X5M Razor Key Retrofit

SeanWRT · 12-05-2016, 01:08 AM

Featured on BIMMERPOST.com

5 ///Ms met up at my friend's garage yesterday and my business was to upgrade my key to X5m razor one. The result is fantastic. After all these years, I finally have a key that I feel comfortable to show my friends in a party

Absolutely cannot live with the old key once you hand on this one.

All it takes is 1) a retrofit X5M key (enclosure & electronics) and 2) a good welding job. No programming required.

This one is the range topping version of X5 razor key - 4 buttons chrome finished and 3-color M on the side. For comparison, you can also see the basic version from the last picture - black plastic button, w/ or w/o M on the side.

The green chip board was taken out of the old key's enclosure and the black one out of X5M's. The 2 chips, red marked in a side by side picture, are where the drivers' profiles/settings are saved. My man did a delicate welding job to transplant my chip to new chip board.

All the functions, lock/unlock, comfort access & mirror fold remote control & physical buttons, work perfectly. I used the search button but didn't find any such kind of retrofit threads here in the forum, but my man easily did it in 15 mins.

The razor key is similar in width and length to the original key, but only thinner so it better fits into pocket. I've attached side by side pictures below, including the comparison with w/ m performance key fob.

Let me know what you think.

Joaozao · 12-05-2016, 01:27 AM

I want one!

Norcalmav23 · 12-05-2016, 01:39 AM

Yah... is your buddy interested in making more of these? Ship 1 key and get it done.

mrcheezle19 · 12-05-2016, 01:44 AM

So if i bought a key could your buddy do this for me too?

///MIKE M · 12-05-2016, 03:09 AM

I want one too!!

The bottom one is the one that I just got with my X1. It's such a better looking key compared to my M2 one.

Group buy anyone?!

gmzanatta · 12-05-2016, 07:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Norcalmav23

Yah... is your buddy interested in making more of these? Ship 1 key and get it done.

1,000,000X this!!!

M2Dynamic · 12-05-2016, 07:52 AM

I'm def in if this is possible. Where'd you buy an X5M key. I specifically really like the one you got done best.

Thanks this is pretty cool. Let us know if possible id be down for sure

omasou · 12-05-2016, 08:37 AM

If buying a new BMW key...why not just have the dealer enable it for your car?

BishUK · 12-05-2016, 09:23 AM

Yes please

gmzanatta · 12-05-2016, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by omasou

If buying a new BMW key...why not just have the dealer enable it for your car?

I think chipset compatibility is the issue. Hopefully someone with more knowledge can confirm.

BEM-S4 · 12-05-2016, 11:25 AM

I mean it's nicer and all but aren't the keys insanely expensive like north of $600? Not that it's all the money in the world but just for a different key seems like a lot of coin.

gmzanatta · 12-05-2016, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BEM-S4

I mean it's nicer and all but aren't the keys insanely expensive like north of $600? Not that it's all the money in the world but just for a different key seems like a lot of coin.

Up here in Canada I think the key itself is a bit north of $400 and then programming on top of that (not sure on cost).

But would not be surprised if it was in the $700-800 CDN range.

TucErDoc · 12-05-2016, 01:25 PM

I'd also love one if there is an easy way to make it happen

R0ME0 · 12-05-2016, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by omasou

If buying a new BMW key...why not just have the dealer enable it for your car?

I agree would like to know if this can be done as well. I'd imagine I can be as long as you get a key for them to program

M-Pilot · 12-05-2016, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeanWRT

It was done yesterday at my friend's garage, the result is fantastic. After all these years, I finally have a key that I feel comfortable to show my friends in a party

Absolutely cannot live with the original key (in a picture below for comparison purpose) when you have handed on this one.
...

Why are you not comfortable with showing the stock key to your friends? Is it embarrassing that an M car is sharing the same key as Non-M cars?

SoCalRob · 12-05-2016, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cntzl

Why are you not comfortable with showing the stock key to your friends? Is it embarrassing that an M car is sharing the same key as Non-M cars?

Honestly, I don't go around showing my ridiculously, annoyingly big key fob to anybody. Who the hell would care?

I wish BMW would make the damn things MUCH smaller - I hate carrying needlessly bulky things in my pockets.

I just wish I could start the dang car with only the detachable, mechanical key. If I could, I'd just carry that around with me. -scr

Jevi Javi · 12-05-2016, 05:45 PM

yeah. the M key case for the M2 key fob is super bulky to carry around in your pocket....

omasou · 12-05-2016, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoCalRob

Honestly, I don't go around showing my ridiculously, annoyingly big key fob to anybody. Who the hell would care?

I wish BMW would make the damn things MUCH smaller - I hate carrying needlessly bulky things in my pockets.

I just wish I could start the dang car with only the detachable, mechanical key. If I could, I'd just carry that around with me. -scr

+1

It would be cool if they made a credit card size device, like a work id, that you could carry in your wallet.

mrcheezle19 · 12-05-2016, 07:16 PM

So basically he just swapped that little black box over to the x5m control board and everything works?

rouxeny · 12-05-2016, 08:52 PM

I think you should transplant the M2 key electronics into a Ferrari key fob.

To avoid embarrassment.

TucErDoc · 12-05-2016, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by omasou

+1

It would be cool if they made a credit card size device, like a work id, that you could carry in your wallet.

I think Lexus does this CC size key

jpics80 · 12-05-2016, 09:18 PM

I need this in my life!

