The terms Comfort Access and keyless entry are frequently confused since they have a lot in common. When purchasing a new car, you want to ensure that you receive everything you anticipated. When a used automobile is advertised as having Comfort Access or keyless entry, it may be worthwhile to ask the seller which feature they mean.
Both of them are not genuinely keyless, despite their names, which is one resemblance between them. To unlock and start your automobile, you will still require a remote key fob. They are only keyless in the sense that a physical lock no longer requires a key to be inserted; nonetheless, a slide-out key blade in the fob still allows you to do so.
Both options enable remote locking and unlocking of your vehicle using either your regular keyless entry fob or your BMW Comfort Access key fob. All it takes is a button press. Depending on the brand and battery life, key fob range varies, but you can often unlock from a distance of about 30 feet and lock from a bit further.
Both also include keyless entry, which enables you to start and stop your automobile using the push-button ignition.
Comfort Access varies from regular keyless entry in that it provides more functions. If your key fob is in close proximity to your car (the BMW Comfort Access range is around 5 feet), your door will automatically unlock when you grab the door handle on your BMW. By lightly hitting the handle’s top, close to the lock, you can also lock your automobile doors. No need to reach for your key fob in either situation; the entire procedure is simple and quick.
Comfort Access also makes it simpler to start your car once you’re inside. With Comfort Access, the key fob just needs to be inside the vehicle, unlike keyless entry systems that may still require you to place it in the key slot by the steering wheel. You can start the car even if it’s in your pocket or bag and proceed to drive.
The Comfort Access with Automatic Tailgate allows you to open and close the trunk using the so-called “kick feature,” which involves placing your foot under the back bumper. Third-party retrofits typically do not offer this feature, but it makes a significant difference in terms of convenience. Especially after personalizing how your BMW’s tailgate operates, a motor embedded into the tailgate mechanism automatically raises and lowers the trunk lid, removing the hassle of packing up your BMW. The Power Trunk feature is still accessible with regular keyless entry, but it needs to be engaged by pushing the trunk release button on the remote key fob.
In This Article...
The BMW Comfort Access System: How Does It Work?
With the help of BMW’s comfort access technology, you may start the engine and open the car door without ever touching the key. All you need to do is carry the key with you somewhere (or near you.) Only your car key will be identified because of its distinctive sensors, which are linked to the sensors in the car’s computer system. Just tap the inside of the door handle as you get close to the car, then go inside. Learn more about the technology underlying this system and what else it is capable of.
What Is Keyless Entry For BMW Comfort Access?
A smart key that never needs to leave your pocket is used by the keyless entry technology known as BMW Comfort Access. The smart key may be detected by the automobile from a distance of roughly 5 feet, and once it has been, you can unlock the car by merely pressing the door handle. Waving your foot under the sensor in the back bumper will also unlock and open the tailgate. The Start/Stop button is made available when the system recognizes that you have entered the vehicle, making it simple for you to start (or stop) the vehicle. When it’s time to get out of the car, simply press the external door handle to lock all of the doors. The smart key can be used to store customized settings, including changes to the seat, steering wheel, and mirrors. You can phone the BMW call center to lock or unlock the car or to get the status of the car if you have BMW ConnectedDrive and Remote Services. To unlock the car, flash the lights, or sound the horn, you can also utilize the My BMW Remote iPhone app.
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In order to access the car and trunk almost hands-free, the BMW comfort access technology was developed in 2002 as a keyless remote system that employs sensors to identify the owner’s approach to the vehicle within 1.5 meters (about 5 ft). Since 2002, technology has advanced, making keyless entry obsolete. Now, to unlock a car, all a driver needs to do is approach it, place his or her palm on a door, and it will unlock. When the owner waves a foot underneath the rear bumper, sensors on the back of the automobile provide access to the trunk.
The stop/start button, which engages or disengages the car, is also unlocked when the smart key system detects the driver inside the cabin. The owner can lock the car by merely touching the door handle from the outside if the system determines that they have departed.
Last but not least, the smart key may save up to 11 unique settings for adjusting the seat, steering wheel, and mirrors. The information provided below will emphasize the actions you must follow in order to utilize your comfort access technology without difficulty, regardless of whether you have a newer model BMW or an older one.
