2008 E93 remote top down feature

[jhayd11]

I was reading the owners manual of my newly acquired 2008 328i, and noted that there is an option to remotely put the top down by pressing the unlock key twice and holding. This didn't work for mine.

With some research, I noted that you need the convenience package to do this. I called the dealer to see if this could be added, and he noted that that option is only available in the comfort key-less access (and not available after factory), but if I turn the key in the door, physically, holding that down will work.

I would really like to get this option working somehow. I really don't like the key-less access (don't trust it) but this automatic top down idea sounds damn sexy.

Has anyone heard of ways to get this to work?

[jhayd11]

I finally figured out the overly secured search engine on this website.

Looks like a few people have tried this http://www.mods4cars.com/sms/shop/index.php?p=b3JnYT1zbWFydHRvcCZncm91cD0yJmxhbmc9Mi ZjdXJyPTI=&action=products&cat=3&mode=view&id=54

I am giving it a go next week.

Wish me luck or talk me out of it by then!

[prash]

A lot of E89 Z4 guys who don't have comfort access have used Smart Top and been very satisfied with the results.

[Spyke]

Lol. I'm with you man, it's getting increasingly easy to intercept wireless signals and use them to steal your car later.

Go for it, I love the 'auto-close everything' feature when you hold the key in "lock" on my e36... it's just not as chock-full of goodies as your e93.

[mryakan]

Lol. I'm with you man, it's getting increasingly easy to intercept wireless signals and use them to steal your car later.

Go for it, I love the 'auto-close everything' feature when you hold the key in "lock" on my e36... it's just not as chock-full of goodies as your e93.
And getting a third party wireless device with possibly lesser security measures to open the top of a convertible is going to make theft less likely? :confused
I fail to follow the logic that lead to that deduction!

[kcs]

Wow, "remote top down" option. Must be nice. I'm all manual thanks to a top motor that's toast. Why be lazy, right?!?

[romiyonvrdies]

So how was ur experience and how much did it cost ?? I also have a 328i convertible and was thinking of getting the remote top down option ..

[Cabrio2007]

Are you sure you don't have it? I have an E93 as well (I do have all the packages though). I have noticed with mine that I have to be really close to the car for it to work though. I was told that was a safety feature. Honestly it's cool to show off to friends, but it's not all that functional because you have to stand outside your car and wait for the top to go up or down. The only time I use it is when I have people riding in the back, and I let them out before putting the top up (easier that way), then I use the key because I'm already out of the car.

So other than showing off, and letting people in the backseat out, I don't really use it at all.

As far as being worried about someone stealing my car; if someone is sophisticated enough to use wireless signals to get into my car, they are sophisticated enough to break into a regular BMW with a laptop to start the car. If someone really wants your car, they will get it no matter what.

Besides, that's what "good" insurance is for.

[mryakan]

As far as being worried about someone stealing my car; if someone is sophisticated enough to use wireless signals to get into my car, they are sophisticated enough to break into a regular BMW with a laptop to start the car. If someone really wants your car, they will get it no matter what.

Besides, that's what "good" insurance is for.

For sure, if someone wants the car bad enough, they will get it, the easiest thing for them is to tow it. But why would you make it easy for the casual thief or a teenager with a hankering for some mischief?

You have some misconceptions about wireless security here that make your assumptions a bit invalid, so with my professional background as a wireless security expert, let me explain with an example that is closer to home.

Let's take the example of your wireless router at home. It is not sophisticated at all to steal all your data/information if you do not have wireless security enabled. Anyone with a laptop that has wireless capability (pretty much any laptop in the past decade), and access to the internet can do it. You just download wireshark (http://www.wireshark.org/), and voila, you can see everything on the unsecured wireless network from up to 100 ft away (or more with a high gain antenna). Now if you enable security but have a weak security protocol like WEP for example, the job is just a tiny bit more involved, yet still rather easy. You just need to download the wepcrack (http://sourceforge.net/projects/wepcrack/)tool, hack the keys and then you can access everything on the network. Note that none of these tools are illegal and that they are easily attainable online with a few google searches, for free! You do not have to be a computer wizard to use them, any teenager with access to a computer can probably follow the instructions.
Now if you have a strong wireless security protocol enabled (such as WPA or AES), then it becomes practically impossible to hack into a secured wireless network (it is not mathematically impossible since a brute force attack can still crack it, but is near impossible with today's computing power as that would take centuries upon centuries to complete).

