Extending Remote Range?

[unluky]

I have the SmartTop controller and absolutely love it - best mod to date......but.....the range sucks as it is limited to the key fob range. If you are walking to the car and you do the 3 fob press to open the top, it will not be done before you are to it. Close, but not quite. Still better than the factory remote top I understand, but still not great.

I can unlock my other fob cars from 50-60 yards away at least - even inside a building.

I saw a post where someone took his garage door opener out of his 3 series (I think) and wrapped tin foil around it and it increased the distance it would work.

Anyone even see that tied with the key fob receiver? It is in the mirror or right about it - right?

Just curious - I would pay to extend mine if I could.

Edit #1 - changed some search wording and found this one. http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=195656

Edit #2 - And HOLY HELL - the "hold the fob to your head to extend the range" really freaking works!!!!

[Kimolaoha]

Originally Posted by unluky

Just curious - I would pay to extend mine if I could.

Forgive me, but have you tried the 'key to chin' trick?

[unluky]

I just found that in my search - can't believe I never saw that before or I glazed over it. It really works. I can do it from my office with that method and even from the far side of the parking lot. It seems, with very little testing, to triple the range.

Crazy!

[Kimolaoha]

Originally Posted by unluky

I just found that in my search - can't believe I never saw that before or I glazed over it. It really works. I can do it from my office with that method and even from the far side of the parking lot. It seems, with very little testing, to triple the range.

Crazy!

Of course, the trade off is that it will turn your brain to 'cream of wheat' before your next scheduled oil change . . .

But I've been using that trick for years with no apparent . . . no apparent . . . . umm, wait a minute . . . what the hell were we talking about?

[XMetal]

Of course it works...Good way to use your head as an antenna! Hoped you like radio waves radiating through your brain

[unluky]

If I have any brain left at this point........it certainly can't be much. Beside, last I checked I could get about 20 channels on my radio and those are going through my brain too.

[Vanne]

weird my fob works from about 50m away, i use it in car parks all the time to find the car. its got better range than my Jeep.

[Finnegan]

Originally Posted by Vanne

weird my fob works from about 50m away, i use it in car parks all the time to find the car. its got better range than my Jeep.

There are two types of mirrors the Z4M came with, a newer "square" version and an older "oval" version. The square has a better antenna IIRC.

[Koevoet]

If it is just not quick enough.... have you ever thought of walking a bit slower

[itdnwiwbp]

I'll have to try the chin trick. I have the oval mirror and I pretty much have to be touching the car to unlock it.

[Vanne]

that cant be it, I have the oval mirror too.. but ive removed the autodiming function.... hmm..

[unluky]

Mine is the oval mirror as well. If what I read was right, the square one is the new one with the improved range.

Try the chin thing - I was amazed how well it worked. Used it twice today already.

With the smart top you have to hit the unlock button 3 times with a little delay in between (1 second?) and that unlocks, rolls the windows down and puts the top down. Without the chin I can barely do it soon enough to get to the car and wait a few seconds for it to finish. With the chin I can do it from my office and it is done before I get outside or on the other side of the parking lot.

Look like an idiot, but it works amazingly well. Not just a little bit for me, but probably close to triple. Very weird. And I tried it with and without it touching my chin, and touching the chin really does it - not just holding it up that way.

The nerd in me wants to measure it........

[bignosejim]

Just raising my hand above my head increases range a lot. But I have a Coupe so I don't need to wait for the top to lower.

[StickMon]

I saw Jezzer test the "hold the fob to your head to extend the range" trick on Top Gear.
Tried it myself, and holy rats, it does work.
I'm a telecomm Engineer, and it doesn't make any sense to me.

[unluky]

LOL - I want to see that one. I will have to search for it!

Edit - found it.

[Kimolaoha]

Originally Posted by unluky

LOL - I want to see that one. I will have to search for it! Edit - found it.

Thanks!

It's simple -- oscillating protons. Precisely what I've been saying for years!
Any fool could have deduced that, right?
And that's exactly why I also carry an 8.34 pound gallon jug of water around with me everywhere I go.