This post covers the following for the RT with Keyless Ride:
The post is about the two topics above as the steps solve both issues. This is all based on what I discovered on a 2016 R1200RT.
New FOB sync: You ordered a new FOB from the dealer by proving the VIN and a copy of your ID. The FOB was then created for your bike and you have the new FOB, but you need to do an initial synchronization with your bike in order for it to work. In the envelope with the new key FOB is a set of instructions for any Keyless Ride bike, but not specific to RT/GT/GS. We are going to follow the directions that came with the new FOB, and add some steps that are specific to the RT.
The FOB has a passive RFID kind of chip in it (like the emergency key) along with the battery powered transmitter. The initial sync involves using the passive chip, so it has to be close to the Keyless Ride antenna so the chip gets enough radio wave energy to run and send its signal back. The FOB needs to get closer to the antenna to work.
The Keyless Ride antennal is behind the dash in the beak of the bike. The antenna is in different locations on the GT (I believe between the gas cap and ignition switch) and GS (I believe under the rear fender). The parts counter person told me I would need to remove the beak of the RT in order to get close enough to the Keyless Ride antenna. I first tried the “Battery of radio-operated key is drained, emergency key is not available” procedure of removing the right speaker and pushing the key up behind the dash. That did not get the FOB close enough for the passive chip to work. I also tried with the emergency key in that location to see if the placement was in range, and the emergency key didn’t work there either, hence using the following procedure for both new FOB sync as well as using the passive part of the FOB if the transmitter doesn’t work and you don’t have the emergency key:
Using your T25 driver (from under your seat):
When putting the piece back on with the pushpins, I used a little liquid silicon on the pins to allow them to go back in easier. Do not use petroleum-based lubricants since they will attack the plastic and rubber. If in doubt, don’t apply anything and just reassemble.
At this point, you should be ready to ride!
The directions with the key describe a procedure with the engine off and not pushing any buttons on the FOB, and this worked for me. There are other posts about how to get the new FOB working that involve doing the sync with the engine running and pushing the BMW button on the key FOB. These other procedures may also work, but with my FOB purchased in 2020 that costs over $330 USD, this is what worked for me.
I saw a YouTube video of doing the sync on a 2015 RT by removing the windshield and holding the new FOB against the windshield adjustment cover and using the emergency key at the same time on the dash. That procedure didn’t work for me. The emergency key did not register when placed on the outside of the front of the bike, so on my bike, I believe that placement of the key is out of range for the passive chip. On my bike, the wire for the GPS mount is long and bundled up under the mount, and I think that bundled part ends up sitting near the Keyless Ride antenna, so maybe that is blocking part of the signal from reaching the outside of the front of the bike with sufficient strength to be effective. The interesting part is in the video, I noticed the two screws are removed from the piece we remove here. Maybe the antenna is in a different position on the 2015?
Do not unscrew the GPS mount as a shortcut to get under the dash. The screws are held in place with nylon insert lock nuts, so you will probably loosen it and not be able to remove it and not be able to tighten it back up without removing the piece I removed.
- You ordered a new Keyless Ride FOB and need to do the initial sync/programing with your bike
- The battery in your FOB is dead and you do not have the emergency key
The post is about the two topics above as the steps solve both issues. This is all based on what I discovered on a 2016 R1200RT.
New FOB sync: You ordered a new FOB from the dealer by proving the VIN and a copy of your ID. The FOB was then created for your bike and you have the new FOB, but you need to do an initial synchronization with your bike in order for it to work. In the envelope with the new key FOB is a set of instructions for any Keyless Ride bike, but not specific to RT/GT/GS. We are going to follow the directions that came with the new FOB, and add some steps that are specific to the RT.
The FOB has a passive RFID kind of chip in it (like the emergency key) along with the battery powered transmitter. The initial sync involves using the passive chip, so it has to be close to the Keyless Ride antenna so the chip gets enough radio wave energy to run and send its signal back. The FOB needs to get closer to the antenna to work.
The Keyless Ride antennal is behind the dash in the beak of the bike. The antenna is in different locations on the GT (I believe between the gas cap and ignition switch) and GS (I believe under the rear fender). The parts counter person told me I would need to remove the beak of the RT in order to get close enough to the Keyless Ride antenna. I first tried the “Battery of radio-operated key is drained, emergency key is not available” procedure of removing the right speaker and pushing the key up behind the dash. That did not get the FOB close enough for the passive chip to work. I also tried with the emergency key in that location to see if the placement was in range, and the emergency key didn’t work there either, hence using the following procedure for both new FOB sync as well as using the passive part of the FOB if the transmitter doesn’t work and you don’t have the emergency key:
Using your T25 driver (from under your seat):
- Remove the windscreen
- Remove the plastic thing under the windscreen (no screws)
- Remove the two screws (#3 in the diagram) at the top of the windshield adjustment cover (part # 46637728788). In that diagram, parts 1 & 2 will come off as one piece.
- The bottom part of that piece (as in closer to the headlights) is held in by plastic pushpin things through rubber grommets - like other parts of the bike you have dealt with. Pull up on that bottom part to free the piece. The piece will include the GPS mount, so just position the piece out of the way since the GPS mount is still wired in. (see image below)
- The engine is off and the ignition is off and has been off for one or more minutes.
- Get your old FOB, cell phone, emergency key, and anything else that might transmit or interfere with things away from the bike so the old/existing FOB is out of range of the bike.
- Open the metal key part of the new FOB. Holding the metal key, position the new FOB against the Keyless Ride antenna.
- Push the ignition on button.
- The ignition should go on, and you will see the “key with question mark” light. That is OK. You do not need to start the engine.
- Turn off the ignition. You can remove the FOB from the antenna.
- Wait one or more minutes.
- Try turning on the ignition using the FOB as you normally would with the transmitter working, like in your shirt pocket, etc.
- The ignition should turn on without the “key with question mark” light and you should be ready for reassembly.
When putting the piece back on with the pushpins, I used a little liquid silicon on the pins to allow them to go back in easier. Do not use petroleum-based lubricants since they will attack the plastic and rubber. If in doubt, don’t apply anything and just reassemble.
At this point, you should be ready to ride!
The directions with the key describe a procedure with the engine off and not pushing any buttons on the FOB, and this worked for me. There are other posts about how to get the new FOB working that involve doing the sync with the engine running and pushing the BMW button on the key FOB. These other procedures may also work, but with my FOB purchased in 2020 that costs over $330 USD, this is what worked for me.
I saw a YouTube video of doing the sync on a 2015 RT by removing the windshield and holding the new FOB against the windshield adjustment cover and using the emergency key at the same time on the dash. That procedure didn’t work for me. The emergency key did not register when placed on the outside of the front of the bike, so on my bike, I believe that placement of the key is out of range for the passive chip. On my bike, the wire for the GPS mount is long and bundled up under the mount, and I think that bundled part ends up sitting near the Keyless Ride antenna, so maybe that is blocking part of the signal from reaching the outside of the front of the bike with sufficient strength to be effective. The interesting part is in the video, I noticed the two screws are removed from the piece we remove here. Maybe the antenna is in a different position on the 2015?
Do not unscrew the GPS mount as a shortcut to get under the dash. The screws are held in place with nylon insert lock nuts, so you will probably loosen it and not be able to remove it and not be able to tighten it back up without removing the piece I removed.