Can You Drive BMW Without Key Fob?

You won’t be able to use keyless entry or remote unlocking if your BMW has Comfort Access if the battery in your key fob has died. You can still enter and manually start your automobile, though.

Press and hold the key release button at the remote fob’s base while unlocking the door of your car, then slide out the internal key blade. This can be used in place of a standard key to unlock your car. You can locate a little hole on the bottom of the handle if the keyhole is hidden on your car door. Use the key blade to pry off the trim panel and expose the keyhole by inserting it into the hole.

Once you’re inside, put your remote key fob in the ignition slot or, if your car doesn’t have one, press it up against the steering column’s key markings. If your key fob dies, you will still be able to start your BMW using the start/stop button on the dashboard.

Even if your E90 doesn’t have comfort access, there is a way to start the engine and start driving without a key. A BMW anti-hijack feature, that is. Simply put the key in the ignition and start the vehicle as usual. Once you’ve finished, turn off the engine and take the key out of the ignition. Pushing the start button now without a key will start the automobile in roughly 10 seconds, allowing you to take off. Although many of you may already be aware of this feature, I figured I should still share it with those who don’t realize that their BMW has it.

It’s more of a safety feature than anti-hijack. The automobile will still start if you have a key issue and stall out on the railroad lines, allowing you to get off the rails.

done this previously. After considering the potential consequences, I decided to stop using the “DIY comfort access” method. hehe. however, thank you for posting for others.

It works for both my 2007-1 series and 2008-3 series coupes, however if you open the driver-door or wait a little bit longer before restarting the engine, this option is disabled. I tested this about a month ago.

Since learning about it on this forum, I’ve been doing this for approximately a month. I haven’t had any problems with it, and yes, I also use it to warm up my car. No need to panic because the radio turns off after a few minutes, and in case you’re wondering, the car will still be running even if the key fob is distant from the vehicle. I put this to the test the other day when I visited Walgreens.

I do this to get my car warmed up. not necessarily to warm the engine up, but more to warm my seat and the cabin. It’s excellent if my car is parked on the street or somewhere else where you can’t leave the doors open while it warms up. (Or use the laser key to unlock the door)

I regularly engage in this. You don’t even need to hold the brake pedal down; just reapply it, press the start button, lock your doors, and dash into the store or back into your house. However, I suppose you have leftover heat if you are entering the store.

Yes, I’d rather to take a chance than have my valve train begin to tick because they aren’t getting lubricated during short trips when the car isn’t warmed up. I appreciate the guidance nonetheless.

SURPRISINGLY, not every recommendation made by businesses is in your best interests. They’re a business, so if they can convince you to ignore your automobile and end up having to pay for more extensive repairs later on, they win.

Not to bring up an old topic, but wouldn’t starting the car twice be necessary for those who use this method to warm it up? Since the initial cold start is the toughest on the engine, I believe it is best to let the car warm up at that time rather than turning it off and putting it through a second cold start. Any thoughts?

Is the BMW X5 keyless to operate?

BMW is experimenting with a new method of accessing and operating your automobile without the need for a physical key with the new X5 and 8 Series. Basically, an NFC chip installed in the car’s doors allows you to now lock and unlock it using your phone.

By using Near Field Communication (NFC) technology, the Digital Key eliminates the need for a traditional car key and enables locking and unlocking of the new BMW 8 Series via a smartphone as well. Once inside, the smartphone is simply placed in the Wireless Charging or smartphone tray and held up to the door handle to unlock the vehicle. From there, the engine can be started.

The new X5 and 8 Series cars will come with a virtual key as part of the Comfort Access option, and likely future BMW models too.

Here is how BMW outlines a virtual key’s usual operating procedure:

“When installed, the car can automatically unlock and lock doors without the driver having to touch the door handle because it can detect the key from a few feet away. The ambient lighting and light carpet will turn on as soon as the car recognizes the key, welcoming and pointing the driver to the door.”

Nobody needs to worry about security because BMW also provides an option for turning off the NFC technology from the iDrive system. In addition, the Comfort Access option now comes with a keycard that can be used in place of a smartphone.

Of course, the $250 Touch Key is included in the X5 and 8 Series’ standard configurations, but for those wishing to free up some cash, a smartphone may be a more elegant option.

Can my BMW key fob be tracked?

Nope. There is nothing you could do to make the fobs detectable even if there was a means to start reverse communication because they lack a speaker.

If I don’t have a key fob, how can I lock my BMW?

Can the automobile be locked without the key? The button on the dashboard won’t lock the doors if they are open, which is something I’d like to be able to accomplish without a key.

It is hard for someone to lock the car without a key if I leave them in the car for a moment as I dash inside a store and they decide to come in later. Even if you have comfort access, this is a concern. Passenger door can be lockable, edit.

I believe that once I have left the car, I must either press the button on the remote control or insert the key into the door. Clearly, I’m missing something. Thank you.

It is hard for someone to lock the car without a key if I leave them in the car for a moment as I dash inside a store and they decide to come in later. Even if you have comfort access, this is a concern.

To lock the automobile from outside, you need the key. It stops you from leaving the key inside the vehicle. Even with comfort access, locking the doors from outside requires the key to be close to the car.

Nothing happens when you push the actuator. even if you simultaneously tug on the handle.

According to other forums I’ve read, this is done on purpose to avoid lockouts. When the passenger door is open, the dash button will lock it, at least on older BMW models. With this automobile, it’s most likely the same.

I don’t have a key, how can I start my BMW?

Even if your E90 doesn’t have comfort access, there is a way to start the engine and start driving without a key. A BMW anti-hijack feature, that is. Simply put the key in the ignition and start the vehicle as usual. Once you’ve finished, turn off the engine and take the key out of the ignition. Pushing the start button now without a key will start the automobile in roughly 10 seconds, allowing you to take off. Although many of you may already be aware of this feature, I figured I should still share it with those who don’t realize that their BMW has it.

Will my car still run if I lose the key fob?

Once the engine is going, the automobile will still work without the key fob. Additionally, switching from park to drive is trouble-free even when the key is not available.

Is it possible to steal a BMW without a key?

Yes, keyless autos are frequently more difficult to steal. Having said that, it also relies on the situation and the specific model. Some versions include keyless entry, which opens the doors when the key is nearby, but they still require a traditional key to start the vehicle. Keyless entry and keyless start vehicles are the most susceptible to relay theft.

Relay theft is also not a recent occurrence, therefore manufacturers have been working on solutions to stop it for some time. As a result, some more sophisticated vehicles include features built to prevent keyless auto theft.