E46 - Strange Black Plastic "key"

[franc...@my-deja.com]

While cleaning my glove box today I found a small black plastic key-
like object, and a small leather case. They both have tiny BMW logos
stamped on them...but I can't find anything in the manual which refers
to these objects.

Any '99 E46 owners know what these items might do?

thanks,

Francis Wong

Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.

[Vic]

<franc...@my-deja.com> wrote in message
news:8lln0e$pc3$1...@nnrp1.deja.com...

>
>
> While cleaning my glove box today I found a small black plastic key-
> like object, and a small leather case. They both have tiny BMW logos
> stamped on them...but I can't find anything in the manual which refers
> to these objects.
>
> Any '99 E46 owners know what these items might do?

how many keys did you get with your BM? you should have gotten 4: 2 main
keys with remotes, one key without remote that doesn't open trunk or glove
box, and another small key that is for emergencies abd can only be used a
few times.

[Clarence NG]

Can you elaobrate on that small black key which you mentioned 'can only be
used
a few times'? Are u implying that the key is not supposed to be used
'normally'?

Clarence

[Craig]

According to the stuff that comes with the UK car the small black plastic
key is to allow valet parking to be able to move your car. It will open the
car and start the engine but it does not allow access to the boot (trunk).

Cheers
Craig.

<franc...@my-deja.com> wrote in message
news:8lln0e$pc3$1...@nnrp1.deja.com...
>
>
> While cleaning my glove box today I found a small black plastic key-
> like object, and a small leather case. They both have tiny BMW logos
> stamped on them...but I can't find anything in the manual which refers
> to these objects.
>
> Any '99 E46 owners know what these items might do?
>

[Alberto D'Elia]

My 99 E46 has the same 2 objects in the glove box and I still don't know
what they are for.

I have the 4 keys in addition to this 2 objects.

[franc...@my-deja.com]

In article <Cluf5.7361$mp3.1...@weber.videotron.net>,

"Vic" <n...@thankyou.com> wrote:
> how many keys did you get with your BM? you should have gotten 4: 2
main
> keys with remotes, one key without remote that doesn't open trunk or
glove

> box, and another small key that is for emergencies abd can only be
used a
> few times.

These objects are in addition to the 4 keys you mentioned. It's a
black plastic object a little larger than the standard E46 key. One
end is a circle with "teeth" like a gear. The other end is a round
post with a threaded female end. The post appears to be hinged to the
circle end (it's made up of 2 separate pieces that fit together).

I called it "key-like"...because of its size and shape...but it won't
fit in any of the doors or ignition.

[Vic]

"Clarence NG" <clare...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:8lluho$i5v$1...@newton.pacific.net.sg...
> Can you elaobrate on that small black key which you mentioned 'can only be
> used

> a few times'? Are u implying that the key is not supposed to be used
> 'normally'?

well, this is valid for Canada, but it must be similar in other places too.
the keys that should be used normally are the 2 big keys, with the big
handles containing remotes and memories. there's another key that's for
valet parking (no trunk/glove box)
this key has no remote/memory on it and it's handle is smaller than the 2
main ones.
then there's the fourth key which is even smaller and has, as far as I
remember, a plastic handle. this is for emergencies only and, as far as I
remember, works only seven times. you can keep this in your wallet (only in
case of emergencies)

[John Hovell]

Francis --

It is an emergency key... the salesman or whoever delivered your car to
you should have told you about it.

My salesman did, but I must admit I still have a few questions. First of
all -- BMW's are supposed to have that "coded driveaway protection plan"
-- you've probably read about it -- a small microprocessor with a
transmitter in your normal keys that cryptographically communicate with
the car when it is in the ignition, and allow the car to start.

I can't imagine that the little plastic key has one of those.

Nevertheless... it is supposed to be able to start the car in an emergency
(like if you lose your key)... I keep mine in my wallet... just in case.

