Key remote range for unlocking/locking doors sucks!

Mossberg128i · 09-03-2014, 04:07 PM

So I have a 128i and my keys both have very limited range. I literally need to be within 5ft of my car to unlock or lock the doors using the key remote. I can roll down my windows and open my sun roof with the remote, but what's the point if I need to be standing right next to my car. Does everyone else have the same issue?

XHRL · 09-03-2014, 04:12 PM

I also have the same issue, annoying when I forget to lock the car and try to lock it after walking away from it..

kobeballer96 · 09-03-2014, 04:22 PM

Replace the battery takes 10 secs

631twentyeighteye · 09-03-2014, 04:28 PM

It's terrible on my car as well. non comfort access so no replaceable battery.

Joepiper151 · 09-03-2014, 04:32 PM

I've noticed the same thing, I just replaced the battery in my car and in the remote and it still sucks! my $4,000 Honda was more convenient in that aspect.

kobeballer96 · 09-03-2014, 04:35 PM

I don't what to tell you guys lol. I have comfort access. One day I was actually mad it! Put my clothes on the floor with my keys in the pocket and the next morning my windows were all down and sunroof open. thank goodness I caught it before it starting raining and nothing was stolen. I lived on the 2nd floor in Germany and the car was about 15 to 20 feet from where the pants where from the car.

Mossberg128i · 09-03-2014, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kobeballer96

Replace the battery takes 10 secs

I bought an additional key to "fix" the issue, same problem. I don't think the 128i keys have a replaceable battery. They charge when driving. Or are you saying replace the car battery? I doubt replacing the car battery is the fix, if so, it would have died a long time ago.

I think the 1 series just made shitty range reception. (If that's the name for it)

kobeballer96 · 09-03-2014, 04:42 PM

I have comfort access so my keys have a battery in it. The kind you put in watches.

Mossberg128i · 09-03-2014, 04:55 PM

Thanks everyone. I guess lacking comfort access explains the poor range.

skyscraper_g80 · 09-03-2014, 08:23 PM

Trick is to hold the key remote against the side of your head whilst unlocking- no joke, it improves the range noticeably. Jeremy Clarkson did this in one of the first episodes of Top Gear, apparently your head acts as an antenna and amplifies the signal.

tuphdc · 09-03-2014, 09:08 PM

2009 128i and the range on my keyfob is around 20ft.

MarkkyyMan · 09-03-2014, 09:18 PM

My girlfriend always makes fun of me for this.

MightyMouseTech · 09-03-2014, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by evolution42

Trick is to hold the key remote against the side of your head whilst unlocking- no joke, it improves the range noticeably. Jeremy Clarkson did this in one of the first episodes of Top Gear, apparently your head acts as an antenna and amplifies the signal.

Do this all the time at work. Best is to put the remote against your chin. Look like an idiot, but doubles the range.

Harlequin · 09-03-2014, 10:08 PM

Metal-based tint can also massively screw up the range on the Remote...

andrey_gta · 09-04-2014, 01:19 AM

If we can find the antena in real oem. We can improve it....

Let's dig in

RoundelM3 · 09-04-2014, 08:15 AM

Well, once again here's a problem I've never had with the wife's 128i convertible (2011 MY) with no comfort access. I've locked/unlocked from 100 ft. away. Helps to aim at the rearview mirror/front of car, but I've never had to be as close as 5 ft. to make it work.

SNOOPYJC1 · 09-04-2014, 10:32 AM

I was having the same issue with my fob, but after a roas trip home (4 hours) my range is now extended. Guess it needed the charge time to fully achieve the desired results.

