I spent all last week behind the wheel of our Long-Term BMW 750i, and in that time I learned a thing or three about its less obvious features. We all know it drives like a magic carpet and coddles like a Beverly Hills spa, but why doesn't the keyless entry seem to work, what's with the USB port in the glovebox, and how long does it take to rip Dark Side of the Moon to the car's on-board music hard drive?
All this and more after the jump.
No Ruffles Means No Keyless Entry
I've tried, off-and-on over the past eight months, to get our long-term BMW 750i's door to unlock without using the buttons on the keyfob. After a few seconds of swiping, pushing and pulling the exterior door handle I always get frustrated and just hit the keyfob button to get in and go. I finally did a little RTFM last week and learned the exterior door handles need to have a subtle set of "ruffles" (for lack of a better term) on the top of the door handle (just to the left of my hand in the photo above). If your BMW doesn't have these (our long-term 2009 BMW M3 does) then it doesn't have keyless entry. Hard to believe this is an extra-cost option on BMW's $80,000 top-end sedan -- but it is. You'll have to spring for the $1,700 Convenience Package to get "Comfort Access" on your 7 Series (also includes "soft close" doors and power-operated trunk).
Why is there a USB Port in the Glovebox?
Speaking of missing options, our long-term 7 Series has no USB port in the center console for listening to external music players (ala iPod/iPhone), but it does have a USB port in the glovebox. Why?
Because this port can be used to upload information to the car's computer, including a driver profile and music stored on a jump drive. In theory you can have one BMW all set up just the way you like it and then export those settings to a jump drive. Slide said drive into another BMW's USB port and import the settings so you don't have to start from scratch on the new Bimmer's plethora of adjustments via iDrive.
I say "in theory" because I could not get our car's USB port to recognize anything I plugged into it. I put some songs on a jump drive to try uploading them into the car's music hard drive but it wouldn't recognize the drive. You're also supposed to be able to upload music from a music player, but it also wouldn't recognize my iPhone when I plugged it into the port. I know the port works because it will charge my iPhone when it's plugged in. It's ironic because the owner's manual says not to use this USB port to charge devices, but that's the only thing it did seem capable of doing.
Let 'er Rip!
Thankfully, the USB port isn't the only pathway to the 750i's music hard drive. You can also rip CD's the old fashioned way. Just put one in the CD slot and scroll to the "Store in vehicle" option. This method worked as advertised in the owner's manual, ripping CD's to the car's 12 gig hard drive in about 2 minutes per song. Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon and The Cars Greatest Hits took approximately 10 minutes (those are densely packed CDs), while Rush's Hold Your Fire (with eight songs) took 5.
Auto Up Windows, but only when Door is Shut
One last technology quirk I noticed while playing around with the BMW 750i -- the auto-up windows only work when the doors are shut. At first I thought the driver's window was broken, as it would lower with a single push but I had to hold it to make the window close. All the other windows were working both directions so I made a note to have this looked at. Then I shut the driver's door and happened to try again. It worked fine. Not sure where this programming comes from, but if you happen to have you BMW's doors open and the windows won't auto up, don't panic.
Karl Brauer, Edmunds.com Editor in Chief @ 22,930 miles
pat1usmc says:
05:16 AM, 12/ 7/09
Interesting observations. Most owners probably wouldn't figure those things out for a while.
The comfort access doesn't surprise me with BMW, they love to charge extra for little things. $1700 for the option is ridiculous though if you don't want the other stuff. Just as a comparison, the Nissan Versa has comfort access lumped in with remote start, 16" alloy wheels, bluetooth, and a leather-wrapped steeling wheel with audio controls for $980. An option like that can't cost too much for the manufacturer. But hey, a folding rear seat on an $85,000 M5 will cost you another $475.
pat1usmc says:
06:08 AM, 12/ 7/09
Oh, and comfort access came STANDARD in my Hyundai Genesis.
chuckg says:
06:09 AM, 12/ 7/09
Here's an $80k+ BMW and you have to pay extra for a power operated trunk? You gotta be kidding me. And BMW went all out with a 12 gig hard drive in their radio unit? Even Chrysler's Mygig unit has a 30 gig hard drive in it.
