Smart Key Battery
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
From: Kentucky
'11 GL 450
Smart Key Battery
Ok so I had my 7 series for 8 years. Owned a load of other cars and never changed a battery in a key fob. My 2011 GL has 1300 miles and pressed into service in June. Telling me it needs a new battery for the key?
I've owned it 3 days.
I've owned it 3 days.
Super Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 711
Likes: 11
From: NW corner of CONUS
2008 GL 320 CDI, 2004 VW V10 Touareg TDI
Talk to the dealer and ask him if he is embarrassed that this happened. He should certainly replace battery (or determine what the problem REALLY is) under warranty.
BTW - I just had to replace the batteries in both mine and my wife's keys (4 yrs). Message went away. Jeweler who replaced battery measured mine and said it checked good on his meter - but is was low enough to cause the car to think it not was OK.
BTW - I just had to replace the batteries in both mine and my wife's keys (4 yrs). Message went away. Jeweler who replaced battery measured mine and said it checked good on his meter - but is was low enough to cause the car to think it not was OK.
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 435
Likes: 0
From: FRESNO CA
GL550
Talk to the dealer and ask him if he is embarrassed that this happened. He should certainly replace battery (or determine what the problem REALLY is) under warranty.
BTW - I just had to replace the batteries in both mine and my wife's keys (4 yrs). Message went away. Jeweler who replaced battery measured mine and said it checked good on his meter - but is was low enough to cause the car to think it not was OK.
BTW - I just had to replace the batteries in both mine and my wife's keys (4 yrs). Message went away. Jeweler who replaced battery measured mine and said it checked good on his meter - but is was low enough to cause the car to think it not was OK.
Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 210
Likes: 13
From: Louisville, KY
2014 Black SLK 55 AMG, Black 2015 GL 550, 2011 Blue GLK 350
Here is how to replace the key fob battery. Stealership will charge $25-30 for this service that takes 30 seconds as the previous poster says. You can buy a two pack of these batteries for less than $10. I have a 2011 GL 350 and my wife has a 2010 E350. Both key fobs died at about 12 months.
I had an issue earlier that the dealer left the key fob in the cupholder while they worked on the GL for 3 days trying to find an exhaust rattle and the key said the battery needed to be replaced. I didn't replace it and the message went away. I think because it was left in the GL for that amount of time that it kept talking to the GL and maybe caused a drain on the battery. After taking it out of the car at home, the message went away. But as I said at one year, I got the message, so I changed the batteries in both fobs.
Here is a link to a youtube video on how to change the battery. Check it out.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NF3nAYV302w
I had an issue earlier that the dealer left the key fob in the cupholder while they worked on the GL for 3 days trying to find an exhaust rattle and the key said the battery needed to be replaced. I didn't replace it and the message went away. I think because it was left in the GL for that amount of time that it kept talking to the GL and maybe caused a drain on the battery. After taking it out of the car at home, the message went away. But as I said at one year, I got the message, so I changed the batteries in both fobs.
Here is a link to a youtube video on how to change the battery. Check it out.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NF3nAYV302w
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 54
Likes: 0
From: Northern BC, Canada
2006 Purple Mini cooper S conv, RRS 2008 gone, 2011 GL350 Palladium Silver!!!
My GL350 is only at 12000kms and up came the battery message, called the dealership and he sent me 2 new batteries. My sister had hers replaced by the dealership after 4yrs at a cost of 39bucks.....to my surprise when my batteries came I noticed that they are the ones identical to what you can get for cheap down at walmart or where ever....mentioned that to my sister and a chuckle at how she got ripped off.
tks for the youtube, going to replace my warranty ones today
!!
tks for the youtube, going to replace my warranty ones today
!!
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Newbie
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
2009 Mercedes GL 320 Bluetec
I have had many issues with the key fobs in my new 2011 E350. I purchased the vehicle in September and have replaced the key batteries in BOTH keys a total now of 5 times in less than five months. Have been given a number of stories/explainations/theories from dealership. Any thoughts? I have never had this issue before with my GL, E320, C300 nor any of the multitude of other keyless cars we had.
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Member
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 247
Likes: 13
From: USA
2016 GLC and 2017 BMW 530xi M-Sport
Same issue on our 2011 GL350 that we purchased in Aug. I have replaced the batteries twice in both smartkeys.
I have had many issues with the key fobs in my new 2011 E350. I purchased the vehicle in September and have replaced the key batteries in BOTH keys a total now of 5 times in less than five months. Have been given a number of stories/explainations/theories from dealership. Any thoughts? I have never had this issue before with my GL, E320, C300 nor any of the multitude of other keyless cars we had.
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 61
Likes: 0
From: Canada
GLK350, GL320CDI
Only one key needed new battery.
Our old GL batteries lasted much longer more than a year or two.
I remember from past to never leave keys in the garage or in the car.
Car keys should always be far away when car not in use.
I left my car keys in the garage by mistake 2 meters away from the car and this was the key that needed new batteries.
Got it done for free by our dealer.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,850
Likes: 56
From: New York
2025 Range Rover, 2022 BMW M850 , 2017 MB E400 Coupe
I change batteries on my E class keys every year ( once a year ). Dealer charges for that $10. I'm just too lazy to do it myself. My GL still has original batteries, but 1 year coming in March..will see , may be GL will have more luck 
)
)
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 60
Likes: 0
2005 E320 CDI, 2007 GL 450
Wow, amazing that these keys would need batteries after such a short period of time. I replaced both the keys to my GL when I bought it used due to one key showing as needing a new one and have never replaced the keys to the E. My VW is going on 10 years with the original batteries. I might just have to replace the battery in my E key just for good measure.
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 252
Likes: 1
I got the message on our 2011 GL exactly at 12 months for both keys. I have not had the opportunity to change it yet -- it's been 5 weeks so far. I wonder if the message comes on after 12 months. Seems strange that both keys required battery replacement after 12 months.
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 362
Likes: 0
From: Minnesota
2008 GL 320 CDI Black/Black
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 252
Likes: 1
Yes, great point. It must be the keyless go. I wonder if there's a 12 month timer on the battery warning if you have keyless go. It's not possible that both keys would require battery changes at the same time. 1 key was used 90%.
Keys are located about 20 feet from the car. I wonder if it's too close and draining the battery.
Keys are located about 20 feet from the car. I wonder if it's too close and draining the battery.
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 18,414
Likes: 6
From: West Michigan
2007 E63
Yes, great point. It must be the keyless go. I wonder if there's a 12 month timer on the battery warning if you have keyless go. It's not possible that both keys would require battery changes at the same time. 1 key was used 90%.
Keys are located about 20 feet from the car. I wonder if it's too close and draining the battery.
Keys are located about 20 feet from the car. I wonder if it's too close and draining the battery.
