BMW CE 04, CE 02 and C evolution Key Replacement

Quick answerBMW's electric two-wheelers still depend on a recognized key before they will move. The CE 04 and CE 02 are keyless: each is supplied with one radio-operated key and one spare key. The earlier C evolution has a conventional ignition and steering lock with two vehicle keys. All three have BMW's EWS electronic immobilizer.

BMW CE 04, CE 02 and C evolution key quick facts

BMW's 2023 US rider's manual for the CE 04 says you are provided with one radio-operated key and one spare key.
On the CE 04, standby mode and the anti-theft alarm are activated with the radio-operated key, while the storage compartment locks and topcase are operated manually.
With a dead fob battery, the CE 04 is started by holding the fob or spare key against the cover between the storage compartment flap and the charging compartment flap, at the height of the antenna.
The CE 02 manual lists one radio-operated key and one spare key, held against the cover in the recess underneath the rider's seat if the fob is flat.
The C evolution rider's manual says you receive 2 vehicle keys for its keyed ignition switch and steering lock, and has an electronic immobilizer section.

BMW CE 04, CE 02 and C evolution key types by year

Years	Models	Key type	Chip	Notes
From 2022	CE 04	Keyless Ride radio fob plus spare key	yes	Steering lock engages from the button with the bars turned left.
From 2024	CE 02	radio-operated key plus spare key	yes	Readiness switches off after about 1.5 minutes if the fob is out of range.
About 2014-2020	C evolution	transponder key (EWS), keyed ignition	yes	Two vehicle keys. A topcase can be fitted with a lock for the same key.

CE 04: no key slot, but still a key

The CE 04 wakes up from a button once its radio-operated key is within about 3 feet. BMW calls the powered-up state standby mode, and the manual notes that if the fob goes out of range, for instance left in a side bag or topcase, the scooter cannot be started and standby switches off after about a minute and a half.

The side-loading helmet compartment and the small phone compartment open from buttons while standby is on, so they are tied to the fob too. BMW describes an emergency release for the helmet compartment that involves removing a side panel, which tells you how firmly it stays shut when the scooter has no key. The topcase and the storage compartment locks are worked by hand with the key blade.

Need a key for your CE 04?

Call or text with the year and where the bike is parked.

Call (619) 775-1858 Text your year, make and model

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Dead fob battery: where to hold it

Each of BMW's keyless electrics hides its antenna in a different spot, and the general Keyless Ride advice you find online usually describes a motorcycle.

CE 04: hold the spare key or the empty fob against the cover between the storage compartment flap and the charging compartment flap, level with the antenna
CE 02: hold it against the cover in the recess underneath the rider's seat, at the aerial
CE 02 fob check: press the fob button and its LED shows green for normal, orange for low and red for critical battery voltage
Either model: if the fob is lost on a journey, the spare key starts the vehicle, so carry it separately

C evolution: the keyed one

The C evolution, BMW's first electric maxi scooter, works like the petrol C 650 models it resembles. You get two vehicle keys, the key goes into an ignition switch and steering lock, and turning it brings up operational readiness. Its manual has an electronic immobilizer section, so the key carries a transponder and a cut-only copy will not make the scooter go. BMW also offered a topcase lock matched to the same key.

If your C evolution is down to one key, adding a second while the first still works is far simpler than starting from nothing.

Lost keys and a high-voltage scooter

Nothing about key work touches the drive battery, but the scooter does need its on-board electronics awake for a key to be recognized and tested. If the vehicle has been sitting for months, tell us, because a scooter that will not power up at all can look like a key fault when it is not one.

BMW's manuals for all three say replacement keys are available only through an authorized dealer, who must check the legitimacy of the request, and that a lost key can be disabled if you bring the remaining keys. For the keyed C evolution we cut and match a transponder key at the scooter where the model allows. The CE 04 and CE 02 are recent keyless platforms, so call with the model and year and we will tell you honestly whether fob programming is something we can do on site or whether the dealer is your route. Either way, have photo ID and the registration or title ready.

Where to find the key code

BMW's manuals for the CE 04, CE 02 and C evolution do not describe a key code tag. Keys are handled against the VIN with proof of ownership.

What to have ready

Have this ready when you call or text

Year, make and model of the bike
Where the bike is parked
Whether you have any working key, a broken key or a key code
Photo ID and registration or title (we verify ownership before making a key)

BMW CE 04, CE 02 and C evolution key FAQ

Does the BMW CE 04 come with a physical key?

Yes, two. It is supplied with one radio-operated key, which has a fold-out blade, and one spare key. The blade is used for the storage compartment locks and a topcase.

My CE 04 says the key is not in range but it is in my pocket. What should I try?

Replace the fob battery first, and keep the fob apart from any second BMW key, which the manual says can confuse the electronics. If the display still cannot find it, hold the fob or the spare key against the cover between the storage compartment flap and the charging flap as the manual describes.

Is the C evolution key a chip key?

Yes. The C evolution has a keyed ignition with BMW's electronic immobilizer, so a new key has to be recognized by the scooter as well as cut.

Can the CE 02 be started without the fob?

With the spare key, yes. BMW's manual says to hold the spare key against the cover in the recess underneath the rider's seat, where the aerial is.

The immobilizer system on this bike

BMW Keyless Ride: Lost Fob, Flat Battery and Emergency KeyKeyless Ride replaces the ignition lock on many BMW motorcycles with a button and a radio-operated key that only has to be within about 3 feet of the bike.
BMW Motorcycle EWS Immobilizer: Keys and the EWS WarningEWS is BMW Motorrad's electronic immobilizer.

More BMW models

Services for this bike

Electric Motorcycle Keys: Zero, LiveWire and EnergicaElectric motorcycles still have keys, and they are tied to the bike's electronics more closely than on most gas bikes.
Scooter Key Replacement: Shutters, Seat Locks and ChipsYes, a key can be made for almost any scooter, and on most 50cc to 150cc models it is a plain metal key with no chip.
Motorcycle Key Fob Battery Replacement by MakeMost motorcycle key fobs run on a single 3 volt coin cell.
Lost Your Motorcycle Key on a Ride, Far From HomeIf the key goes missing at a stop far from home, secure the bike where it stands, retrace the stop, and then gather the details a locksmith or dealer will need: your photo ID, registration, VIN, year, make and model, and any key number.

Where we come to you

Sources

Page last updated November 14, 2026.