2008 Key stopped working. $50 got it fixed

[RBull]

Originally Posted by ncnmra

Oy vey. That makes perfect sense: krappy range, change the mirror! I do that when I don't like my figure too

Mine is better than "2 feet", but I used to be able to open the top up by pressing and holding the remote button, but now I find it doesn't work unless I am standing very close. I suspect that the signal is weak, and it needs to be seen as "pressed" by the car for a long period of time, and any interruption breaks the process.

You lost me on the mirror and figure comments.

[ncnmra]

Originally Posted by RBull

You lost me on the mirror and figure comments.

It was a joke referring to the perceived randomness of the solution relating to the problem. BMW's solution to fixing range is to use a different shaped mirror (technical reasons being likely a better antenna). The joke was a reference that if I don't like how I look, I do the same thing, and buy a new mirror ("fun house style").

Nevermind, its not funny anymore, you killed the moment.

[StickMon]

You're just not using it correctly.
You have to hold it under your chin with the key pointing up touching the bottom of your chin.
As seen on Top Gear.
Here's another fairly recent thread on it.

[inTgr8r]

Originally Posted by ncnmra

It was a joke referring to the perceived randomness of the solution relating to the problem. BMW's solution to fixing range is to use a different shaped mirror (technical reasons being likely a better antenna). The joke was a reference that if I don't like how I look, I do the same thing, and buy a new mirror ("fun house style").

Nevermind, its not funny anymore, you killed the moment.

Lol, went right over my head as well.

Yes, the mirror thing relates to antenna design.
There are some old discussions on the topic.
Funny thing is that it's not consistent as relates to the mirror.
Mine works from 20' or more without resorting to the chin technique.

[XMetal]

The mirror fix is just a band-aid, IMHO. I have the oblong mirror and the range is still horrible.

[RBull]

Originally Posted by ncnmra

It was a joke referring to the perceived randomness of the solution relating to the problem. BMW's solution to fixing range is to use a different shaped mirror (technical reasons being likely a better antenna). The joke was a reference that if I don't like how I look, I do the same thing, and buy a new mirror ("fun house style").

Nevermind, its not funny anymore, you killed the moment.

Thanks for the explanation. I've never heard of fun house style but I get what you mean anyhow.

I usually find if its the type of joke you have to explain it killed itself.

[StickMon]

ncnmra
I got it, and it made me LOL.

[SaltyNC]

ncnmra
We can't diagnose your range problem without pics. Please take a selfie of you holding a key under your chin. A double chin and lumpy body parts cause problems with wave propagation via the Huygens-Fresnel principle.

Salty

[inTgr8r]

Originally Posted by SaltyNC

ncnmra
We can't diagnose your range problem without pics. Please take a selfie of you holding a key under your chin. A double chin and lumpy body parts cause problems with wave propagation via the Huygens-Fresnel principle.

Salty

^




.....nicely played

[StickMon]

I don't know if I like where this is going, but the Huygens-Fresnel reference is brilliant.

[rplamb]

This is a very weird thread if you start reading from the back, forward.

[ncnmra]

Originally Posted by SaltyNC

ncnmra
We can't diagnose your range problem without pics. Please take a selfie of you holding a key under your chin. A double chin and lumpy body parts cause problems with wave propagation via the Huygens-Fresnel principle.

Salty

Maybe that's my problem. I've recently started obsessively watching my food intake and working out. I've lost 20 lbs; now @ 165lbs (5'11"). I have no double chin, so I guess the referenced method won't work as well due to decreased BMI Although, for the record, the Top Gear episode had you holding the key to your temple, not your chin, and eerily enough, it does work; other than looking like a total knob practising the method.

Still, I think with the randomness of the BMW design, we should refer to the Heisenberg Principle instead...due to the uncertainly of the effort

[StickMon]

My car's powered by an Infinite Improbability Drive.
After all of the work I've done on it, it still runs, which approaches infinitely improbable.

[rsutoratosu]

im thinking of sending mine in.. its annoying that I have to be 2-3 ft or closer and since its likely not the battery or mirror... this is probably the way to go

[SaltyNC]

Originally Posted by ncnmra

Maybe that's my problem. I've recently started obsessively watching my food intake and working out. I've lost 20 lbs; now @ 165lbs (5'11").

Congrats! When I was running longer distances, I was about your size.

Salty

[Vanne]

Page is back up

[Patrick Gent]

Sending the key to be rebuilt is unlikely to fix the range. When my CPO M Coupe was under warranty, I took it to two dealers complaining about the key range, the professional opinion from both service departments was ""yeah, it kinda sucks on these cars." Sure glad I did not buy the car new for $62,000 and get this.

Chin method (I guess temple would work too--theory is using your skull as an antenna for the key--maybe I will try dead center on the top of my head) improves range. I heard on Car Talk a guy with an Audi with the same solution.

[unluky]

The head thing works - as stupid as it sounds.....and as stupid as you feel doing it. On my car it at least triples the range in open areas. I can see my car from my office window, but it will never work unless I hold it to my head when I'm in there.

I use my temple as it is easier to seem like you are scratching your head instead of using a jedi mind trick to improve the crappy range of your car's fob.

[Huz-Z]

Using one's own head to amplify electromagnetic radiation go to be good for ya!

[unluky]

I have to guess it is .000000000000000000000000000000001 % of what cell phones do to us!

[Huz-Z]

Originally Posted by unluky

I have to guess it is .000000000000000000000000000000001 % of what cell phones do to us!

We are so screwed LOL!!!!

[Vanne]

Can you imagine all those wifi signals in the air and what thats doing to your head.. in my job I pass through security scanners all the time, every chance I get I get them to pat me down.