Cheers,
John

ps... if anyone knows how it works, I'd love to know! thanks

franc...@my-deja.com wrote:

> While cleaning my glove box today I found a small black plastic key-
> like object, and a small leather case. They both have tiny BMW logos
> stamped on them...but I can't find anything in the manual which refers
> to these objects.
>
> Any '99 E46 owners know what these items might do?
>
> thanks,
>
> Francis Wong
>

[Philip Pikart]

John Hovell wrote:
>
> Francis --
>
> It is an emergency key... the salesman or whoever delivered your car to
> you should have told you about it.
>
> My salesman did, but I must admit I still have a few questions. First of
> all -- BMW's are supposed to have that "coded driveaway protection plan"
> -- you've probably read about it -- a small microprocessor with a
> transmitter in your normal keys that cryptographically communicate with
> the car when it is in the ignition, and allow the car to start.
>
> I can't imagine that the little plastic key has one of those.

I can imagine that. There are so small bidirectional transponders.

Philip

[Philip Pikart]

John Hovell wrote:

> It is an emergency key... the salesman or whoever delivered your car to
> you should have told you about it.
>
> My salesman did, but I must admit I still have a few questions. First of
> all -- BMW's are supposed to have that "coded driveaway protection plan"
> -- you've probably read about it -- a small microprocessor with a
> transmitter in your normal keys that cryptographically communicate with
> the car when it is in the ignition, and allow the car to start.
>
> I can't imagine that the little plastic key has one of those.

I can imagine this. Did you ever open one of the main keys for changing the
battery ? With the key case open, you see the transponder chip of the
driveaway-protection in one of its corners. This chip isn´t big.

Philip

[Brett Anderson]

The wallet key has a transponder embedded in the head.

--

Brett Anderson
www.koalamotorsport.com
Home of the E30 M3 CD-ROM repair manual

"John Hovell" <john....@home.com> wrote in message
news:397EF8B4...@home.com...
> Francis --

>
> It is an emergency key... the salesman or whoever delivered your car to
> you should have told you about it.
>
> My salesman did, but I must admit I still have a few questions. First of
> all -- BMW's are supposed to have that "coded driveaway protection plan"
> -- you've probably read about it -- a small microprocessor with a
> transmitter in your normal keys that cryptographically communicate with
> the car when it is in the ignition, and allow the car to start.
>
> I can't imagine that the little plastic key has one of those.
>

[Brett Anderson]

OK, now I know what you're talking about.

This item is the wrench used to install and remove the radio antenna from
the roof.

--

Brett Anderson
www.koalamotorsport.com
Home of the E30 M3 CD-ROM repair manual

<franciswong@my-> These objects are in addition to the 4 keys you mentioned.

It's a
> black plastic object a little larger than the standard E46 key. One
> end is a circle with "teeth" like a gear. The other end is a round
> post with a threaded female end. The post appears to be hinged to the
> circle end (it's made up of 2 separate pieces that fit together).
>
> I called it "key-like"...because of its size and shape...but it won't
> fit in any of the doors or ignition.
>
>

[Brett Anderson]

The wallet key is plastic, it won't last, it will eventually break off in a
lock if it is used to frequently.

It is for emergency use only.

--

Brett Anderson
www.koalamotorsport.com
Home of the E30 M3 CD-ROM repair manual

"Clarence NG" <clare...@hotmail.com> wrote in message

news:8lluho$i5v$1...@newton.pacific.net.sg...
> Can you elaobrate on that small black key which you mentioned 'can only be
> used
> a few times'? Are u implying that the key is not supposed to be used
> 'normally'?
>

> Clarence
>
>

[Alberto D'Elia]

Thanks a lot for letting us know what that object is for.

I had no idea and I would never have guessed.

"Brett Anderson" <gotomy...@toemailme.com> wrote in message
news:HNGf5.2067$_K3.1...@newshog.newsread.com...

