[DTM]

How does it know you are the keyholder when you touch the handle? Is it possible for such a small device to send a signal through the body?

[ksfrogman]

When I have comfort access on and am standing next to the door, my friend can go up to the door and unlock or lock it. It works in close proximity to the specific door.

With comfort access, the key fob also has buttons that function like the non-comfort access one. So you can still remotely open the doors and trunk with the key fob.

If you are driving your car with the windows down, sunroof open and music playing, you can park, press the Stop button and the engine will shut off. The radio stays on. After you leave the car, tap the door handle and it will lock the doors and set the alarm. Hold it down longer and it retracts the mirrors (premium package). Keep holding it and the windows and sunroof close.

[poldim]

No. My guess is that its some kind of sonar sensor that senses something in tha place or infrared sensors that sense the heat change. Then they try to see if the fob is within distance, then if it is, it opens the doors.

[poldim]

Originally Posted by ksfrogman

When I have comfort access on and am standing next to the door, my friend can go up to the door and unlock or lock it. It works in close proximity to the specific door.

With comfort access, the key fob also has buttons that function like the non-comfort access one. So you can still remotely open the doors and trunk with the key fob.

If you are driving your car with the windows down, sunroof open and music playing, you can park, press the Stop button and the engine will shut off. The radio stays on. After you leave the car, tap the door handle and it will lock the doors and set the alarm. Hold it down longer and it retracts the mirrors (premium package). Keep holding it and the windows and sunroof close.

I remember when you could close the windows by holding down the lock button on the fob. I guess they removed tha because of people breaking their kids and pets extremeties off.

[ksfrogman]

My hunch is that the sensors are not infrared or sonar, not light/heat or sound portions of the electromagnetic spectrum.

[ksfrogman]

Originally Posted by poldim

I remember when you could close the windows by holding down the lock button on the fob. I guess they removed tha because of people breaking their kids and pets extremeties off.

Yes, I tried that this AM, and you're right. It doesn't work that way.

[Lost Rider]

So, does it at least work to open all windows and sunroof if you hold down the "open" on the key fob?
Like on the e46.

[poldim]

Originally Posted by ChiTown

So, does it at least work to open all windows and sunroof if you hold down the "open" on the key fob?
Like on the e46.

Yes, but thats on all E90's, not just with CA.

It sort of pisses me off when they remove these things. If you can open them remotely, why shouldn't you be able to close them?


At least have the rain sensor shut the windows if it detects rain.

[ksfrogman]

Originally Posted by ChiTown

So, does it at least work to open all windows and sunroof if you hold down the "open" on the key fob?
Like on the e46.

Hah! You learn something new everyday. I didn't know it could do that, but checked it out, and sure enough the windows and sunroof began to open. Cool.

[poldim]

Originally Posted by ksfrogman

Hah! You learn something new everyday. I didn't know it could do that, but checked it out, and sure enough the windows and sunroof began to open. Cool.

Good to vent as you come upto the boiling E90 in the summer.

[E90Fleet]

No, no infrared, no sonar


In the E90 there is a small shortrange transmitter in each front door and in the trunk lid
When you pull a handle the transmitter sends out a request for a key ID
The key on your pocket responds with its ID number whih is picked up by a antenna in the rear window. If the ID matches the dorr/trunk unlocks

This all happens in less than 1 second

The transmitter is very short range, so they key must be close enough to the door

[DTM]

So there is no security issue with this? Can anybody find any loopholes?

[ksfrogman]

Originally Posted by DTM

So there is no security issue with this? Can anybody find any loopholes?

Well, guess it would be a security issue if someone dragged your body next to a door and opened it (the door, not your body). Of course it would be much easier to take the key fob from you.

When I open the driver's side door with CA, the passenger cannot open the passenger door. The transmitter is very short-range and must be closer than that. If I'm a good boy scout and open the passenger side door first for my occupant (little old lady), the driver's side door unlocks simultaneously.

