Remote reception

renesis · 04-12-2012, 08:51 PM

Hi guys

I don't know if my car has a problem of if it's always like that but my remote control reception range is very poor

I have to be a few feet from my car for it to unlock...

I was used to my good 'ol Pontiac G5 which I could unlock and locate with the panic button in a carpark when I forgot where I had parked it...

I ordered a gap-tech kit for my car and if it doesn't get a better range than that, it'll prove to be a bit useless...

At first I though the battery was dying but I learned that there's no battery, plus I got a brand new key and it doesn't perform any better...

is there a way to extend the range?

Thanks!

jatmallet · 04-12-2012, 09:03 PM

Others might have a different story, but all three of my keys suffer from the same affliction. Range just isn't very good on these things.

Daemonblitz · 04-12-2012, 09:08 PM

I'm glad I'm not the only one, my range is also horrible, I have to be within 3 feet of the car.

3002 tii · 04-12-2012, 09:14 PM

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=203997

Shipkiller · 04-13-2012, 07:57 AM

This has been an issue with the Z4 chassis since it's introduction in 2003. Many, many, MANY threads on this topic....

maverickdxb · 04-13-2012, 08:33 AM

us guys in Dubai use our heads 'literally'!

press the remote while holding the remote under ur neck.

Our heads somehow boost signal strength.

Check it out!

gferil · 04-13-2012, 09:40 AM

Yeah both of my keys suck, especially in very big and crowded parking structures, I can't even get the remote to work, I have to actually insert the key into the lock!

MinneapolisJeff · 04-13-2012, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maverickdxb

us guys in Dubai use our heads 'literally'!

press the remote while holding the remote under ur neck.

Our heads somehow boost signal strength.

Check it out!

chin trick

not just Z4s, other BMW models utilize this trick

Phishman · 04-13-2012, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jman1975

chin trick

not just Z4s, other BMW models utilize this trick

Pretty sure that works with ANY remote whether its for a car or a garage door. Mine works from about 3 feet away as well.

wdupdog · 04-13-2012, 06:02 PM

Renesis. The gaptech mod won't be useless. You will be happy you installed it. Makes up/down on the top much more convenient. Should have been that way from factory. Holding remote to chin is as good as you are going to get on reception. Up to 30 feet on mine. And you won't have to hold the button all that time! I've done a few mods, that's still the best one. Good luck!

Swashplate · 04-13-2012, 08:58 PM

New record I managed to unlock from 25 feel the other day. Was on a slope and I was 10 feet vertically up from car....... Trying to show how crappy the reception was. Bloody typical.

Nate2046 · 04-14-2012, 01:38 AM

I'm jealous of the guys getting 3 feet! I have to practically hold my key up against the windshield then press the button 6 or 7 times. Such a good look to get of your super cool sports car and not be able to lock it

Blind32 · 04-14-2012, 04:21 AM

Chin trick FTW. Same issue. Distance is about 10 feet. I've heard the bones in your jaw amplify the signal ?? not sure, I'll probably have a tumor in a few years but its the price we pay...

WAMz4 · 04-15-2012, 01:44 AM

Glad I'm not you guys. Mine easily works between 20-30 feet. Very handy when my wife or someone wants to lock her purse or jacket in the trunk and we've already walked away from the car, or if I'm walking toward with one of the kids and they run ahead to get in. The reach seems to be about the same as our other cars.
Am I the only one that doesn't have this problem?

wdupdog · 04-15-2012, 08:41 AM

To get a reliable 30 ft is, I think, unusual. Under the presumption of having two keys, do you all rotate the keys to keep them charged? Anybody charged them using your induction charger on the electric toothbrush? No way to know its working unless a key comes back to life after trying this method. All in all a pretty bad system not having an easily replaceable battery in these keys. Cutting apart and re-soldering a new battery or paying 2-3 hundred at the dealer for a new key is a bit excessive either way.

renesis · 04-15-2012, 09:03 PM

okay thanks for the info guys! it's sad to see that this situation is described as "normal" but hey, there are worse things than that!

