2017 BMW 5 Series Key Replacement

The 2017–2023 5 Series uses the same key setup, so everything on this page applies to those years too. The full picture is on the BMW 5 Series key guide.

2017 BMW 5 Series: key facts

Key type: Smart / proximity key
Push-to-start: Yes
Transponder chip: ID49 (PCF7953P, Hitag Pro)
Programming: OBD
All keys lost: Requires dealer involvement

G-chassis BDC2 car: add-a-key is possible for specialists with a working key (Autel BDC02 licenses; Xhorse's BDC2 bench adapter explicitly cannot do all-keys-lost). True all-keys-lost is dealer territory on these cars — the one advertised aftermarket AKL route (Yanhua ACDP) carries the vendor's own warning that it locks the BDC2 against future dealer keys, so we do not offer it.

What kind of key does a 2017 BMW 5 Series use?

The 2017 5 Series is a smart-key car. The fob stays in your pocket, the car senses it, and you start the engine with the push-button. There is no ignition cylinder to turn. The chip inside the fob belongs to the ID49 family (PCF7953P, Hitag Pro), which is what the car checks before it will start.

Every fob also carries a mechanical backup key. It is a small blade that slides out of the fob, and it exists for the day the fob goes dead or the car loses power. It opens the door, but it will not start the engine on its own.

The most common complaint on this setup is a dead coin cell in the fob, which shows up as a 'key not detected' warning. That is a battery problem, not a lost-key problem, and it is cheap to rule out before anyone talks about replacing a fob. Cars equipped with BMW Digital Key (phone or card) can also give enrollment trouble, which is a separate issue from the physical fob.

Spare fob or all keys lost: what is actually possible?

This is the question that decides everything on a 2017 5 Series, so here is the plain answer. It is a G-chassis car with a BDC2 body control module. Duplicating a key requires an original, working key to be present. With that key in hand, a specialist can add a new fob through the OBD port, and we do that work.

All keys lost is a different situation. On these cars, true all-keys-lost is dealer territory. There is one aftermarket tool route advertised for it, but the vendor's own warning says it locks the BDC2 module against future dealer keys. We do not offer it, because fixing today's problem by creating a bigger one later is not a trade we will make with your car. The bench adapter some shops use for BDC2 work explicitly cannot do all-keys-lost either.

One working key: add-a-key by OBD programming is possible.
No working key: the dealer route is the correct one for this car.
Fob works but the battery is weak: replace the coin cell first.

What affects the cost of a 2017 5 Series key?

We do not quote numbers on a web page because the real figure depends on your car and your situation. These are the things that move it:

Whether you have a working key. Adding a spare to an existing key is a very different job from a car with no keys.
Whether the problem is the fob or just its battery.
The fob itself. A smart fob is a real piece of hardware, and the right one for your VIN has to be sourced.
Whether we come to you in a mobile van or you come to the storefront.
Whether Digital Key enrollment is part of the request.
Lost-fob replacement on these cars is expensive and usually involves the dealer, which is why a spare made while you still have a key is the more economical route.

Locked out or need a locksmith now?

We answer around the clock, every day of the year.

Call (213) 577-1366

What we confirm by VIN before we promise anything

Not everything about every 2017 5 Series is the same from the window sticker alone. Our data confirms the chip family and the OBD programming method, but it does not settle whether any extra manufacturer-side access step applies to a particular car. We treat that as unverified and confirm it by VIN, in person, before we commit to the job.

The same goes for Digital Key. If your car has phone or card enrollment, we look at what is installed and tell you honestly whether we can help or whether it belongs at the dealer. If a job turns out to be outside what we do, we say so up front rather than after you have waited.

Why call Wilshire Lock & Key

We have been in business since 1987, with a storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd in Westwood and mobile service vans. When you call (213) 577-1366, which is answered around the clock, you reach our company, not a dispatch middleman, and David oversees the technical side of the work.

California requires locksmith companies to hold a BSIS LCO license, and you should ask any locksmith for it before they start. For more on the make, see our BMW key page, the broader 5 Series overview, or the full car keys section. If you would rather write first, use the contact page.

Frequently asked questions

Can you make a 2017 BMW 5 Series key if I lost all of them?

No. On this G-chassis BDC2 car, true all-keys-lost is dealer territory. The one aftermarket route advertised for it carries the vendor's own warning that it locks the module against future dealer keys, so we do not offer it.

Can you copy my existing 2017 5 Series fob?

Yes, if the original key is present and working. We add the new fob through the OBD port. The original key is required for duplication on this setup.

My car says 'key not detected.' Do I need a new key?

Usually not at first. A dead coin cell in the fob is the common cause. Replace the battery and see if the warning clears, then call us if it does not.

Does the fob have a hidden physical key?

Yes. There is a mechanical backup key inside the fob. It can open the door if the fob battery dies, but starting the car still depends on the fob being recognized.

What chip does the 2017 5 Series key use?

The data we work from lists the ID49 family (PCF7953P, Hitag Pro). We still confirm the exact fob for your car by VIN before ordering anything.

Can you help with BMW Digital Key on my phone?

Enrollment problems with Digital Key do happen on equipped cars. We look at your car in person to see what is installed, and we tell you plainly if it needs the dealer.

We cover all these cities

Reviewed by David, Owner & Lead Technician, Wilshire Lock & Key — in the locksmith trade since 1987.

Last updated 2026-10-11.