2009 BMW 750i: Chime In

Keyless start is awesome. Screw fumbling for your keys.

When I first got it in my car, I accidentally left it in the car. Considering my car had an autolock feature, I was kind of freaking out.

Luckily it didn't lock the drivers door, just the passenger.

I like the Falcon better.

How much you wanna bet that Falcon is still running long after the BMW's electronics have croaked, sending it to the great crusher?

750's drivetrain in the Falcon.....hmmmmm

+1 texases

I have always thought that the older cars that predate the electronics are alot like AK-47's they are considered old, ugly, and generally don't hold a candle to newer weapons/cars.

But in 50 years they're still around running often with parts made from recycled bits of the new cars.

Is that bodyblue's car?

My car beeps when the key leave the running car, it is annoying, I wish it doesn't beep, I always know where my key is.

@hybris:

i am not much of a gun guy, but i have often found the AK to be a different kind of beautiful. in no other industry can you find a product that hasn't changed in 62 years. that kind of quality is not found anywhere else. and if they didn't hold a candle to current weapons, then why are they still one of the top selling weapons in the world?

Unfortunately that's bad implementation on BMW's part.

For a cheap example, in any Nissan keyless entry system, from the Versa to the Maxima, the keyfob system is essentially the same. If the key leaves the cabin while the car is on, it beeps and beeps and beeps.

I forgot to add... in addition, in the dash there will be a red key light blinking.

well my 135i dings when I pop out of the car and its running... seems odd the 7er doesn't

I still don't think I've sen a better system than the one in my 06 Infiniti g35. Keep the key in your pocket all the time, turn a know to start the car and shut it off just like a normal car, and it bee[ps like crazy if they key isn't in the car. it even warns when the key battery is low.

My 335i gives a chime and warning on the iDrive screen and the status screen between the speedo and tach if I leave the car with the key in my pocket. It even informed me when it was time to change the battery in the remote. If only I could use that technology to find my wife's key that was recently misplaced. :-/

My only objection to the new key technology is that it is another way to squeeze money from customers. I am not sure how much of a difference it will make in theft prevention in the long term, but it seems to be a good idea right now. I miss the days of $1 replacement keys at the hardware store, but I also appreciate that if I lost all the keys to my 335i, I could have a replacement key without having to replace anything else.

@texases: Well if the rust wouldn't eat up the car perhaps the Falcon can outlast this bimmer.

@ wobbly_ears,

No.

It's more like this is another reason how BMW fails at there keyless entry/start execution. If they had it done right (like many other manufactures) whenever the car is not detecting the key then a warning message will appear in the gauge cluster along with a chime.

my 08 x5 beeps when the key is outside the car- i am not sure why this 750li does not. maybe a setting?

There's a distinct difference between Donna's example and the examples from the other BMW owners here. I Donna's case, she had the car in drive. In your cases, the car was in park.

Sounds like it's time for a few experiments.

I have a 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer with the keyless start. Friggin' LOVE it to bits. I despise having keys now. And it's funny that this story is posted today. I was just thinking this exact thought earlier.

It was a frosty morning and I started my car to warm it up (just for a minute), as I was gathering my bag for work. As I left it started beeping. It beeps for about 6 seconds or so. The digital screen between the gauges also changes from it's usual redish/orange, to a yellow and say "Confirm key location". And I thought frick, I wish I could turn that off. But then immediate after, I remembered a time where my girlfriend dropped me off at work and drove my car home, and I almost forgot to give her the key.

Anyways... I love keyless start. I'll never have a car again without it.

With an actual key, you don't have to worry about remembering to pass off the key to another driver because it is still in the ignition. This is another reason why keyless start is stupid.

Also, I don't have the luxury of driving into an attached garage, and I have to dig in my pocket for my door key anyway.

It would not be a convenience for me, it would be an unnecessary hassle.

@ altimadude00,

Have you ever drive a car with keyless entry/start for a long period of time before? Seems to me a lot of people changed their thoughts about it AFTER they actually own one with it or at least spend a long period of time with one.

louiswei--No I haven't. And if after using it for a while I change my opinion, I'll eat my words. Until then, a key meets my needs just fine. There is nothing fundamentally wrong with a key.

Computers were supposed to herald in the paperless revolution just as keyless ignition is doing for the key. I don't see it happening in the same way as I don't see anything wrong with writing on paper.

"There's a distinct difference between Donna's example and the examples from the other BMW owners here. I Donna's case, she had the car in drive. In your cases, the car was in park."

Which is probably why it didn't chime or warn the driver the fob wasn't present.

I would bet that that there is an iDrive setting that controls the warnings if you've left the car with the key. iDrive controls all.

@louiswei

"It's more like this is another reason how BMW fails at there keyless entry/start execution. If they had it done right (like many other manufactures) whenever the car is not detecting the key then a warning message will appear in the gauge cluster along with a chime."

It should have done what nealibob stated, mine do that. There's an exclamation and a missing key icon along with a gong.

