[kenrok1]

Originally Posted by tex2670

What if you activate digital key and test it out,and if it's not to your liking, just deactivate the digital key?

right - I will... that is what I said

Originally Posted by kenrok1

I wont know until I try

but the point of a discussion board is to discuss, you know to converse with those who may have experience to share or other insight or questions - and the OP was asking for thoughts - these are my thoughts...

[KingSize.Hamster]

Originally Posted by John27

But, if your phone is stolen, how do you access the car to get at the fob (I agree this option may well deal with the situation where the car breaks down)?

While I agree that if your mobile is stolen, there are other issues that go way beyond access to the car, but it still remains a significant issue if you are far away from home and so, problematic to easily access the fob or key card etc.

Well. Gotta ask yourself … how many times have you had your phone stolen in the last 10 years? That’s how I assess my risk. Besides, I live in a small city. It’s generally within 100 USD of cab ride to get home

[John27]

Originally Posted by KingSize.Hamster

Well. Gotta ask yourself … how many times have you had your phone stolen in the last 10 years? That’s how I assess my risk. Besides, I live in a small city. It’s generally within 100 USD of cab ride to get home

Completely agree. You need to consider the risk based on your own circumstances. The digital key works well for a lot of people. Providing you understand the risks and implications, go for it.

Personally, not lost a phone in the last 10 years but have plenty of family and friends who have lost theirs for various reasons (inc theft, of course, but some due to their own carelessness). As I said in an earlier post, too old to change my ways. Happy using the key fob but agree not for everyone.

All the options have risk, its about understanding that risk and making the best decision for yourself.

[srbs73]

I expect every car manufacturer won’t supply a key fob in the near future. It will either be unavailable or an expensive option!

[J-RO]

I am sure BMW will be right up there.

[Gaffer_H]

Originally Posted by srbs73

I expect every car manufacturer won’t supply a key fob in the near future. It will either be unavailable or an expensive option!

Digital key and a key card, that’s the way it will I reckon.

[FlashMonkey929]

Originally Posted by kenrok1

my father in law - dunno why but he always has... as for me, i do not walk around the house with it - but its usually in my jacket pocket and if i am working outside around the driveway it "wakes up" the car as you put every time i pass by - so I disable the unlock on approach




yes of course - its not like I would hand my phone to the valet to park the car I am just saying if I use digital key - and per the owners manual it sounds like this may be the "primary" and leave the vehicle is going to start that annoying shit like honking the horn because the key left the vehicle?? or possible lock the vehicle because I walked away ~ what if the fob is inside - what now... I have to go back to let the valet in? You see what I am getting at.... hopefully these are non issues but I wont know until I try (or "mock" try - because I don't want to wait until i get somewhere to find out.)

makes sense?

I have shortcuts setup in the infotainment specifically for when I have to disable the proximity lock/unlock when using the valet and handing off the fob. If you leave it enabled, when you walk away with your phone it will lock the car and if the system is having a bad day the alarm will go off with the valet in it. I just turn it back on when I pull out of the hotel driveway.

[kenrok1]

Originally Posted by FlashMonkey929

I have shortcuts setup in the infotainment specifically for when I have to disable the proximity lock/unlock when using the valet and handing off the fob. If you leave it enabled, when you walk away with your phone it will lock the car and if the system is having a bad day the alarm will go off with the valet in it. I just turn it back on when I pull out of the hotel driveway.

Thank you! - that is exactly what I was concerned with.

If you care to elaborate on shortcut I'd be happy to know that too... like are you able set it up as routine ~ that would be cool. Or did you just mean you added a shortcut to take you "doors and windows" and you toggle the settings?

[Daon7800]

I take the key card on a trip as a back up and iin case the car needs to be recovered. Day to day phone and watch are fine. Never had a problem.

[FlashMonkey929]

Originally Posted by kenrok1

Thank you! - that is exactly what I was concerned with.

If you care to elaborate on shortcut I'd be happy to know that too... like are you able set it up as routine ~ that would be cool. Or did you just mean you added a shortcut to take you "doors and windows" and you toggle the settings?

I'll take a photo of it when I have the chance, but basically two shortcuts. One to turn off the proximity unlocking, and one to turn off the proximity locking. Takes a couple of seconds and I usually just do it while I'm at a light before getting to the hotel.

[Tomduck]

I connected it for the first few weeks and now just use the physical key. It’s like a lot of the tech on the car, interesting but mostly not needed. As many have said on here a simpler car would not be viewed as a negative by the majority.

I have a Naim hi fi, would Iprefer it to have lot of lights on it, a graphic equaliser and other “stuff”? No, it’s brilliant because it’s simple.

I continue to love the new X1 diesel as a capable, good looking small SUV, that ticks a lot of boxes and returns 60mpg over 10,000 miles. I could live without much of the gadgets and haven’t updated the software since I receieved it in 2023 for fear if upsetting the trouble free motoring it’s been delivering me!

[KingSize.Hamster]

Originally Posted by Tomduck

I have a Naim hi fi, would I like prefer it to have lot of lights on it, a graphic equaliser and other “stuff”? No, it’s brilliant because it’s simple.

I love Naim. It's really awesome

[Graemeb2812]

Originally Posted by srbs73

I expect every car manufacturer won’t supply a key fob in the near future. It will either be unavailable or an expensive option!