I think I'll pass on BMW's.
markedwards says:
07:00 AM, 12/ 7/09
Regarding the USB port in the glove box. I had the same issue with the first couple of flash drives I tried in my new 3-series. Then I realized that both of mine had been reformatted. I bought a new drive, resisting the urge to wipe away the junk included by default, and it worked perfectly. Not sure why my existing ones didn't work even after they'd been wiped with new FAT32 partitions. But given that multi-GB flash drives can be had for less than $10, it's not worth my time to figure out.
uncanny_man says:
09:01 AM, 12/ 7/09
Good post. Quite informative.
7driver says:
09:29 AM, 12/ 7/09
markedwards (and Karl),
Can you try reformatting your thumb drive to FAT16 and giving it another go? Factory formatting of these things used to often be (and sometimes still are) formatted as FAT16 instead of FAT32.
mark19 says:
09:40 AM, 12/ 7/09
wow someone is still using FAT16? We should call BMW and welcome from the early 90's into the 21st century!
minibro77 says:
10:54 AM, 12/ 7/09
O.k. I have to honestly say that with the way this car performs and for what it does come with, the fact that it doesn't come standard with Comfort Access isn't a deal breaker for me at least. This is not the car you buy for this reason and it is at least offered for people who would like this feature. The fact that it came standard on someone elses Hyundai is irrelevant since last time I looked Hyundai wasn't "The Ultimate Driving Machine." Nice cars for sure but the person buying this car isn't going to usually decline their purchase because it's not a standard feature. Everyone is entitled to their opinion though and I respect that.
bimmerjay says:
11:38 AM, 12/ 7/09
Regarding the USB drive - it should be reformatted to FAT32 and should then work fine. I had no problems on my first try. If there's autorun junk on it that could cause problems.
pat1usmc says:
11:48 AM, 12/ 7/09
minibro - of course the BMW has a lot going for it, its obviously a fantastic car. But just being a BMW with the slogan of Ultimate Driving machine shouldn't be an excuse to leave off features that much cheaper cars have or lump them into an expensive option package. The 7-series is supposed to be the "driver's LUXURY car." An $80,000 luxury car. Comfort access should be standard in 2009.
petrolhead85 says:
11:52 AM, 12/ 7/09
Seriously?!? You have to pay $1700 extra just to get keyless entry in BMW's flagship model. I know the Germans are the masters of the crazy-expensive-options-that-should-be-standard, and in the grand scheme of things, keyless entry isn't that big a deal, however, for a new-for-2009 model, I still think it's inexcusable. And yes, I'd still buy one if I had the money!
As for the rest of the annoying electronic niggles, I think BMW and the other Euro luxury brands should poach some of the electronic systems designers from Lexus and Ford. From what I've seen recently, they've actually figured out how to design a user interface (and iPod intergration) that just sort of works. Now there's a novel idea!
PS: I'm really liking that Rolex in the first and last photos. Is that an Air King or an Oyster Perpetual?
crackheadalley says:
11:56 AM, 12/ 7/09
It only works with the BMW Lifestyle USB drive, specification LL-001 -BS0010101/09. You can get those as part of the "i-user experience interface'. Comes with a coffee mug, a cap, a set of perforated leather driving gloves and an autographed picture of Chris Bangle. Retails for $399.99 but you get get a coupon good for 5% off if you sign-up for the BMW Lifestyle Magazine.
creeper says:
11:57 AM, 12/ 7/09
as for the auto up windows not functioning with the doors open, this is likely a safety feature since you may be leaning on the door frame or holding the door open with your hand as you press the button to close the windows. bmw is betting that you'll let go of the switch as soon as you feel pressure on your other hand which is cheaper to implement than an auto reverse feature.
