bmw 325ci bypass issues

about a week ago i installed a prestige aps997c remote start alarm combo on a 2002 bmw 325ci. the only issue i have is that i cant get a bypass that works. i cant find a data bypass from anyone that i know of (flashlogic, idatalink, fortin, etc) so i am having to use the old key in a box. so far ive tried an old DEI 556U and an omega universal bypass. i am using the valet key for the bypass.

ive done one of these cars before and i did it the same way with no issues at all.

ive positioned the ring around the key cylinder a million different ways and even took the immobilizer ring off and tried to fit the loop between the factory ring and key cylinder. took the insulation off from the bypass ring so it could get as close to the sensor as possible. i get nothing every time.

ive made sure there is nothing wrong with the remote starter by testing it with the key held close to the key cylinder and it starts right up every time with no issues or trouble codes.

its not a key sense problem because it starts without having the key physically in the ignition.

can anyone possibly help me out with this issue? any tricks to fitting the ring in a sure spot so it will work or just point me towards a bypass that will work. even if there is a way i can manually bypass this system i am 100% capable of following instructions.

thanks in advance to anyone who can help me sort this out.

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maybe acquire the ring antenna from BMW, and a spdt relay.
BMW uses the transponder key being received by the vehicle as key sense.
mark

do you think i might be able to physically splice the wire from the bypass' ring onto the two wires that come from the factory ring?

wrap the key tight inside a ring and then solder the other end to the factory wires through a relay?

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yes, done quite a few BMW's. you should be able to find some small terminals with wires on them that will fit the terminals on the ring antenna. cable ties can be used to secure the key to the ring antenna.

cool. ill try it the next time i have the car. until then if anyone has anything else to add im all ears

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Using the compustar "computran" is way better then a 556u on European cars. I had a 555B mess up on a customer's car. Ever since then the i tried the compustar version and it is better. I use the 556u on other cars that arent European. There is also a method that you would run a wire in series in one of the 2 wires that wrap around the cylinder and the other wire tags and works with the 556u. The 555B was that way but it failed after a year.

556UB never failed.
Use grey valet key instead of regular.
Wire as European, see instructions and don't use the loop.
Wire violet ACC as second ignition.
Tach is thin black pin 9 on OBD II socket adjacent to driver puddle lamp.
No I'm stropping here but I could probably give you the whole car from memory.

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Amateurs assume, don't test and have problems; pros test first. I am not a free install service.
Read the installation manual, do a search here or online for your vehicle wiring before posting.

howie ll wrote:

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556UB never failed.
Use grey valet key instead of regular.
Wire as European, see instructions and don't use the loop.
Wire violet ACC as second ignition.
Tach is thin black pin 9 on OBD II socket adjacent to driver puddle lamp.
No I'm stropping here but I could probably give you the whole car from memory.

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thanks dude, would it be possible to post the instructions because i dont have access to directechs any more. i used the ring last time i did one of these and it worked fine but i guess i got lucky

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It's 9:00pm here, I'm watching an old Hendrix recording, I'll post the full info early hours your time.

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Amateurs assume, don't test and have problems; pros test first. I am not a free install service.
Read the installation manual, do a search here or online for your vehicle wiring before posting.

Naturally I got blocked on Directechs this morning, I've changed no details in 5 years so why?
I await their email explaining this.....
Anyway ready remote do an install sheet which is free to the public and since they are part of DEI......
Look at it and then note the following:-
They have all the ignition wires correct but remember the vehicle ACC wire, violet must be connected as a second ignition because it takes part in the ignition process.
Lock and unlock are the wrong way round lock is WHITE/ black, also extend the lock pulse to close windows and roof.
Driver kick panel and under dash area gives you the following:-
Lock and unlock, D/K/Panel loom from door to main vertical loom
Ignition and start wiring, lights, tach at OBDII pin 9 black, brake light and door triggers at the puddle lamp, much quicker than taking out the glove box.
Right hand floor loom, level with rear of front passenger seat (less wiring at this point, much easier to find), trunk trigger and trunk release.
Please note the trunk release is pos, if your trunk release is a neg, you will need a relay and a 5 amp fuse.
Under hood, siren and connect to hood switch.
Trunk area you have a RED / yellow each side feeding the trunk "dome" lights.
Because of occasional spikes when you arm you need to diode both sides with a 1N4004 in line, band towards light fitting.
Ref By-pass; yes to only using Valet key, yes also to what Enice mentioned about the Compustar unit, Enice is usually spot on, we don't get Compustar product in the UK so I'll take his word for it, everyone else I speak to seems to like it.

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Amateurs assume, don't test and have problems; pros test first. I am not a free install service.
Read the installation manual, do a search here or online for your vehicle wiring before posting.

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took a picture of what i made this morning. does anyone think this will work? i will run this through a relay and im not sure if i should wire it in series or parallel to the two wires from the factory ring.

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i have never had luck wrapping only the bottle end of the key shaft. I tend to wrap the entire key head, then cover it with electrical tape.

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Ted
2nd Year Tier 1 Medical School
Still installing as a hobby...pays for groceries
Compustar Expert

An example....

2003 Volkwagen Jetta.

-556U ring alone was not recognized by the car.

-Computran ring worked after a few good wraps.

If you look at the instruction manual of the 556u you will see a page that mentions a method "for european cars" and shows cutting an immnolizer wire and running it in series with the 556 module. That method works perfect.


The Lone issue I had was with a 555B. We installed it the same way with module in series and it worked. Almost a year later the customer stated that she was having problems turning on the car with her key. With the remote start it worked perfect. After testing it we figured out that the relay was getting stuck inside the module and tried a 556U and it worked. It could of been just 1 module that had an issue but I prefer the "Computar better.

tedmond wrote:

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i have never had luck wrapping only the bottle end of the key shaft. I tend to wrap the entire key head, then cover it with electrical tape.

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i should have taken a picture of the back of the key, the wrap mostly covers the spot where the chip is made into the key. i plan to tape it up, i just have it like that so i could get a good picture of what i did. i should be able to install it Wednesday. as for the instructions on the 556u, i dont have any. this was a 556 that we took off of one of our own cars. it worked just fine when it was taken out but maybe it got damaged somehow while it was in the box we keep spare alarm parts in.

ill wire it in series and see what happens. thanks everybody for your help.

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Eric, and I'm sure Tedmund will confirm this, I ONLY specify 556U for Euro cars only without access to later CAN/data based systems.
I always recommend installing it without the loop following the European method.
I also tried the 555F and found it seriously wanting.
Why has sound security gone off the tracks wrapping that key, it's an awfully shoddy method compared to a 556 or the Comp. equivalent.

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Amateurs assume, don't test and have problems; pros test first. I am not a free install service.
Read the installation manual, do a search here or online for your vehicle wiring before posting.

by far, the 556u and the compustar CompuTrans work best.
the euro method (tapping right into the immobilizer wires) is the only way to get it working everytime. the ring placement is a pita to do.

and Howie is correct(i agree), the 556U is your best bet. i second that

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Ted
2nd Year Tier 1 Medical School
Still installing as a hobby...pays for groceries
Compustar Expert

just an update, my hand hand bypass worked like a champ. wired the two wires in series with the factory wires and installed a relay to separate them and activated it with the status output and it starts perfectly now. thanks for everyones guidance on this issue.

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