in fact I'm kind of anxious about my gap-tech update since I often press on the unlock button like crazy for it to finally work (light don't always flash) and I don't want the car to end up dropping the top when I don't want it to i.e. when it rains!

renesis · 04-15-2012, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dubbedown

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=203997

thanks for the link, looks like I already have that mirror though...

aerobod · 04-19-2012, 12:31 AM

Not sure why my remote range is actually quite good, but with the "chin trick" i can normally get about 50m (160 ft) of range. In this poor quality phone video, I was about 50m away walking at a fast pace, the roof was completely open while I was still quite a distance from the car:

04-12-2012, 08:51 PM	#1
renesis Private 5 Rep 62 Posts Drives: 2007 BMW Z4 3.0SI Roadster Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Quebec, Canada iTrader: (0)	Remote reception Hi guys I don't know if my car has a problem of if it's always like that but my remote control reception range is very poor I have to be a few feet from my car for it to unlock... I was used to my good 'ol Pontiac G5 which I could unlock and locate with the panic button in a carpark when I forgot where I had parked it... I ordered a gap-tech kit for my car and if it doesn't get a better range than that, it'll prove to be a bit useless... At first I though the battery was dying but I learned that there's no battery, plus I got a brand new key and it doesn't perform any better... is there a way to extend the range? Thanks! __________________ 2007 Z4 3.0SI Roadster Sport Package, Premium Package, Bluetooth & BMW Assist Black Sapphirre Metallic, Dream Red Interior See it in pictures
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04-12-2012, 09:03 PM	#2
jatmallet Private 5 Rep 57 Posts Drives: 07 M Roadster Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: atlanta iTrader: (0)	Others might have a different story, but all three of my keys suffer from the same affliction. Range just isn't very good on these things.
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04-12-2012, 09:08 PM	#3
Daemonblitz Commander 220 Rep 850 Posts Drives: Z4MC/M5/640iX/M1000RR Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Aurora, ON, Canada iTrader: (6) Garage List 2008 BMW M5 [9.50] 2006 Z4M Coupe [8.77] 2010 BMW S1000RR [10.00]	I'm glad I'm not the only one, my range is also horrible, I have to be within 3 feet of the car.
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04-12-2012, 09:14 PM	#4
3002 tii Lieutenant General 2282 Rep 12,565 Posts Drives: Z4 M, X5, GX460 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: CT iTrader: (99) Garage List F15 X5 xDrive35i [8.75] E86 Z4 M [10.00] F10 550i (Retired) [9.17] F25 X3 xDrive35i (R ... [9.43] E82 135is (Retired) [9.50] E85 Z4 M (Retired) [9.41] E90 328i xDrive (Re ... [9.25] E86 Z4 3.0si (Retired) [9.22]	http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=203997 __________________ Follow for latest mods
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04-13-2012, 07:57 AM	#5
Shipkiller Colonel 187 Rep 2,138 Posts Drives: Me Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Virginia Beach iTrader: (3) Garage List 2008 BMW Z4M Coupe [8.50] 2003 BMW Z4 Roadster [8.33]	This has been an issue with the Z4 chassis since it's introduction in 2003. Many, many, MANY threads on this topic....
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04-13-2012, 08:33 AM	#6
maverickdxb Enlisted Member 1 Rep 31 Posts Drives: Z4M Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Dubai iTrader: (0)	us guys in Dubai use our heads 'literally'! press the remote while holding the remote under ur neck. Our heads somehow boost signal strength. Check it out! __________________ '08 BMW Z4M Coupe \| White \| Volk Racing 18" TE37'SL alloys \| 245/35/ZR18 Front 275/35/ZR18 Rear \| H&R Sport springs \| Fox Catback Exhaust \| APR CF front splitter \| Tekarbon CF trunk lip \| ZHP shift knob \| LED DRL etc....
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04-13-2012, 09:40 AM	#7
gferil Captain 30 Rep 740 Posts Drives: 06 Z4MC Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: San Francisco, CA iTrader: (6)	Yeah both of my keys suck, especially in very big and crowded parking structures, I can't even get the remote to work, I have to actually insert the key into the lock!
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04-13-2012, 06:02 PM	#10