@benson2175,

"I would bet that that there is an iDrive setting that controls the warnings if you've left the car with the key. iDrive controls all."

There isn't. If anything, iDrive warns too much. For 2009 they added a gong volume setting, but the lowest one is still too loud.

As the other persons who speak from BMW experience, the cars do give you warnings. The only functionally correct reason to not give you a warning when removing a key is if you have the second key in the car, or you missed it the warnings, as the 335 owner above states.

Both the M3, X6 definitely do give you a clear notification that the key is not present. The WHOLE iDrive screen (DVD-based iDrive version) changes to notify you.

Maybe there's an issue with the sensitivity.

It's actually quite a smart system, however sensitivity is not quite as precise as you'd expect. I had the key in my jacket and I threw it in the trunk, the M3 would pop the trunk automatically every time I closed it, so I couldn't lock my keys in it. Took the key out, it detected that immediately.

Everything would have been fine...right up to where you shut it down and tried to restart it! He-he-he!!! This, to me, is a MAJOR shortcoming of this design on this and other cars with related systems.

there must be some setting for this. my M45 beeps when you leave with the keys and even tells you on the display between the speedometer and tachometer.

6 years ago my dad got a new Lexus LS430 with the keyless drive. I was visiting at the holidays, using his car and figured I'd be a good son and get it washed. Pulled up to the car wash lane, the attendant came up and took my request, killed the motor using the start/stop button. I then hoped out and walked over to the Wendy's next door for a quick burger. Came back 30 minutes later to find about 15 cars stacked up behind the Lexus, which was still sitting where I left it, not running because the key was still safely in my pocket! Car wash guy laughed and said it was the second time that week it had happened. Agree with the below post, it's the answer to the question no one asked.

@wobbly_ears: I agree. Simple turn-key ignition systems were always fine, if you ask me. Usually they're still used in some form as a backup if the key fob runs out of battery power.

And really, turn-key ignitions are better for emergency situations, like say, your car accelerates unintentionally (are you reading this, Toyota?). Gotta stop the car fast? Turn the engine off and mash your brakes; they'll still work without the power assist. Sure as hell better than holding down the start/stop button for 3 seconds traveling at 100mph (that's about 440 ft covered in that time, by the way). Let's also not forget about braking distances too.

Call me old fashioned, but I think that there wasn't really ever anything wrong with turn-key ignition systems. I can see the merits of these newer systems, but the benefits don't seem worth it to me. It seems though that plenty of people like them, and that's fine. As long as I have a choice though, I'll always go for a turn-key ignition system.

Sure the car didnt warn you that there was no key in the car? On my FX50s if the engine is on and the key is not inside the car then the info display on the instrument panel shows you a big picture of a key.

I would imagine that BMW would use the same sort of warning system.

I can see how this could pose a problem for you guys who constantly switch cars, but if the car was a daily driver, I'd probably have the fob attached to my other keys (IE house keys/work keys, etc). Therefore, the keys are always with me. I like push button start, but I also like the traditional keys too. Push start/smartkey or whatever you call it isn't a deal-breaker or maker for me. But, after much digression, I feel a warning chime is appropriate and am kinda surprised a high-end BMW does not have one.

PS that Falcon needs a little TLC, but I've always had a special place in my heart for them. Sweet car!

@zoomzoomn,

"This, to me, is a MAJOR shortcoming of this design on this and other cars with related systems."

The car remaining running with no key is done that way by design. How is it a shortcoming? There's always a chance the battery in the fob could die while you're driving and the car no longer detects the key. This is no different than leaving the key behind or tossing it out the window. It would be dangerous to have the car suddenly shut off or force you to stop. If the battery does die and you get a "no key" warning, you can always just insert the fob into the dash.

@jackson611

I'm not saying that the AK-47 is ugly (I love it enough to own 2)

And I agree its the ultimate in "If its not broken don't fix it.".

My Dad had a '65 Falcon Futura Sprint with a 289-4V and top loader 4 speed.......it had the ignition right where it is supposed to be....on the dash..lol. I would take that car of his ANY day over any BMW. For the younger folks who never had to chance to drive older cars you honestly cant understand.....dont get me wrong I love new cars too, but new cars are just so souless.....this argument over something so silly as keyless ignition just proves it. If you think you cant live without it then we arent even speaking the same language.

isellcars00 says:

04:41 PM, 11/11/09

Is that bodyblue's car?

You act like that would be an insult.....how little you know. I could care less what other people think of what I drive, unlike so many that drive expensive cars. If you sell cars like your name implies then I realize your cant understand what the hell I am even talking about.

BMW 7 series fails......I´ll give this system the big FAIL STAMP.

@Hybirs: Is it legal to own AK-47s? I didn't know that... The dude who designed it just turned 90 the other week.

@super_ongoy
If they are semi-automatic only then its legal.

Sorry about the double post this question came to mind.

Is there a car out there with said keyless start that if the key were to leave the car while the engine is running the engine will simply shut off?

It seems to me that would the more logical and common sense way of doing a keyless start system.

And no I don't have any vehicles that have a keyless start.