Went for a swim in the ocean with my key..

[janus77]

As the title says, i went snorkling and forgot to remove the key from my pocket, now it doesn't work.

Wondering if anyone knows how to pull these apart, need to rinse it out with some electical cleaning solvent and see if i can get it working again.

[HondaGoneRogue]

Put it in the freezer for twenty four hours. The defrost cycle will dry it out. The worst thing you can do to a wet device is turn it on/use it. A lot of electronics will begin working again after they are dried.

[-satanic-]

I'd take your 'soaked' key, and run it under FRESH water for 5 minutes to get rid of all the salt and then do what HondaGoneRogue says.

The salt will destroy any electronics inside the key if it's not removed completely.

Not much else can go wrong, your key has already been drowned.

I remember back in the day, BMW used to issue a "beach key" which was just made out of plastic... that would be handy.

[janus77]

ok, will give that a crack, there's a silicon clear cover over the electrics in the key if you remove the button covers, need to get under it to access to rinse and dry.

Actually already broke through it trying to allow it to dry out faster.. maybe just cut it away completely and rinse it out.

[woosh]

Be happy that you still have your car key... mine is lost in some sand at Bronte since last Sunday. Should've just left it in my pocket like you did hahaha

[janus77]

ah Bugger! The annoying part is when you're tired and ready to head home after being in the sun, and you realize you can't get into your car! We ended up just catching a taxi back to Camperdown, then i rode my bike over there after dinner to pick the car up with the spare key.

Any idea what a replacement costs?

[woosh]

oh and satanic, the beach key still exists today... why do you think the normal key splits into two parts?

[janus77]

someone tried to break into my car, they hammered a screwdriver into the drivers lock.
So the beach key doesn't work for me unfortunately.

Since i never use the key i haven't bothered to have it replaced.

[woosh]

i hope somebody reems a screw driver up their ***! what idiots. i used the beach key on my old 130 at least once a month.. i loved how handy it was!

replacement key cost... hmm cost price, or dealer price? budget at least a few hundred. Or, buy your own blank from Germany and have it cut/programmed here.

[Taymaishu]

Originally Posted by janus77

someone tried to break into my car, they hammered a screwdriver into the drivers lock.
So the beach key doesn't work for me unfortunately.

Since i never use the key i haven't bothered to have it replaced.

Seriously? Must have been a kid. A screwdriver in the door lock of a modern BMW, who did he think he was kidding?

Sorry to hear mate. I followed a similar routine to what Stan outline above when I decided to water my BlackBerry early last year. Worked a treat.

[janus77]

was thinking of searching around for the cheapest option.
if i have to replace the barrel in the drivers door, it's going to get expensive.

[MPBK]

Originally Posted by janus77

Any idea what a replacement costs?

More than a decent cell phone.
Sorry to inform.
It's a lot more than a key. It's a remote control, transponder, secret code generator.
All these electronics are nice, but at a price.

[aus135i]

VW key costs $400 to replace this was 5yrs ago....

if u going to swim just use the part of the key that comes out.... or if u can't use the key hole on the door, just pull 1 of ur back seats down and use the boot =]

[MPBK]

Originally Posted by aus135i

VW key costs $400 to replace this was 5yrs ago....

if u going to swim just use the part of the key that comes out.... or if u can't use the key hole on the door, just pull 1 of ur back seats down and use the boot =]

If he could remember any of that he wouldn't be in this predicament.

[ansch]

mine's been through the washing machine and still works

[janus77]

is there a key hole in the boot?

[BMWRX]

Originally Posted by janus77

is there a key hole in the boot?

Yes. Up underneath, above the numberplate. I didn't realise it was there until a year after delivery.

[janus77]

heh, you learn something new every day. Will have to use it in future, little bittersweet to know at this stage.

[Harlequin]

Originally Posted by janus77

is there a key hole in the boot?

Originally Posted by BMWRX

Yes. Up underneath, above the numberplate. I didn't realise it was there until a year after delivery.

Newer models (like mine) don't have the keyhole in the boot any more... Not sure when BMW got rid of it but it can cause problems if you disconnect your battery and then close the boot.... (if you're gonna do that make sure the back seat is down.)

[UR25IO]

lol poor fellers, i feel for you both- going snorkeling and loosing it in the sand at the beach
went to bondi yesterday and today thank god i still have my keys on me...

got out of my car with everything i need- lock the car- put it in bag and zipped it up until i return to the car to drive home!!

[Guran]

My wife recently put her key in a "safe place" and after a few months it's still there. Shame she can't remember where that is. So we bought a replacement. The remote part of the key costs $578.59 and the metal key is $167.42.

[RaihaX]

Originally Posted by Guran

My wife recently put her key in a "safe place" and after a few months it's still there. Shame she can't remember where that is. So we bought a replacement. The remote part of the key costs $578.59 and the metal key is $167.42.

that is a lot of money....