[Bosniak]

Hi people.

I bought my G30 a few months ago and noticed that the range on the key fob is terrible. I have to get all the way up to the car before it unlocks. I made sure to switch out the batteries with the same ones which were in before (brand new ofc), but it was still the same. I had a F11 previously and still have a Mercedes W205 and on those 2 cars, the range was and is easily 30 meters. I asked BMW about it and they were pretty much, just as baffled as I was.

I just assumed that it was designed that way to prevent those programs which can copy a key and let people steal it, until I remembered that the car is from 2017 and the ‘car stealing by copying the key with a pc’ thing was relatively recently. After the cars production.

So my question is, is this a normal thing for G30 and the other BMWs which use that type of key?
If it isn’t what’s causing it and is there a fix?

Thank you in advance!

*The key looks like the attached picture*

[AP]

Range for me is about 10 feet
I deliberately set it up so it doesn’t unlock automatically in presence of the key , I just have it setup to lock once the key is away from the car

Playing safe with it

[Bosniak]

Is it something that can be coded/costumised?

[AP]

In idrive there are the options to unlock or lock

I just selected lock to guard against the car being unlocked when the key is close by , say a petrol station when you might be away from the car paying for your fuel and the car opens up
In reality as the range is about 10 feet give or take, a risk I didn’t want to take.

Have to ask the coding guys if there are other options .

To be honest I wish the car didn’t have this. It’s a nice feature but it does have its potential security concerns

The latest keys do switch off if they are not moving about but still….

I err on the safe side

[mimoon]

My one key fob has a really long range and the other key has a really short range. I do not know why.

[tuzii]

mine rarely works

[buddyboy]

You can test the signal range and battery life remaining via ISTA+, usually if the battery is getting low the usable range reduces dramatically.

[mimoon]

The batteries are new

[Bosniak]

Originally Posted by buddyboy

You can test the signal range and battery life remaining via ISTA+, usually if the battery is getting low the usable range reduces dramatically.

That was my first thought aswell, but bought brand new duracell batteries and it’s still exactly the same.

[MRDILLONS]

My Nissan Maxima had way more range than this key fob. I was surprised at the distance needed but I guess their counter is you can use the app. Hondas are terrible too

[Valvecap]

One of mine has great range (easily 10+ metres) the other is way worse (3 metres if lucky). Both have new batteries. Dealer can’t explain it.