I can just see it now in the BMW Connected Store...

"Lock and Unlock your vehicle, from as little as £9.95 per month with the Door Locks Premium Package" 😂

[srbs73]

Originally Posted by Graemeb2812

I can just see it now in the BMW Connected Store...

"Lock and Unlock your vehicle, from as little as £9.95 per month with the Door Locks Premium Package" 😂

I’m ordering along with the “Drive Pro” package that enables the car to move.

[kenrok1]

Originally Posted by srbs73

I’m ordering along with the “Drive Pro” package that enables the car to move.

and don't forget to option with Connected Cargo Plus™ that allows you to access the cargo area handsfree as well as with your "Door Locks Premium Package" digital key

[timesone]

Originally Posted by Graemeb2812

I can just see it now in the BMW Connected Store...

"Lock and Unlock your vehicle, from as little as £9.95 per month with the Door Locks Premium Package" 😂

Glove box light fee

[X1_x23d]

Originally Posted by John27

I'm too old and set in my ways to use the digital key although I can see the benefits and convenience of doing so. Using just the key card as opposed to the key fob seems OK but reliance on a mobile phone is, for me, more problematic.

I have two main concerns. The first would be if my phone were stolen while I was out as I'd be unable to access and use the car until I could retrieve the key fob which could be hours away (a key fob or key card could also be stolen of course, but would be less likely than a mobile which would be more visible to thieves)?

The other thing is if the car breaks down and is towed to a dealer, I can't leave them with my phone and so again, would need to retrieve the key fob from home.

I recently had a practical example of this where my X1 broke down on me and was taken to a dealer for repair by BMW Assistance. If I had used the digital key on my mobile phone, it would have taken just under an hour's round trip (by car) to get home and return (only about 7 miles each way but the traffic in London is murder) with the key fob. Probably not something that happens very often (hopefully) but a real pain if it does.

Exactly what happened to me only that I was 200miles from home. Glad I had the physical key to hand over to the recovery agent. You could in theory share the digital key with others but that would just be a big faf when your dealing with a breakdown.

Otherwise I would prefer just to use my phone as the primary key.

[fueledbycaffeine]

Originally Posted by X1_x23d

Exactly what happened to me only that I was 200miles from home. Glad I had the physical key to hand over to the recovery agent. You could in theory share the digital key with others but that would just be a big faf when your dealing with a breakdown.

Otherwise I would prefer just to use my phone as the primary key.

If you were mostly staying within 20 miles of home, would you still carry the physical key all of the time?

[X1_x23d]

Originally Posted by fueledbycaffeine

If you were mostly staying within 20 miles of home, would you still carry the physical key all of the time?

My house keys are attached to the fob so for me, I always end up having the fob. But if I had a smart digital house lock, I would probably do away with the fob and go totally digital for local journeys.

[kenrok1]

Originally Posted by timesone

Glove box light fee

that's just sad mine doesn't have one, just a hole where it should be - pretty pathetic but if they would've offered a billable option for it I would've checked the box.

[kenrok1]

So anyway back on topic... we did the digital key setup. I probably won't take my fob out of the house now unless I know I'm going somewhere to valet. I know that requires premeditation, but I do usually plan ahead anyway. My wife on the other hand likes to keep her fob in her purse - shouldn't be an issue right? Well just this morning we had the first embarrassment...

Cars are in the driveway - remote start it to warm up, she goes out to the car to load up her stuff for work - puts her bags, and purse in the back as she does - and walks back to get the next item - but she has her phone in her pocket (and apple watch on) so now the car has determined you left with the key and starts honking.

I come running out to see what's wrong - she explains nothing wasn't her, car did it on its own - and can't I tell it the fob is the primary key so it doesn't do that?

From what I've read and everything I can tell - I don't think there is anyway? Does anyone know different - or is there even an option to not honk the damn horn when you leave the vehicle?

[fueledbycaffeine]

Originally Posted by kenrok1

So anyway back on topic... we did the digital key setup. I probably won't take my fob out of the house now unless I know I'm going somewhere to valet. I know that requires premeditation, but I do usually plan ahead anyway. My wife on the other hand likes to keep her fob in her purse - shouldn't be an issue right? Well just this morning we had the first embarrassment...

Cars are in the driveway - remote start it to warm up, she goes out to the car to load up her stuff for work - puts her bags, and purse in the back as she does - and walks back to get the next item - but she has her phone in her pocket (and apple watch on) so now the car has determined you left with the key and starts honking.

I come running out to see what's wrong - she explains nothing wasn't her, car did it on its own - and can't I tell it the fob is the primary key so it doesn't do that?

From what I've read and everything I can tell - I don't think there is anyway? Does anyone know different - or is there even an option to not honk the damn horn when you leave the vehicle?

Nope. That’s how it works in our M340i too. It’s a safety thing because the car is running and there is a key inside the vehicle and you’ve walked away.

I also found this out the hard way a few weeks ago. I was driving the M340i with the digital key with my husband in the car who had his fob in his pocket. I stay in the car with the engine running while he jumps out to do something and the car starts honking because he’s taken the key fob out of the car even though it was unlocked with MY digital key (that car doesn’t have UWB so I actually held the phone to the handle) and that device was still in the car.

I think it should have been smart enough to detect that the drivers seat was occupied and there was still a key in the car and NOT try to alert us but it’s a BMW safety thing.