Wet keyfob / water resistance?

jailonacs99 · 06-02-2018, 02:57 PM

Considering how easy it is to open the keyfob to change the battery, anyone have any idea how water resistant these keys are?

Should I worry it's in my pocket during heavy rain? Spill a drink on it? Anybody have it fail on them after getting slightly wet?

RickFLM4 · 06-02-2018, 03:15 PM

I don’t think it should be an issue to have in your pocket during heavy rain but I would not assume they are waterproof. I wouldn’t submerge mine in water and do my best to avoid spilling drinks on it.

jailonacs99 · 06-02-2018, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RickFLM4

I don't think it should be an issue to have in your pocket during heavy rain but I would not assume they are waterproof. I wouldn't submerge mine in water and do my best to avoid spilling drinks on it.

That's what I'm thinking too, hopefully that's the case.

Real world test as I'm outside at a theme park now and it's pouring rain. I also have the CF case that keeps it a bit separated off my wet clothing, though it doesn't insulate it.

RickFLM4 · 06-02-2018, 03:31 PM

I expect it will be fine. I live in South Florida and have no doubt I’ve been caught in the rain at least once with the keyfob in my pocket.

Brasko · 06-03-2018, 09:58 AM

There's only one way to find out.

lewildbeast · 06-04-2018, 07:19 AM

I brought mine into the pool for a 1h swim.

The FOB was good to open the car (I must admit this surprised me). It was not good to start the car, even when placed beside the steering column. When opened, it was apparent the battery had swollen (and was stuffed). I dried the FOB out in a calcium chloride dessicant for a week, swapped the battery and the FOB lives on.

FC · 06-04-2018, 07:29 AM

I accidentally left the key to my E46 ZHP in my jeans and it went through a full wash cycle. Never had an issue in the few years after the incident.

HateIT · 06-04-2018, 07:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FC

I accidentally left the key to my E46 ZHP in my jeans and it went through a full wash cycle. Never had an issue in the few years after the incident.

F82 M4 FOB full wash cycle last year, no issues!

aerostar · 06-04-2018, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FC

I accidentally left the key to my E46 ZHP in my jeans and it went through a full wash cycle. Never had an issue in the few years after the incident.

Inside of the pocket shouldn't get much water in it during a wash cycle unless it turns inside out.

Draper · 06-04-2018, 09:08 AM

I don't think the FOBs are IP rated, but if they were I would guess they'd have a rating around IP54.

http://www.dsmt.com/resources/ip-rating-chart/

IM2C · 06-04-2018, 09:48 AM

FWIW my old keyfob took a tumble in the washing machine and still worked.

Chris N · 06-05-2018, 12:11 PM

Same... Ran through the washer this past Sunday. It still opened the doors and we drove the car to the store, then nothing. I opened it up, blew it out as best I could and left it in the sun on the dash. After we came back out I put the battery back in and all was fine. I then immediately went and picked up a new battery.

Chris N · 10-22-2018, 09:23 AM

... Update

So, since my key fob was run through 5he washing machine it goes through batteries at least every month. Any suggestions?

omega2733 · 10-22-2018, 10:23 AM

sounds like a short, open it up take a look around clean up any bridged connections.

