09-17-2010, 07:53 AM	#11
wankelrx New Member 2 Rep 15 Posts Drives: 2011 335i sedan Black Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Little Rock,ar iTrader: (0)	If you dropped it in vegetable oil or animal fat then it should be ok since both of those don't conduct electricity. I've also successfully baked out water logged phones in an oven at 150F (65C) for a couple hours. I saw a guy that had a PC with the motherboard completely submerged in vegetable oil in an aquarium. He used a refrigeration system to cool the oil so he could overclock. Those PC overclockers get insane.
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09-17-2010, 10:06 AM	#13
I335 Brigadier General 123 Rep 4,249 Posts Drives: '08 335i Coupe Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: New England iTrader: (11)	I've heard of a couple people running their key through the washing machine and it still worked!
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09-17-2010, 10:23 AM	#14
GregTheStig derp 48 Rep 1,203 Posts Drives: a Tuk Tuk Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Atlanta, GA iTrader: (1)	If it's not dry yet try putting it on a bed pillow and setting it near a fan so that the breeze is hitting the key. It's worked before on other electronics. __________________
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09-17-2010, 02:48 PM	#15
ss134 Brigadier General 230 Rep 3,899 Posts Drives: F80 M3 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Germany/UK iTrader: (1)	I left mine in a pair of jeans and put the jeans through the washing machine ......next day the key was fine. __________________ 2014 AW F80 M3 DCT 2011 AW E90 M3 DCT - Sold 2010 JZB E90 M3 DCT - Sold 2009 6MT E90 LCI 335i M -Sport - Sold
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09-18-2010, 12:20 PM	#18
TiAg335i Trance Life 315 Rep 4,706 Posts Drives: 2007 E92 335i Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Long Island, NY iTrader: (4)	my key went through my washing machine a couple times and it was perfectly fine
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