minibro77 says:
12:00 PM, 12/ 7/09
pat1usmc- Luxury and Convenience do not necessarily go hand in hand. If the feature added comfort to the car versus the car being less comfortable without it I would agree. In this case the driving aspect trumps the convenience aspect and therefore I don't disagree with them grouping this feature into a package. I wouldn't have not bought my 2002 M3 Convertible if it didn't have Navigation. I bought it because I like the way it drives overall so this convenience feature was a bonus and not a must have. I can see why people think this feature should be standard due to how much a 7 Series goes for but lets look at all of the other features that they do give you. I think most people would feel satisfied with even the most standard equipped of 7's relative to what they come with.
bimmerjay says:
12:40 PM, 12/ 7/09
@creeper,
"bmw is betting that you'll let go of the switch as soon as you feel pressure on your other hand which is cheaper to implement than an auto reverse feature."
All the windows and moonroof have auto-reverse, not allowing auto-up when the door is open (applies to all doors) is simply there for an extra margin of safety. Even if you are holding the switch the window will still bounce back if it senses an obstruction.
creeper says:
01:16 PM, 12/ 7/09
so they can make a redundant safety system standard but not keyless entry
mercedesfan says:
01:30 PM, 12/ 7/09
I guess I'm in the minority for not thinking its that weird that BMW offers keyless ignition as an option. The raw material cost alone for these flagship vehicles is more than an entire Civic, you can't blame the automakers for wanting to make a little extra profit. Especially when one considers that most people who buy these cars buy them fully optioned anyway. If you can afford an $80K car an extra $1700 bucks just isn't a big deal.
Also, Keyless-Go is optional on the S-Class as well. It comes bundled in the $3750 Premium 2 package (that also includes a backup camera, dynamic multicontour seats with massage, and Parktronic), so the BMW actually seems like a bargain (although the soft close doors and power trunk are standard on the Benz). Audi and Lexus do make keyless ignition standard, but they didn't until the 2010 model year so BMW really isn't that outrageous here.
yellowmiata says:
01:53 PM, 12/ 7/09
I'm in the camp where $80K needs to buy most of the goodies I'd like on a car. That being said, the 7Series isn't my cup of tea, but for that much, options should be standard. Its good that there are people who don't believe they should get everything on a car for $80K as that keeps BMW in business so they can keep developing great engines!
editor_karl says:
02:48 PM, 12/ 7/09
Petrolhead: Air King. 'Course I just borrowed it from my rich neighbor so as not to sully the 7 Series photos with my Timex. ;)
toye says:
02:53 PM, 12/ 7/09
I recently drove a 2009 BMW 3 series for the first time and couldn't for the life of me start the engine with the push button start... I tried until I found the slot for the key fab and inserted it and realized that it was the most ridiculus way to start an automobile with push button start. You have push button start so you don't have to fumble for the keys getting in and out and starting the automobile. Then I found out you would have to pay $1700 extra for the luxury what a rip off...
bimmerjay says:
04:32 PM, 12/ 7/09
@toye,
Comfort Access is a $500 option on the 3-Series, not $1700. The 7-Series actually has keyless starting standard, it's only the door handle sensor upgrade that is part of the $1700 Convenience Package.
toye says:
05:45 PM, 12/ 7/09
bimmerjay
Thanks for the clarication.
I don't remember if the 3 series also had the door handle sensor.
The reason one would want keyless starting is not to fumble with the keys at all keep them in your pants or purse it is one heck of convience.
I do have the Genesis with the above feature and recently rented a mid size car without it and was always forgeting to take the key out of my pocket to open the door, once sitting in the car I was looking for the push start and then realizing that I had put the keys in my pocket again. So I had fumble with finding the key again. This happen over and over again until got used to it. Then getting back in my Genesis I found myself getting the key out of my pocket for no reason.