wdupdog Private 0 Rep 86 Posts Drives: Z4 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: ND iTrader: (0)	Renesis. The gaptech mod won't be useless. You will be happy you installed it. Makes up/down on the top much more convenient. Should have been that way from factory. Holding remote to chin is as good as you are going to get on reception. Up to 30 feet on mine. And you won't have to hold the button all that time! I've done a few mods, that's still the best one. Good luck!
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04-13-2012, 08:58 PM	#11
Swashplate Major 111 Rep 1,351 Posts Drives: in Anger. Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Newcastle, WA iTrader: (2) Garage List 2009 Mercedes ML320 ... [0.00] 2013 BMW M5 [0.00] 2007 BMW M Coupe' [0.00]	New record I managed to unlock from 25 feel the other day. Was on a slope and I was 10 feet vertically up from car....... Trying to show how crappy the reception was. Bloody typical. __________________ Gone (2006 STI, 2008 EVO MR, 1968 Mustang) AFE Intake/Euro Cats/CSL Headers/Sportline CSL/H&R Springs 1217/1815 !!! BOILER UP !!!
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04-14-2012, 01:38 AM	#12
Nate2046 Lieutenant 16 Rep 421 Posts Drives: '11 e92M Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Indianapolis, In iTrader: (2)	I'm jealous of the guys getting 3 feet! I have to practically hold my key up against the windshield then press the button 6 or 7 times. Such a good look to get of your super cool sports car and not be able to lock it
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04-14-2012, 04:21 AM	#13
Blind32 Certified Adrenaline Junkie 42 Rep 1,325 Posts Drives: '07 Z4MC Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Dallas TX iTrader: (2)	Chin trick FTW. Same issue. Distance is about 10 feet. I've heard the bones in your jaw amplify the signal ?? not sure, I'll probably have a tumor in a few years but its the price we pay...
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04-15-2012, 01:44 AM	#14
WAMz4 First Lieutenant 45 Rep 384 Posts Drives: 2006 Z4 3.0si Roady Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Denver CO iTrader: (0)	Glad I'm not you guys. Mine easily works between 20-30 feet. Very handy when my wife or someone wants to lock her purse or jacket in the trunk and we've already walked away from the car, or if I'm walking toward with one of the kids and they run ahead to get in. The reach seems to be about the same as our other cars. Am I the only one that doesn't have this problem? __________________ The Internet said it. I believe it. That settles it!
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04-15-2012, 08:41 AM	#15
wdupdog Private 0 Rep 86 Posts Drives: Z4 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: ND iTrader: (0)	To get a reliable 30 ft is, I think, unusual. Under the presumption of having two keys, do you all rotate the keys to keep them charged? Anybody charged them using your induction charger on the electric toothbrush? No way to know its working unless a key comes back to life after trying this method. All in all a pretty bad system not having an easily replaceable battery in these keys. Cutting apart and re-soldering a new battery or paying 2-3 hundred at the dealer for a new key is a bit excessive either way.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

04-15-2012, 09:03 PM	#16
renesis Private 5 Rep 62 Posts Drives: 2007 BMW Z4 3.0SI Roadster Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Quebec, Canada iTrader: (0)	okay thanks for the info guys! it's sad to see that this situation is described as "normal" but hey, there are worse things than that! in fact I'm kind of anxious about my gap-tech update since I often press on the unlock button like crazy for it to finally work (light don't always flash) and I don't want the car to end up dropping the top when I don't want it to i.e. when it rains! __________________ 2007 Z4 3.0SI Roadster Sport Package, Premium Package, Bluetooth & BMW Assist Black Sapphirre Metallic, Dream Red Interior See it in pictures
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04-19-2012, 12:31 AM	#18
aerobod Car Geek 3615 Rep 3,585 Posts Drives: Caterham R500, M2-G87, Macan S Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Calgary iTrader: (0)	Not sure why my remote range is actually quite good, but with the "chin trick" i can normally get about 50m (160 ft) of range. In this poor quality phone video, I was about 50m away walking at a fast pace, the roof was completely open while I was still quite a distance from the car: Last edited by aerobod; 04-19-2012 at 01:02 AM..
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