How to find key dropped in snow near car?

[iamsen]

I got up on the roof of my garage to clear some snow, about a metre's worth piled up. I must have dropped my key then so it's now in the snow somewhere surrounding my garage or maybe still on top of it.

Any good ways to find it?

[Bc2005]

Do you have it attached to a key ring that includes your house key or something else that is metal? If so, there may be enough metal so that a magnet will pick it up.

It’s still a really tedious job to troll the magnet back and forth, but if you use something like the magnet from an old disk drive (very strong) and tape it on a stick so you get some reach, it will easily pick up a ring of keys.

[Phillies8008]

Unless the magnet trick works, I think you're going to have to start digging. I wouldn't wait too long -- I can't imagine the moisture from the snow is good for a key fob (assuming you have one).

Or I suppose you could wait for the snow to melt, so long as you have a spare key.

[Janjohn]

Originally Posted by iamsen

I got up on the roof of my garage to clear some snow, about a metre's worth piled up. I must have dropped my key then so it's now in the snow somewhere surrounding my garage or maybe still on top of it.

Any good ways to find it?

Do you have the digital car key on your phone? If so that would be the way to get in the car and move it. I’d find a neighbor with a snowblower or even a leaf blower. ASAP.

[afadeev]

Originally Posted by iamsen

I got up on the roof of my garage to clear some snow, about a metre's worth piled up. I must have dropped my key then so it's now in the snow somewhere surrounding my garage or maybe still on top of it.

Any good ways to find it?

Not really.
If you still have a 2nd key, I would grab that one with an expectation that you will find the first key when the snow melts.

Otherwise, maybe hire local kids to help you dig?

Originally Posted by Janjohn

I’d find a neighbor with a snowblower or even a leaf blower.

Leaf blower is worthless for anything other than 1-2" of fresh powder.
Snowblower will just catapult the key further away without you ever realizing you drove over it.


Good luck,
a

P.S.: For my kids car, I've added Apple AirTags to all the keys. This way I can locate them when they (inevitably) get misplaced.

[MassWholeBimmer]

Buy a cheap metal detector.. then u have a new hobby in the spring..

[Zig613]

Originally Posted by afadeev

P.S.: For my kids car, I've added Apple AirTags to all the keys. This way I can locate them when they (inevitably) get misplaced.

I have added Apple AirTags to the key fobs of both my vehicles after losing a fob and having to incur a $400 replacement cost. A cheap insurance policy.

Unfortunately I don’t have any new suggestions to the OP on how to retrieve his key. Good luck.

[Portimao Blue M440ix]

A big magnetic the roofers use to pick up nails if you have metal on the fob.

[Mech Spec]

Heat gun and melt the snow

For best effect use one of those propane tank mounted heater units.

[Phillies8008]

Originally Posted by Mech Spec

Heat gun and melt the snow

For best effect use one of those propane tank mounted heater units.

Just be careful not to melt the fob along with the snow, lol.

[Windshieldfarmer]

Originally Posted by Mech Spec

Heat gun and melt the snow

For best effect use one of those propane tank mounted heater units.

This is a great idea….not sure how well the FOB will do with moisture however…

[thebmw]

These ideas are getting a lot of "heat". They're "melting" my brain. They are "blowing" me away. I'm "detecting" some more suggestions. I know I've used a lot of "tags" in this reply, but keep these entertaining ideas coming.

[zx10guy]

I can tell you depending on what your ambient temp is and how much snow you're talking about, using a heat gun will be an exercise in futility. I tried using a heat gun on a block of ice on top of my windshield wipers on the lower part of the front windshield and also over the back part of the engine hood. The ambient air temp when I used the heat gun was about 27F. Yes, the heat gun was melting some of the ice/snow but at a very slow rate. I ended up filling up a pot with hot water multiple times to pour over that area. The amount of time I wasted with the heat gun was the same amount I used with the hot water which cleared out the ice/snow on my car.

As to the comment about using a snow blower, beyond possibly having the keys thrown with the snow, it's just asking for potential damage to the key fob. The auger might crush the key fob and if the snow blower you're using is a two stage, the internal impeller is going to do a number on it.

[M-technik-3]

Originally Posted by iamsen

I got up on the roof of my garage to clear some snow, about a metre's worth piled up. I must have dropped my key then so it's now in the snow somewhere surrounding my garage or maybe still on top of it.

Any good ways to find it?

You must live near Aomori region. I was stationed at Misawa Kichi. Boy did we get snow when I was there, skiing and snow boarding was awesome. I'd say order a new key.

[iamsen]

You guys have confirmed my thoughts. I’ll wait for spring and hope the fob lasts. I think it’s in the vicinity of my car though because the car didn’t auto lock itself.

If I’m lucky then it’s still somewhere on the roof.

[iamsen]

Originally Posted by M-technik-3

You must live near Aomori region. I was stationed at Misawa Kichi. Boy did we get snow when I was there, skiing and snow boarding was awesome. I'd say order a new key.

I’m in Nagano actually. We got a good dusting of snow last week on top of the snow from the previous month. Decided to clear the snow before it freezes. Didn’t realise my pockets weren’t zipped 😞

[Jolbex]

Get a police dog

[freakystyly]

A leaf rake if the snow isn't hard packed?

[RockCrusher]

Originally Posted by iamsen

You guys have confirmed my thoughts. I’ll wait for spring and hope the fob lasts. I think it’s in the vicinity of my car though because the car didn’t auto lock itself.

If I’m lucky then it’s still somewhere on the roof.

If the lost key is close to the car that the car doesn't auto lock that presents a problem. The key keeps the car's electronics (comfort access) active and this will run the car's battery down.

If you can't park the car in a different location far enough away from the lost key that the key is out of range of the car's electronics I think you should go to the trouble to find the key.

The metal detector idea has some merit. But before you buy be sure the detector can detect the other key.

[Jolbex]

Id say key goes into sleep mode rather quckly if not moved

[Westside Guy]

Originally Posted by afadeev

P.S.: For my kids car, I've added Apple AirTags to all the keys. This way I can locate them when they (inevitably) get misplaced.

Originally Posted by Zig613

I have added Apple AirTags to the key fobs of both my vehicles after losing a fob and having to incur a $400 replacement cost. A cheap insurance policy.

Hindsight is the best sight and I totally agree that the AirTags are the best solution for the OP going forward.

By the way, does anyone know if there is an aftermarket product for the 4 button curved BMW key fob that has an Airtag slot instead of having to attach an AirTag and it's holder to the fob and having to deal with two objects when you place them in your pants pocket? I am looking for an integrated solution.

[iamsen]

Originally Posted by RockCrusher

If the lost key is close to the car that the car doesn't auto lock that presents a problem. The key keeps the car's electronics (comfort access) active and this will run the car's battery down.

If you can't park the car in a different location far enough away from the lost key that the key is out of range of the car's electronics I think you should go to the trouble to find the key.

The metal detector idea has some merit. But before you buy be sure the detector can detect the other key.

Based on previous experience, when the key fob is outside of the car and unmoving for about half an hour-ish, the doors aren’t open and no one is sitting on the seat, everything shuts down and the car locks itself.

Walking around the car with the fob in my pocket causes some clicking sounds in the car, I assume it’s the car detecting the fob, attempting to unlock itself then realising that I’ve disabled that option and not doing anything.

I did considering asking the wife to listen for it while I tried to shift the snow around, but it’s too much and too heavy.