Key Fob Failure in Luxury Vehicles

Dead batteries in key fobs can cause problems for luxury car owners. For example, 2016 Mercedes GL450 owners can use the physical key hidden behind a release tab on the fob to unlock the vehicle. The key can be inserted into a manual lock cylinder, often located behind a cap on the driver's door handle.

Similarly, some newer BMW models, such as the 2018 3 Series, have a release mechanism that allows the blade key to be extracted and used to start the car. In some cases, the fob or blade can be inserted into a slot near the steering column to start the vehicle. If the vehicle's battery is dead, jump-starting using terminals under the hood may be necessary.

Some BMW models also allow owners to hold the fob against the steering column emblem to trigger a backup RFID signal, which can start the car even with a dead fob battery.