12-05-2016, 01:08 AM	#1
SeanWRT Colonel 3194 Rep 2,578 Posts Drives: E90 M3 & F87 M2 Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Shanghai iTrader: (1)	X5M Razor Key Retrofit Featured on BIMMERPOST.com 5 ///Ms met up at my friend's garage yesterday and my business was to upgrade my key to X5m razor one. The result is fantastic. After all these years, I finally have a key that I feel comfortable to show my friends in a party Absolutely cannot live with the old key once you hand on this one. All it takes is 1) a retrofit X5M key (enclosure & electronics) and 2) a good welding job. No programming required. This one is the range topping version of X5 razor key - 4 buttons chrome finished and 3-color M on the side. For comparison, you can also see the basic version from the last picture - black plastic button, w/ or w/o M on the side. The green chip board was taken out of the old key's enclosure and the black one out of X5M's. The 2 chips, red marked in a side by side picture, are where the drivers' profiles/settings are saved. My man did a delicate welding job to transplant my chip to new chip board. All the functions, lock/unlock, comfort access & mirror fold remote control & physical buttons, work perfectly. I used the search button but didn't find any such kind of retrofit threads here in the forum, but my man easily did it in 15 mins. The razor key is similar in width and length to the original key, but only thinner so it better fits into pocket. I've attached side by side pictures below, including the comparison with w/ m performance key fob. Let me know what you think. Attached Images __________________ Lemania 2320 Last edited by SeanWRT; 12-09-2016 at 04:12 AM..
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12-05-2016, 01:27 AM	#2
Joaozao Private First Class 190 Rep 154 Posts Drives: 2017 M2 Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: New Jersey iTrader: (0)	I want one!
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12-05-2016, 01:39 AM	#3
Norcalmav23 Second Lieutenant 292 Rep 254 Posts Drives: AW DCT M2 Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Knoxville, TN iTrader: (0)	Yah... is your buddy interested in making more of these? Ship 1 key and get it done.
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12-05-2016, 01:44 AM	#4
mrcheezle19 Lieutenant 381 Rep 508 Posts Drives: 21 M2C 6MT Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: lake elsinore iTrader: (0)	So if i bought a key could your buddy do this for me too? __________________ Present: 21 M2C 6MT/Ford something Past: M2 Mineral Grey 6MT Past: BMW e30 m52 turbo 628whp/558wtq
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12-05-2016, 03:09 AM	#5
///MIKE M First Lieutenant 207 Rep 343 Posts Drives: 2016 LBB M2 Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: NJ iTrader: (0)	I want one too!! The bottom one is the one that I just got with my X1. It's such a better looking key compared to my M2 one. Group buy anyone?!
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12-05-2016, 07:52 AM	#7
M2Dynamic Second Lieutenant 184 Rep 214 Posts Drives: ///M2 Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: North Jersey iTrader: (0)	I'm def in if this is possible. Where'd you buy an X5M key. I specifically really like the one you got done best. Thanks this is pretty cool. Let us know if possible id be down for sure
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12-05-2016, 08:37 AM	#8
omasou Brigadier General 2121 Rep 3,025 Posts Drives: BMWs Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: US iTrader: (4) Garage List 2023 BMW S1000RR [0.50] 2022 BMW F900XR [3.00] 2022 BMW X6 40i [0.50] 2020 BMW M2C [9.50]	If buying a new BMW key...why not just have the dealer enable it for your car?
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12-05-2016, 09:23 AM	#9
BishUK Lieutenant 441 Rep 492 Posts Drives: M2 DCT LBB Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	Yes please
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12-05-2016, 11:25 AM	#11
BEM-S4 Major General 4529 Rep 8,942 Posts Drives: Dinan M235, Dinan Sport Wagon Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Philadelphia iTrader: (5)	I mean it's nicer and all but aren't the keys insanely expensive like north of $600? Not that it's all the money in the world but just for a different key seems like a lot of coin. __________________ 2022 Macan S 2016 F31 328i xDrive Sport Wagon 2006 E46 330ci ZHP Convertible
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12-05-2016, 01:25 PM	#13
TucErDoc Second Lieutenant 74 Rep 287 Posts Drives: x5 ans m2 Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Tucson, AZ iTrader: (0)	I'd also love one if there is an easy way to make it happen
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12-05-2016, 05:45 PM	#17
Jevi Javi Second Lieutenant 80 Rep 270 Posts Drives: e46 M3 + G05 X5 Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Santo Domingo iTrader: (0)	yeah. the M key case for the M2 key fob is super bulky to carry around in your pocket.... __________________
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12-05-2016, 07:16 PM	#19
mrcheezle19 Lieutenant 381 Rep 508 Posts Drives: 21 M2C 6MT Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: lake elsinore iTrader: (0)	So basically he just swapped that little black box over to the x5m control board and everything works? __________________ Present: 21 M2C 6MT/Ford something Past: M2 Mineral Grey 6MT Past: BMW e30 m52 turbo 628whp/558wtq
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12-05-2016, 08:52 PM	#20
rouxeny Living the aloha 242 Rep 449 Posts Drives: 2017 LBB M2 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Maui iTrader: (0)	I think you should transplant the M2 key electronics into a Ferrari key fob. To avoid embarrassment.
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12-05-2016, 09:18 PM	#22
jpics80 First Lieutenant 232 Rep 315 Posts Drives: 2017 M3 - Alpine White Join Date: May 2016 Location: Nashua, NH iTrader: (0)	I need this in my life!
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