Finally happened...Comfort Access failed...then started working again

[JNMACE]

I was on a very busy street trying to get back into the car quickly when I noticed a little problem. The car wouldn't unlock. It simply would not respond to my hand at all. So, I pulled out the remote and tapped the unlock button, but nothing happened. I walked back over to the sidewalk to try the other door as well. Nothing. After a few minutes of me standing there wondering how the hell I was going to get the car to start even if I did pull the real key out of the remote the car unlocked itself.

I knew this shit was gonna happen!

Now, how would I have gotten the car to start if it wasn't recognizing the key? I can't stick a key in and turn the ignition. If the electronics f-up, as they apparently do, what options do I have? I realize I could use the real key to get the car unlocked...but what then?

[Jhunter]

Good question. I am on day three of owning my 335 coupe with comfort access. No problems yet, but obviously I would like to know the answer just in case.

[Mark335i]

I was on a very busy street trying to get back into the car quickly when I noticed a little problem. The car wouldn't unlock. It simply would not respond to my hand at all. So, I pulled out the remote and tapped the unlock button, but nothing happened. I walked back over to the sidewalk to try the other door as well. Nothing. After a few minutes of me standing there wondering how the hell I was going to get the car to start even if I did pull the real key out of the remote the car unlocked itself.

I knew this shit was gonna happen!

Now, how would I have gotten the car to start if it wasn't recognizing the key? I can't stick a key in and turn the ignition. If the electronics f-up, as they apparently do, what options do I have? I realize I could use the real key to get the car unlocked...but what then?
Out of curiosity were there any towers (cell, radio, tv, etc.) anywhere near where you were when this happened? There is restaurant here adjacent to tv towers, and the remote for my G35 does not work at all there. It freaked me out the first time it happened. As soon as I am a mile away, it works fine. :shifty

[777ER]

Now, how would I have gotten the car to start if it wasn't recognizing the key? I can't stick a key in and turn the ignition. If the electronics f-up, as they apparently do, what options do I have? I realize I could use the real key to get the car unlocked...but what then?

I've been told there's a way to bypass this.

Unlock the door manually with the key included. Then open the glovebox and put the key in the slot vertically (have to look under the glovebox dash to find it) and turn it. Then press the Engine start button.

Haven't tried this before so I can't know for sure.

[killcrap]

I was on a very busy street trying to get back into the car quickly when I noticed a little problem. The car wouldn't unlock. It simply would not respond to my hand at all. So, I pulled out the remote and tapped the unlock button, but nothing happened. I walked back over to the sidewalk to try the other door as well. Nothing. After a few minutes of me standing there wondering how the hell I was going to get the car to start even if I did pull the real key out of the remote the car unlocked itself.

I knew this shit was gonna happen!

Now, how would I have gotten the car to start if it wasn't recognizing the key? I can't stick a key in and turn the ignition. If the electronics f-up, as they apparently do, what options do I have? I realize I could use the real key to get the car unlocked...but what then?


use the key to get in the vehicle, and then put the KEY FOB into the ignition slot, and start the car. just because the door antennas dont work, doesnt mean that starting the vehicle wont either.

[EvoRoadster]

Chill out. You had rf interference preventing your unlocking the car via CA. Just use the key to unlock the door. Inserting the fob in the dash will start the car just as if you did not have CA. In fact I removed the battery from the fob, unlocked the door with the key and started the car by inserting the fob (with no battery in it) into the slot. No problems.

[Ruff Rider]

Chill out. You had rf interference preventing your unlocking the car via CA. Just use the key to unlock the door. Inserting the fob in the dash will start the car just as if you did not have CA. In fact I removed the battery from the fob, unlocked the door with the key and started the car by inserting the fob (with no battery in it) into the slot. No problems.

Thanks. Thats good to know.

[JNMACE]

Chill out. You had rf interference preventing your unlocking the car via CA. Just use the key to unlock the door. Inserting the fob in the dash will start the car just as if you did not have CA. In fact I removed the battery from the fob, unlocked the door with the key and started the car by inserting the fob (with no battery in it) into the slot. No problems.


Thanks! That is really good to know. I definitely like the comfort access feature but I was worried from the first day that something like this could happen. I NEVER had a single time when my 528i did not respond to the remote but already, in the first few weeks of having this vehicle, the comfort access didn't work, nor did the remote buttons. Not a good start.

[Raivyn]

I've noticed when it rains the CA doesn't work very well.

You're standing there, grabbing the door handle, thinking to yourself if you just clicked the button on the remote you'd already be in the car.

I try to wipe the water off the door handle as best as possible to minimize the inconvenience.

[Jhunter]

Mine seems to have problems if it is very cold (single digits). It always locks okay but the unlock is temperamental. Bare hand seem to work better than gloved hand although sometimes it works with the glove on.

[EvoRoadster]

Another data point...the CA would not unlock the door while I was talking on my cell phone. Also, if I have the fob in my pocket while washing the car it locks and unlocks while spraying it down with water. Still, I would rather have CA than not.