Hi Guys

I have a 96 328 and the keys for it are the sort of rounded, 2 button ones with an led light for the keyhole, but the light doesn't work. I bought the car used and ever since I bought it, the keyless to open or close the doors takes about 4 or 6 tries to get it to work. Any ideas?
Thanks
S

Have you replaced the battery?

I have new batteries in the remotes and both remote keys are doing the same thing. Is there a battery in the alarm unit in the car?

when you press the button on the remote does your car chirp three times

Hi no chirp. It is an original BMW alarm, the lights flash, but there is no sound.

Mine was doing this, it is annoying when you in a hurry or with others. I tried the remote battery no difference. On my '95 I discovered the little chip inside the remote had started slipping out of its plastic friction clamp socket. I just pushed the chip board back into its socket and everything was good again and for no cost. Also if you want its not hard to make the car chirp the alarm and flash the directional lights. There are write ups on this, cost only ~$12 in parts from Radioshack.

* I think my '95 3 button rectangular remote is different so this may not apply. Although you should try opening the remote and cleaning the circuit board. Use isopropyl alcohol and q-tips on the board where the buttons make contact with the board, I have had great success with this on my household remotes.

I have the Stellar Alarm(plugs into factory harness). I have been pulling my hair out for four weeks because the alarm/keyless entry has been acting up. Meaning it sometimes locks doors and sets the alarm, sometimes not, sometimes it sets the alarm but the doors immediately unlock and the alarm is set. Sometimes it would unlock the doors and set the alarm. Random and maddening!

I called Stellar and sent them e-mails. They were no help. They would say they would call me back but I got no response. I put new batteries in the remotes, no help. I check each lock mechanism, even the one for the gas filler door. Very Frustrating!

Tonight I found the Problem and fixed it! It now works perfectly! The problem...... the car battery ground cable was loose! The car had been running fine for a month and the ground cable has been loose the whole time. Appearently when the keyless locks the doors and trunk the vibration was just enough to make the cable on top of the battery move just enough the make the current flow inconsistant enough to make the keyless entry/alarm think there was a problem and it would unlock the doors. I cleaned the cable and retightened it and the alarm/keyless entry works perfectly! Hopefully this helps someone in the future.

Like all car problems, it is always some small infuriating bit of info that you need. I found out my remote is IR, not RF. It needs to be aimed at the mirror like a TV remote. Works perfectly now.
Cheers
S