If anyone has any quick fixes, please spill the beans! Not getting any younger

09-03-2014, 04:07 PM	#1
Mossberg128i Private 43 Rep 85 Posts Drives: 2011 BMW 128i Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Texas iTrader: (0)	Key remote range for unlocking/locking doors sucks! So I have a 128i and my keys both have very limited range. I literally need to be within 5ft of my car to unlock or lock the doors using the key remote. I can roll down my windows and open my sun roof with the remote, but what's the point if I need to be standing right next to my car. Does everyone else have the same issue?
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09-03-2014, 04:12 PM	#2
XHRL Private 3 Rep 90 Posts Drives: 2011 135i Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Philadelphia iTrader: (1)	I also have the same issue, annoying when I forget to lock the car and try to lock it after walking away from it..
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09-03-2014, 04:22 PM	#3
kobeballer96 Major 175 Rep 1,491 Posts Drives: 6SPD E82 Join Date: May 2013 Location: North Carolina iTrader: (4)	Replace the battery takes 10 secs
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09-03-2014, 04:28 PM	#4
631twentyeighteye Colonel 198 Rep 2,239 Posts Drives: 08 335i Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Long island iTrader: (7)	It's terrible on my car as well. non comfort access so no replaceable battery. __________________ 08 e93 335i MT
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09-03-2014, 04:32 PM	#5
Joepiper151 Enlisted Member 5 Rep 41 Posts Drives: 08 135i Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: VA iTrader: (1) Garage List 2008 BMW 135i [0.00]	I've noticed the same thing, I just replaced the battery in my car and in the remote and it still sucks! my $4,000 Honda was more convenient in that aspect.
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09-03-2014, 04:35 PM	#6
kobeballer96 Major 175 Rep 1,491 Posts Drives: 6SPD E82 Join Date: May 2013 Location: North Carolina iTrader: (4)	I don't what to tell you guys lol. I have comfort access. One day I was actually mad it! Put my clothes on the floor with my keys in the pocket and the next morning my windows were all down and sunroof open. thank goodness I caught it before it starting raining and nothing was stolen. I lived on the 2nd floor in Germany and the car was about 15 to 20 feet from where the pants where from the car.
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09-03-2014, 04:42 PM	#8
kobeballer96 Major 175 Rep 1,491 Posts Drives: 6SPD E82 Join Date: May 2013 Location: North Carolina iTrader: (4)	I have comfort access so my keys have a battery in it. The kind you put in watches.
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09-03-2014, 04:55 PM	#9
Mossberg128i Private 43 Rep 85 Posts Drives: 2011 BMW 128i Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Texas iTrader: (0)	Thanks everyone. I guess lacking comfort access explains the poor range.
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09-03-2014, 08:23 PM	#10
skyscraper_g80 First Lieutenant 371 Rep 339 Posts Drives: 2022 G80 M3 Competition xDrive Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Sydney iTrader: (0) Garage List 2022 BMW M3 Competi ... [0.00] 2006 BMW 130i M-Sport [8.50] 2007 BMW 335i M-Sport [10.00]	Trick is to hold the key remote against the side of your head whilst unlocking- no joke, it improves the range noticeably. Jeremy Clarkson did this in one of the first episodes of Top Gear, apparently your head acts as an antenna and amplifies the signal.
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09-03-2014, 09:08 PM	#11
tuphdc Second Lieutenant 20 Rep 212 Posts Drives: 09 BMW 128i 6MT Sport Pkg Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: King of Prussia, PA iTrader: (0)	2009 128i and the range on my keyfob is around 20ft.
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09-03-2014, 09:18 PM	#12
MarkkyyMan Captain 38 Rep 701 Posts Drives: 2010 BMW 128i Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Indiana, U.S. iTrader: (0)	My girlfriend always makes fun of me for this. __________________ http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=968996
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09-03-2014, 10:08 PM	#14
Harlequin Brigadier General 331 Rep 4,021 Posts Drives: F32 Coupé Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Brisbane, Australia BMW Club QLD Member iTrader: (5) Garage List 2015 428i M-Sport [8.40] 2012 1M Coupé [9.25] 2011 135i M-Sport [9.14]	Metal-based tint can also massively screw up the range on the Remote... __________________
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09-04-2014, 01:19 AM	#15
andrey_gta Brigadier General 298 Rep 4,040 Posts Drives: 130i coupé ;) Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Bimmerpost iTrader: (1) Garage List 2008 BMW 128i [10.00]	If we can find the antena in real oem. We can improve it.... Let's dig in __________________ 128i Sport 6MT converted to Euro 130i spec, 3.73 diff, tuned by evolve ~220 whp 207 wtq(ft-lb) SAE In-progress: //M front arm, M3 rack, e36M lip Wishlist: Coils, n55 mnts, headers, LSD, e60 finn diff "The 1-series is the last car that BMW engineered before the Germans, as a car-making culture, fell out of love with driving." - R&T 2013 135is
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09-04-2014, 08:15 AM	#16
RoundelM3 Major General 1837 Rep 6,990 Posts Drives: 15 F80 M3, 22 G01 X3 30i Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Clayton, NC iTrader: (2) Garage List 2022 BMW X3 [9.83] 2015 BMW M3 [6.50]	Well, once again here's a problem I've never had with the wife's 128i convertible (2011 MY) with no comfort access. I've locked/unlocked from 100 ft. away. Helps to aim at the rearview mirror/front of car, but I've never had to be as close as 5 ft. to make it work. __________________ 2015 F80 ///M3 Sedan 7DCT Tanzanite, 2022 X3 sDrive30i 8AT Brooklyn Grey
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09-04-2014, 10:32 AM	#17
SNOOPYJC1 New Member 4 Rep 28 Posts Drives: 2011 BMW 128I Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: DALLAS, TEXAS iTrader: (0)	128 Key Fob Range I was having the same issue with my fob, but after a roas trip home (4 hours) my range is now extended. Guess it needed the charge time to fully achieve the desired results. If anyone has any quick fixes, please spill the beans! Not getting any younger
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