Summary of Contents
Some BMW models come with Comfort Access as standard equipment, while others don’t. The key fob must be carried by the driver at all times, whether it be in a pocket, briefcase, or handbag. When the key fob is in range, the car will instantly recognize it.
The driver must grab either door handle in order to unlock the front door. Pressing the unlock button on the remote key fob is equivalent to doing this.
To lock a door, the driver must push with a finger on a textured part of the door handle for around one second. Pressing the lock button on the remote key fob is equivalent to doing this.
The doors will lock, any open windows will close, and the sunroof will close if the driver presses and holds that spot down.
A kick toe open trunk is an added feature on select models that enables the driver to open the trunk lid by kicking their foot under the bumper and pushing it out.
The system also includes a keyless engine start feature that enables the driver to start the engine without first placing the key fob into the dashboard’s slot.
Entry without a key is typical. The car includes two FOBs. (Keyless entry refers to a system where you unlock the automobile by pressing a button on the FOB rather than physically opening the lock.)
Comfort access is when the door handle has a groove so you can lock the car by pressing the top of the door handle or unlock the door without the key in your hand by merely touching the inside of the door handle. I’ve discovered that comfort access weakens the key FOBs’ range.
The keys for Comfort Access also have watch batteries. Therefore, those need to be replaced periodically. Regular key fobs have rechargeable batteries, which refuel when the automobile is plugged in.
THAT IS AMAZING! I was unaware of that because I always believed my FOB would ultimately die.
Rechargeable batteries have the drawback of eventually dying, but they should endure for at least a few years. Allow the battery to die and alternate between putting it in and taking it out of service if you feel it is weak. Batteries age and become less dependable even when not in use.
What does BMW’s keyless entry mean?
With BMW’s Comfort Access keyless entry technology, you can start the engine and open the car door without ever touching the key. Drivers in Syosset only need to have the key on them or nearby for the special sensors to line up and start their cars at the click of a button.
If my BMW has keyless entry, how do I know?
1. Verify whether the top of the handle by the lock on your external door handles has a few ridges (2). These raised lines serve as the contact point to touch when you lock the doors because the BMW Comfort Access system does not have automatically locking doors.
The smart opener that unlocks your car uses a second sensor (1) that is also part of the BMW Comfort Access door handle. However, because these sensors are hidden, it’s simpler to look for ridges near the lock on your automobile door handle.
2.) You can also use a free online BMW VIN decoder to check a vehicle’s VIN number for keyless entry and look for the S322A option to see if it has Comfort Access.
However, it’s crucial to keep in mind that this approach only reveals whether a BMW had Comfort Access installed at the factory. Even though the S322A option might not be present, the prior owner may have retrofitted Comfort Access into the vehicle.
How secure is keyless entry in a BMW?
The three BMW models received a higher grade for keyless security in the most recent tests, according to Thatcham Research. The highest ranking is given to automobiles with robust all-around security features and a plan to prevent keyless entry crime.
How does keyless entry function?
The key fob of a keyless entry system looks for radio signals that are sent from the vehicle in order to function. A keyless automobile will send out a short-range radio signal when you put your hand on the door handle (in other situations, you have to click a button). The fob will send its own signal back to the car if it is within the car’s radio wave range, which is typically around 5 meters, and the onboard computer of the car will then unlock the doors.
When you need to start the engine, the same procedure applies, but the engine is started by pressing a button inside the automobile. The onboard computer of the automobile can typically tell whether the key fob is inside or outside the car, and it will only permit the engine to start if the key is inside the cabin.
Systems for unlocking boots without a key are also gaining popularity. To automatically open the boot, simply waggle your foot under the back bumper of the vehicle. An advantageous feature for trips to the grocery store where your hands are frequently weighed down by bulky shopping bags
Some vehicles even save a digital copy of your key on your phone, allowing you to start the vehicle even if you don’t have a physical key with you. This feature is available in some BMWs, Teslas, and the Ford Mustang Mach-E.
What’s the operation of the BMW 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.