If your MINI is a daily driver and you use the remote to lock and unlock, like I do, the batteries will probably last between 15-20 months. Expecting it to last more than that would be a bit optimistic.
From personal experience, the remote of our 2001 C320 lasted about 14 months before I had the battery replaced.
I used to keep a spare battery for the remote of my old Mini Cooper, and the way to tell it needed replacing was the shortened range. My guess is that the same would be true for the remote key of MINI.
I think it is lifetime, since you can't change it. It is charged by the EWS antenna ring whenever you have the key in the ignition and the car is on. This same type of key has been used on BMW's since '99 and I've never replaced a battery (since you can't) and I've never had anyone complain about it.
I think it is lifetime, since you can't change it. It is charged by the EWS antenna ring whenever you have the key in the ignition and the car is on. This same type of key has been used on BMW's since '99 and I've never replaced a battery (since you can't) and I've never had anyone complain about it.
That BMW characteristic doesn't seem to be true of MINI batteries. Here's the section from the owner's manual that tells how to change the MINI's key battery:
Assuming the MINI Owner's Manual is correct (as I posted above), it seems MINI dealers are making bad assumptions that MINI and BWM keys work the same way and misleading customers.
I don't know the answer as to whether MINI key batteries recharge or not, but instructions on how to replace the battery don't necessarily mean they don't. The owner's manual may merely be acknowledging the possibility of a battery dying because it has a fault or isn't recharging properly.
Well mine is now 14 months old and it still works but not as well as it did when I first got it. Guess that means it doesn't charge itself up in the car...
Besides, correct me if I'm wrong here, but even rechargeable batteries don't last forever, and recharging a battery when it's not completely drained will actually shorten its lifespan. So even if it does get recharged by being inserted, it would still have a finite life and eventually need to be changed, no? On the other hand, this is the first time I've ever really of a "remotely recharged" batter, so my knowledge on battery technology may be woefully icorrect/outdated.
That BMW characteristic doesn't seem to be true of MINI batteries. Here's the section from the owner's manual that tells how to change the MINI's key battery:
There's a story of a computer (Netware server) in Southampton that would crash twice a day for a few weeks then it was ok again. Apparently it was when a particular ship was in harbour, when the tide reached the right height, the radar would knock the poor lil computer loopy for a while.
Yes this is true; the lithium cell used in MINI's remote key isn't rechargeable, and there's no fancy technology in MINI that will recharge your key's battery.
The key contains two chips: the radio control door unlocking thing is run by the battery; the immobiliser transponder in the key doesn't use the battery (this is powered for the short time it's checked upon engine start by electric coils in the ignition key hole).
If your magic key's battery is running low, you'll notice its range is reduced when un/locking doors, but even if the battery dies on you, you can still use the good old put-the-key-in-the-door method to unlock MINI, and you will still be able to start MINI and drive away.
Fair enough, I never read the owner's manual. I assumed they did it like the BMW's. See, you learn something new everyday.
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