[db17k]

Originally Posted by poldim

Yes, but thats on all E90's, not just with CA.

It sort of pisses me off when they remove these things. If you can open them remotely, why shouldn't you be able to close them?


At least have the rain sensor shut the windows if it detects rain.

wow really? so if you left your windows and sunroof open and it begins to rain, the car will shut all the windows and sunroof?

[fakerlin]

I think this is what poldim wants the car to do.

[3aficionado]

Originally Posted by db17k

wow really? so if you left your windows and sunroof open and it begins to rain, the car will shut all the windows and sunroof?

No the car doesn’t do this. Also, in the US you cannot close the windows/sunroof by remote. The litigious US consumer would sue if they closed their windows by accident (fob in pocket) while their child or pet gets injured or killed. Remote closing is a feature for some other countries. You can close all windows outside the car in the US by using the key in the drivers door and turning a certain direction for a couple seconds.

[3aficionado]

Originally Posted by E90Fleet

No, no infrared, no sonar

In the E90 there is a small shortrange transmitter in each front door and in the trunk lid
When you pull a handle the transmitter sends out a request for a key ID
The key on your pocket responds with its ID number whih is picked up by a antenna in the rear window. If the ID matches the dorr/trunk unlocks

This all happens in less than 1 second

The transmitter is very short range, so they key must be close enough to the door

You are correct – although I didn’t know it uses the car antenna. The door handle works with electronic touch technology. The easiest comparison is the iPod touch scroll wheel. The fob uses a type of RFID technology which is as E90Fleet posted... a short range transmitter. When the door handle it touched the system is activated and the vehicle (after checking the ID from the fob) performs the action.

Poldim, sonar is a technique that uses sound propagation under water to navigate or to detect other watercraft.

[db17k]

Originally Posted by 3aficionado

No the car doesn’t do this. Also, in the US you cannot close the windows/sunroof by remote. The litigious US consumer would sue if they closed their windows by accident (fob in pocket) while their child or pet gets injured or killed. Remote closing is a feature for some other countries. You can close all windows outside the car in the US by using the key in the drivers door and turning a certain direction for a couple seconds.

and sooooooo i guess the rain thing doesn't work either. booooo

[poldim]

Originally Posted by E90Fleet

No, no infrared, no sonar


In the E90 there is a small shortrange transmitter in each front door and in the trunk lid
When you pull a handle the transmitter sends out a request for a key ID
The key on your pocket responds with its ID number whih is picked up by a antenna in the rear window. If the ID matches the dorr/trunk unlocks

This all happens in less than 1 second

The transmitter is very short range, so they key must be close enough to the door

Thats wrong simply for the fact that in order to activate my CA I have to slip my 4 fingers behind that handle, and while I havent touched the car, it already recognizes that I'm there, authenticates my key fob, and unlocks the car.

I think its either done through eddy current sensors or capacitative sensors. These sensors work by creating an electromagnetic field and simultaniously senses changes in the field. As your hand is placed in the gap between the door handle and the door, the magnetic field changes and begins the authentication process. That would be my best guess.

[poldim]

Originally Posted by fakerlin

I think this is what poldim wants the car to do.

You are correct. I would like this feature to be present since I wouldn't require extra hardware assuming there is a link between the lights/wiper/windows system, possibly through iDrive or the fiber optics data bus.

[poldim]

Originally Posted by 3aficionado

Poldim, sonar is a technique that uses sound propagation under water to navigate or to detect other watercraft.

You are correct. I meant to say sonic motion sensor. Which is essentially sonar just does the same thing through air.

[poldim]

Not sure if they allow hot linking:

LINK

FOR VEHICLES WITH
PASSIVE ACCESS SYSTEM
ONLY APPLIES TO
DRIVER'S SIDE
WHEN ORDERING INDICATE COLOR CODE
10 GRAB HANDLE, PAINT FINISH, RIGHT CA 1 09/2005 51217162844 $246.64

Seems to support my logic since the door handle is $250 from a wholesale discounter.