Thread: D2, flat battery and EKA

After spending a bit of time last night at the English Pub, and a couple of Tetleys, most appropriate to take the Disco, we found ourselves returning to a D2 that refused to open with the key fob. Naturally the next step was use the key to manually unlock the D2 only to be blasted by the alarm system, nothing we tried would start the car. You have to love the advanced security system placed into the D2's by BMW, cant even steal your own car with the key. Turned the key in the ignition and well nothing, alarm sounded and reset.

I isolated the culprit as a flat or low battery, luckily I carry jumper leads and a battery pack, all however to no avail. The car simply refused to start. After a bit of searching it appears that if you lock a D2 with a flat battery or low battery using the key (fob didnt work when I went to lock it, but that happens every now and again) it disables the vehicle completely.

We tried, jumping it, the battery pack, and eventually returned the next day with a brand new battery and some overnight research.

Installed new battery so this removed one problem but still the car refused to start and carried on the same way.

It appears that the only way to re start the car is using the EKA procedure, however not having the cars individual security code (or a nanacom) on a Sunday meant either a tow or trailer job to the dealer.

So here whats works if you get stuck. The code using the key that does work in a D2 is 1515 (apparently its the dealer code for USA LR's) but this code works here, at east it did on my D2. Im also of the understanding that the D2's can be effected by RF transmissions which also sends the system into meltdown. Using this code may assist you if you become stuck and need emergency key access.

Follow the manual using this code and presto, car starts.

At least now we can enjoy a few more Beers,

Oh and moral of the story, if you know your batteries on the way out, either change it before its flat or make sure you know about this little way to start the car or id imagine an expensive dealer call out.

My strong recommendation, at least for people living in Sydney, is to carry your EKA code in your wallet. At some stage, you will park under or near high tension wires or a pole mounted step down transformer, the fob won't work and you will need the EKA.

I know this old but I didn't have a D2 way back then.

I have always found in 3.5 years or so that I have never needed the EKA, which BTW is discoverable with a Nanocom and can be changed. I changed mine to 2222.

I have always found that if you have a good battery and the car refuses to start as mine did the other day when I disconnected the Nanocom in mid stride, that all you do is lock then unlock with the fob, sort of like a Microsoft PC reboot.
I have seen this fail for an earlier car in the car park for the Kangaroo Island ferry even when we put a new( My) battery in the fob and pushed the car to the other end of the car Park.

But it started perfectly at the Kangaroo Island end after the crew had pushed it on board.
Temperamental things these D2s

Regards Philip A