06-02-2018, 02:57 PM	#1
jailonacs99 Captain 484 Rep 793 Posts Drives: 2022 M4 xDrive Competition Join Date: May 2014 Location: Mid-Atlantic iTrader: (2) Garage List 2022 BMW M4 MxDrive ... [0.00]	Wet keyfob / water resistance? Considering how easy it is to open the keyfob to change the battery, anyone have any idea how water resistant these keys are? Should I worry it's in my pocket during heavy rain? Spill a drink on it? Anybody have it fail on them after getting slightly wet?
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06-02-2018, 03:15 PM	#2
RickFLM4 Brigadier General 10971 Rep 4,821 Posts Drives: M4 Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: PB County, FL iTrader: (0)	I don’t think it should be an issue to have in your pocket during heavy rain but I would not assume they are waterproof. I wouldn’t submerge mine in water and do my best to avoid spilling drinks on it. __________________ Current: 2018 SO/SS F83 ZCP Gone: 2015 SO/SO F82
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06-02-2018, 03:31 PM	#4
RickFLM4 Brigadier General 10971 Rep 4,821 Posts Drives: M4 Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: PB County, FL iTrader: (0)	I expect it will be fine. I live in South Florida and have no doubt I’ve been caught in the rain at least once with the keyfob in my pocket. __________________ Current: 2018 SO/SS F83 ZCP Gone: 2015 SO/SO F82
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06-03-2018, 09:58 AM	#5
Brasko #LSBM3 1420 Rep 1,973 Posts Drives: 2016 BMW M3 Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Oregon / Florida iTrader: (4) Garage List 1984 BMW R65 [0.00] 2020 Ford F-150 XLT ... [0.00] 2003 Mitsubishi Evo ... [0.00] 2016 M3 Competition ... [10.00]	There's only one way to find out. __________________ /// M3
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06-04-2018, 07:19 AM	#6
lewildbeast New Member 3 Rep 18 Posts Drives: F82 Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Australia iTrader: (0)	I brought mine into the pool for a 1h swim. The FOB was good to open the car (I must admit this surprised me). It was not good to start the car, even when placed beside the steering column. When opened, it was apparent the battery had swollen (and was stuffed). I dried the FOB out in a calcium chloride dessicant for a week, swapped the battery and the FOB lives on.
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06-04-2018, 07:29 AM	#7
FC Lieutenant 238 Rep 517 Posts Drives: '21 F90, '23 BGTS 4.0, '21 GTI Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Northeast iTrader: (0)	I accidentally left the key to my E46 ZHP in my jeans and it went through a full wash cycle. Never had an issue in the few years after the incident.
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06-04-2018, 09:08 AM	#10
Draper Brigadier General 3461 Rep 3,995 Posts Drives: M4 Comp / Macan Turbo Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Denver iTrader: (38)	I don't think the FOBs are IP rated, but if they were I would guess they'd have a rating around IP54. http://www.dsmt.com/resources/ip-rating-chart/ __________________ Current: G82 M4 Comp xDrive // Frozen Deep Grey Current: 95B.1 Macan Turbo // Dark Blue Metallic
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06-04-2018, 09:48 AM	#11
IM2C Major General 2067 Rep 5,373 Posts Drives: ∞ Improbability Drive Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: FL iTrader: (9)	FWIW my old keyfob took a tumble in the washing machine and still worked. __________________ ///\| g87 \| f87 Comp \| g29 M40i \| f97 Comp \| f80 Comp \| f80 \| f30 \| e92 \| tt \| S5 \| e92 \| 350z \| e90 \|
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06-05-2018, 12:11 PM	#12
Chris N Second Lieutenant 153 Rep 247 Posts Drives: BMW M2c Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Cincinnati, OH iTrader: (0)	Same... Ran through the washer this past Sunday. It still opened the doors and we drove the car to the store, then nothing. I opened it up, blew it out as best I could and left it in the sun on the dash. After we came back out I put the battery back in and all was fine. I then immediately went and picked up a new battery.
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10-22-2018, 09:23 AM	#13
Chris N Second Lieutenant 153 Rep 247 Posts Drives: BMW M2c Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Cincinnati, OH iTrader: (0)	... Update So, since my key fob was run through 5he washing machine it goes through batteries at least every month. Any suggestions?
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10-22-2018, 10:23 AM	#14
omega2733 Second Lieutenant 137 Rep 215 Posts Drives: '17 F80 MGM Join Date: Jul 2018 Location: Central FL iTrader: (1)	sounds like a short, open it up take a look around clean up any bridged connections.
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