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?
In This Article...
A dead key fob will a BMW start?
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.
Can a BMW be started without a key fob?
Fortunately, even though BMW key fob programming is made for your BMW car’s security, if the FOB’s battery fails, you can still enter manually. The internal key blade included in your BMW key fob can be used in its place, albeit your BMW remote lock won’t operate. Steps consist of:
- Out of the bottom of the fob, slide the internal key blade.
- To open your BMW, use this internal key blade as you would a standard key.
- Normally, the BMW keyhole on the door is hidden. You can use the tiny hole on the underside of the door handle.
- You can see the keyhole if you insert the BMW key blade into the opening and peel the trim panel off.
- Put the remote key fob into the ignition slot to unlock your car.
- Hold the marks on the key to the side of the steering column if there isn’t an ignition slot.
- From there, you can start your BMW by pressing the start/stop button on the dashboard.
With the BMW Digital Key, you can start and operate your BMW without keys.
That’s not all, though. Additionally, various functions can be restricted on an individual basis. For example, a rookie driver’s engine performance or speed can be restricted. In any event, kindly be aware that the types of restrictions differ based on the car model.
You might be wondering how to use your digital key now that you’ve configured it, but it’s really not that difficult. The driver’s door is the only one that can be opened because of security concerns, so after you go to that door, you must keep the top of your iPhone approximately 4 millimeters from the door handle and wait a few seconds until “Done” and a check mark appear on the screen.
The booting procedure is extremely straightforward. Simply place your iPhone in the built-in smartphone holder and hit the start button to get going. It’s fascinating that the iPhone doesn’t need to be unlocked before opening a door or starting a car because Express mode is already installed. Additionally, it contains an iPhone power reserve that enables the digital key to keep operating after the mobile phone’s battery has gone out for up to 5 hours.
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.
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.
What happens if your BMW key is lost?
If you still have one key, you must bring your car, one piece of personal identification, one form of address identification, and the V5C logbook to your selected BMW Center*. You will need to make arrangements for your automobile to be delivered to your preferred Center along with the necessary documentation if you have lost both keys and are unable to access the vehicle.
* A photocard driver’s license cannot be used for both address identification and personal identification.
To keep you safe, our Centers are required to adhere to these security precautions. Additionally, you’ll have to sign for your new key upon picking it up.
With a key inside, will a BMW lock?
Locking the vehicle with the key or the remote, opening the trunk, placing the keys inside, and then closing the trunk lid is a wonderful additional method for locking the key in a BMW with the Type-2 system.
Can a keyless vehicle be driven off without the key?
How far will a keyless vehicle go without a key? In general, there is no restriction on how far a car with keyless entry and start can travel while the keyfob is not present. Without the key, the car frequently just beeps.
The cost of a BMW key fob
The price of a 2020 Toyota Sienna fob was comparable. Dealers, however, gave prices as low as $150 to replace a key fob for a 2017 Honda Accord. A number of BMW retailers claimed that the additional security features built into the 2020 X5 key fob justifies the roughly $500 they spend to replace and program one.
Can I use my phone to start my BMW?
A number of updates and new services for BMW automobiles have just been published. BMW owners may now choose from a variety of other options in the ConnectedDrive Store to add to their vehicles in addition to the “Uneven Road Surface alert” feature. One of them allows you to remotely preheat the temperature of your BMW vehicle, and it is called “Remote Engine Start.” While Remote Engine Start has been a feature of BMW vehicles from MY 2019, it is now also available as a new “Function on Demand” that can be added to eligible cars that weren’t initially equipped with it. This functionality can be purchased through the ConnectedDrive Store.
Through Remote Software Upgrade, the new functionality can be downloaded and installed wirelessly. This is a fantastic feature for the sweltering summer and icy winter months. You can preheat the interior by turning on the heat or the air conditioning while starting the engine from inside your house or place of employment.
Simply tap a button in the My BMW app to turn on Remote Engine Start, and your BMW’s engine will start, allowing the cabin to reach the ideal temperature. A triple-click of the lock button on the BMW key fob will also activate Remote Engine Start.