BMW z4 Engine Immobliser/Key Code deletion question

Hello.

I have a new New UK 3.0 Z4 purchased September 2004.

I travel a lot and was recently parked in the long stay carpark at
Gatwick airport in the UK for 3 days. When I returned to my car I found
that upon turning the ignition to the no. 2 position all of the lights
on the dash lit correctly but turning to no. 3 position the car did not
start. The battery was fine and the tank was full.

I had to call a flat bed to take my car back to London. I was told that
it might be possible for aircraft systems, radar, radio, X-ray
detectors etc could reset the security code in my key and/or the car.

Upon getting home I tried the spare key. The car started first time!

It therefore 'seems' that the code in the key was somehow deleted.

Have any of you heard about this or have any opinions as to what might
have happened? I travel a lot and am worried that this is going to
happen again.

cheers

jason

"Jason Vicinanza" wrote in message
news:2004102410231850073%jvicinanza@yahoocouk
>
> Have any of you heard about this or have any opinions as to what might
> have happened? I travel a lot and am worried that this is going to
> happen again.

The same thing happened to my E39 a couple of years ago. Car had been parked
outside my parents house overnight. Next monring, dead as a dodo. 200 miles
on a flatbed back home and the spare started it first time.

Never found out why and never done it since.

"Jason Vicinanza" > wrote
> I have a new New UK 3.0 Z4 purchased September 2004.
>
> I travel a lot and was recently parked in the long stay carpark at
> Gatwick airport in the UK for 3 days. When I returned to my car I found
> that upon turning the ignition to the no. 2 position all of the lights
> on the dash lit correctly but turning to no. 3 position the car did not
> start. The battery was fine and the tank was full.
>
> I had to call a flat bed to take my car back to London. I was told that
> it might be possible for aircraft systems, radar, radio, X-ray
> detectors etc could reset the security code in my key and/or the car.
>
> Upon getting home I tried the spare key. The car started first time!
>
> It therefore 'seems' that the code in the key was somehow deleted.

I seem to recall reading an article (in Roundel or Car & Driver) where
a driver was unable to start a new car in the middle of AZ or CA, after
getting out and looking at the view or something. Turns out the
computer didn't recognize the key any more.

One of two things is at fault: the key or the computer. It's conceivable
(but not IMO likely) for the key to lose it's RFID tag; the memory is
not terribly volatile, and it would take a lot of x-ray and/or a high
intensity magnetic field (MRI, for instance) to zap it. I suppose it's
also possible for static electricity to do it, particularly if you use
the key to discharge yourself.

My advice: keep your wallet key on you, and let your fob key go
through the x-ray machine. That eliminates the key, and isolates
the possible problems to the car's computer itself.

Floyd