> OK, now I know what you're talking about.
>
> This item is the wrench used to install and remove the radio antenna from
> the roof.
>
>

> --
>
> Brett Anderson
> www.koalamotorsport.com
> Home of the E30 M3 CD-ROM repair manual
>
>
>
>

[JRE]

It sounds like it might be the cell phone antenna wrench. (Mine's out in
the car and it's raining, so I won't go check at the moment.) See if one
end fits the locknut on the top of the antenna...

JRE

franc...@my-deja.com wrote:

> <snip>

[Alberto D'Elia]

I just checked. It does not fit on the top of the antenna but if you remove
the antenna, you can screw this object in perfectly. Now my question is:
what is that for?

JRE <not...@nowhere.com> wrote in message
news:397F666A...@nowhere.com...

[Fgerardij]

Actually I think the third, metal, non-remote key is the valet key. The
fourth,black plastic key is meant to be small and somewhat maleable as it's
made for your wallet, in case you lose or misplace your key..Great idea as I've
already used it!

All the best,
Frank G
Maryland

[John Pulsford]

I also have something like this. It has the name Kathlein moulded into it. I
checked on the web and this company makes antennas and I figure it has
something to do woth the cell phone antenna. Not sure what though ...

"Brett Anderson" <gotomy...@toemailme.com> wrote in message
news:HNGf5.2067$_K3.1...@newshog.newsread.com...
> OK, now I know what you're talking about.
>
> This item is the wrench used to install and remove the radio antenna from
> the roof.
>
>
> --
>
> Brett Anderson
> www.koalamotorsport.com
> Home of the E30 M3 CD-ROM repair manual
>
>
>
>

> <franciswong@my-> These objects are in addition to the 4 keys you

[Clarence NG]

I have just verified 'as far as I remember, works only seven times' with the
local BMW advisor. The little black, plastic key is not designed to be used
only 7 times; you could use it as many times as you want. BUT, it is small
and kinda fragile, therefore, it is not advisable to use it normally, ie.
emergency
use, in case it may break.

"Vic" <n...@thankyou.com> wrote in message
news:i5Cf5.6857$Rd5.1...@wagner.videotron.net...

>
> "Clarence NG" <clare...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:8lluho$i5v$1...@newton.pacific.net.sg...
> > Can you elaobrate on that small black key which you mentioned 'can only
be
> > used
> > a few times'? Are u implying that the key is not supposed to be used
> > 'normally'?
>

[Craig]

Ahhh - cheers Frank

Craig

"Fgerardij" <fger...@aol.comnojunk> wrote in message
news:20000726214344...@ng-ch1.aol.com...

[cc_driver911]

It is intended as an emergency key that you can put in your wallet.

Charlie

<franc...@my-deja.com> wrote in message
news:8lln0e$pc3$1...@nnrp1.deja.com...
>
>

> While cleaning my glove box today I found a small black plastic key-
> like object, and a small leather case. They both have tiny BMW logos
> stamped on them...but I can't find anything in the manual which refers
> to these objects.
>
> Any '99 E46 owners know what these items might do?
>
> thanks,
>
> Francis Wong
>
>

[Vic]

"Clarence NG" <clare...@hotmail.com> wrote in message

news:8lr0bh$5ms$1...@newton.pacific.net.sg...

> I have just verified 'as far as I remember, works only seven times' with
the
> local BMW advisor. The little black, plastic key is not designed to be
used
> only 7 times; you could use it as many times as you want. BUT, it is
small
> and kinda fragile, therefore, it is not advisable to use it normally, ie.
> emergency
> use, in case it may break.

well, that's what I've been told by a new BMW owner. I guess that's what
they've been told. But then again the sales person didn't know much. she
claimed that the motion detector inside the car was an air vent for the air
conditioning system...

[Alberto D'Elia]

That's funny. The sales person told me the same thing about the motion
detector...

"Vic" <n...@thankyou.com> wrote in message

news:Qrjg5.1602$lV1....@weber.videotron.net...

[BMWS14]

that key is used to remove the antenna on the roof, it attaches to the base and
allowing you to twist it off