So aside from the technical mumbo jumbo, what I am getting at is that strong wireless security is pretty much impossible to crack, that is what you get with the BMW OEM system (until someone hacks BMW or find a vulnerability with the protocol they use which is not easy given that it is a closely guarded trade secret). If you use an aftermarket solution, who knows what kind of security it uses, if any at all. Weak or no security, means even the neighbour's teenage kid can gain access to your car without even leaving their garage.

Sure we all have insurance, but dealing with the aftermath of a stolen vehicle is not a piece of cake (police reports, insurance, rentals, replacement vehicle, anxiety, etc). And what if the car is recovered with damages that the insurance company does not cover completely. Or worse, what if the car is actually returned after some teenagers had some fun in it and left it with a stinky smell and all violated (it is not far fetched, do a search and you will see that it happened to a member here, albeit in that case they gained access to his key).

In the end, it is your car, do as you wish with it. We are not here to peer pressure anyone, we just give advice based on the collective and cumulative experience and expertise of our members. It is up to you to choose what to do, but it is best to choose after doing proper research and being well informed of the Pros/Cons.

Cheers

[Cabrio2007]

For sure, if someone wants the car bad enough, they will get it, the easiest thing for them is to tow it. But why would you make it easy for the casual thief or a teenager with a hankering for some mischief?

You have some misconceptions about wireless security here that make your assumptions a bit invalid, so with my professional background as a wireless security expert, let me explain with an example that is closer to home.

Let's take the example of your wireless router at home. It is not sophisticated at all to steal all your data/information if you do not have wireless security enabled. Anyone with a laptop that has wireless capability (pretty much any laptop in the past decade), and access to the internet can do it. You just download wireshark (http://www.wireshark.org/), and voila, you can see everything on the unsecured wireless network from up to 100 ft away (or more with a high gain antenna). Now if you enable security but have a weak security protocol like WEP for example, the job is just a tiny bit more involved, yet still rather easy. You just need to download the wepcrack (http://sourceforge.net/projects/wepcrack/)tool, hack the keys and then you can access everything on the network. Note that none of these tools are illegal and that they are easily attainable online with a few google searches, for free! You do not have to be a computer wizard to use them, any teenager with access to a computer can probably follow the instructions.
Now if you have a strong wireless security protocol enabled (such as WPA or AES), then it becomes practically impossible to hack into a secured wireless network (it is not mathematically impossible since a brute force attack can still crack it, but is near impossible with today's computing power as that would take centuries upon centuries to complete).

So aside from the technical mumbo jumbo, what I am getting at is that strong wireless security is pretty much impossible to crack, that is what you get with the BMW OEM system (until someone hacks BMW or find a vulnerability with the protocol they use which is not easy given that it is a closely guarded trade secret). If you use an aftermarket solution, who knows what kind of security it uses, if any at all. Weak or no security, means even the neighbour's teenage kid can gain access to your car without even leaving their garage.

Sure we all have insurance, but dealing with the aftermath of a stolen vehicle is not a piece of cake (police reports, insurance, rentals, replacement vehicle, anxiety, etc). And what if the car is recovered with damages that the insurance company does not cover completely. Or worse, what if the car is actually returned after some teenagers had some fun in it and left it with a stinky smell and all violated (it is not far fetched, do a search and you will see that it happened to a member here, albeit in that case they gained access to his key).

In the end, it is your car, do as you wish with it. We are not here to peer pressure anyone, we just give advice based on the collective and cumulative experience and expertise of our members. It is up to you to choose what to do, but it is best to choose after doing proper research and being well informed of the Pros/Cons.

Cheers

I know it may seem naive, but I will not use any aftermarket parts on my car (headlights, radios, etc.). I am a firm believer that factory parts are designed to work with your car better. If you do get a wireless top down function added to your car, make sure it's from the factory. You might risk voiding all kinds of warranties if you do otherwise.

[Kernel Kurtz]

So aside from the technical mumbo jumbo, what I am getting at is that strong wireless security is pretty much impossible to crack, that is what you get with the BMW OEM system (until someone hacks BMW or find a vulnerability with the protocol they use which is not easy given that it is a closely guarded trade secret). If you use an aftermarket solution, who knows what kind of security it uses, if any at all.

Also doing network security for a living I think it worth mentioning that as well as standards based strong crypto, all factory systems use a system of "rolling codes", similar to the concept behind RSA tokens or pseudo One Time Pads.

This article is fairly old but gives a good description.

http://www.nytimes.com/2001/06/07/technology/how-it-works-remote-keyless-entry-staying-a-step-ahead-of-car-thieves.html

I don't lose any sleep over my car's factory security. With aftermarket systems, it's caveat emptor as always. If you must install them, be sure to do some research to make sure they have a credible security implementation. Don't fall for the "our system is a secret" trap. Security through obscurity is not really security at all.