Does anyone understand the benefit of the digital key?

Pequin · 08-24-2019, 04:12 AM

I have CA, why is this better?

Isow · 08-24-2019, 04:57 AM

Well it’s obvious, it’s ummm, well you know, it’s better than the other thing
and it’s the future or is it the past ?
I see your point.

ian332isport · 08-24-2019, 05:02 AM

Same kind of thing really. Just means you don’t have a key in your pocket. You do however need your wallet which is bigger

Pequin · 08-24-2019, 05:08 AM

Hmmm, I see. So is it better, worse or the same as this?

Although I'm a little confused, you need a Samsung phone for this one but as we know BMW are Apple centric

Is it the same as Aquaman?

TaranF32 · 08-24-2019, 04:57 PM

I've always thought of these new key systems to be a bit of a gimmick. The digital key looks way to clunky and laggy to be practical and as OP said, NFC on phones and card's isn't really much different to comfort access. I haven't got comfort access on my car but parent's have it on theirs. 9/10 I never see them using it, seems like one of those options that's nice to have if you're buying a used car and it comes with it, but not something worth the extra if buying new. Then there's also the risk of thieves with the antenna extenders which is becoming a prolific problem in some area's. I can't see having the key on your phone being any more secure...

RobUK · 08-24-2019, 11:59 PM

These proximity technologies are not infallible. I had CA on my E81 and about 8 months from new it failed and wouldn't let me into the car. Never spec'd it since.

330XDave · 08-25-2019, 03:19 AM

It would be of benefit to me as a cyclist. If I race it would be much better for me to have a card in my pocket rather than a key.

RobUK · 08-25-2019, 04:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 330XDave

It would be of benefit to me as a cyclist. If I race it would be much better for me to have a card in my pocket rather than a key.

That's quite a niche market

"Do you need to keep weight to a minimum? Tired of unsightly bulges? Then you need BMW Key!".

Pequin · 08-25-2019, 07:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobUK

That's quite a niche market

"Do you need to keep weight to a minimum? Tired of unsightly bulges? Then you need BMW Key!".

Or a Prince Albert using a Titanium retainer

celsdogg · 08-25-2019, 08:49 AM

the future is stupid.

330XDave · 08-26-2019, 12:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobUK

That's quite a niche market

"Do you need to keep weight to a minimum? Tired of unsightly bulges? Then you need BMW Key!".

Not really. Plenty of sports men/women who drive to play sport or participate in activities that would find it much easier to store a card than a key. It also saves taking the BMW key off a bigger bunch of keys too.

RobUK · 08-26-2019, 03:56 AM

Sorry, not dismissing the convenience of a credit card sized key vs a traditional key, more that your specific use case must be a very small percentage of BMW owners overall.

For instance I have the traditional style key and it's separate to my main bunch of keys. If I go out running and there's someone at home then I just take the car key and slip it into my pocket when I need to. If there's no-one else at home then I have a whole bunch of keys to take and store** no matter what type of car key I have. My other half is in the same boat and she actually got a credit card key with her Lexus but in all the time she's owned it she's never once used it.

**PS - I never leave my house keys in the car.

330XDave · 08-26-2019, 07:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobUK

Sorry, not dismissing the convenience of a credit card sized key vs a traditional key, more that your specific use case must be a very small percentage of BMW owners overall.

For instance I have the traditional style key and it's separate to my main bunch of keys. If I go out running and there's someone at home then I just take the car key and slip it into my pocket when I need to. If there's no-one else at home then I have a whole bunch of keys to take and store** no matter what type of car key I have. My other half is in the same boat and she actually got a credit card key with her Lexus but in all the time she's owned it she's never once used it.

**PS - I never leave my house keys in the car.

I wouldn't have a problem leaving my house keys in the car to be honest, it's not like they'll be on display. My examples are more for if you need to drive somewhere first rather than going from home, there is less advantage in this.

225 · 08-26-2019, 11:57 AM

I can see this being useful if you go for park runs etc. However it also means remembering where you left a credit card sized "key" all the time!

Keyless entry is great and very useful IMO, definitely going on my next options list.

330XDave · 08-26-2019, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 225

I can see this being useful if you go for park runs etc. However it also means remembering where you left a credit card sized "key" all the time!

Keyless entry is great and very useful IMO, definitely going on my next options list.

Erm... I'm guessing where you keep all of your other cards!

08-24-2019, 04:12 AM	#1
Pequin Captain 227 Rep 638 Posts Drives: Enthusiastically Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: South West iTrader: (0)	Does anyone understand the benefit of the digital key? I have CA, why is this better? __________________ 335D EB LCI - Debadged
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08-24-2019, 04:57 AM	#2
Isow Major 316 Rep 1,032 Posts Drives: G21 320i MSport Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Manchester UK iTrader: (0)	Well it’s obvious, it’s ummm, well you know, it’s better than the other thing and it’s the future or is it the past ? I see your point.
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08-24-2019, 05:02 AM	#3
ian332isport Major 726 Rep 1,174 Posts Drives: F31 340i Shadow Edition Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	Same kind of thing really. Just means you don’t have a key in your pocket. You do however need your wallet which is bigger
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08-24-2019, 05:08 AM	#4
Pequin Captain 227 Rep 638 Posts Drives: Enthusiastically Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: South West iTrader: (0)	Hmmm, I see. So is it better, worse or the same as this? Although I'm a little confused, you need a Samsung phone for this one but as we know BMW are Apple centric Is it the same as Aquaman? __________________ 335D EB LCI - Debadged
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08-24-2019, 04:57 PM	#5
TaranF32 Private First Class 125 Rep 186 Posts Drives: BMW 4 Series Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: Portsmouth, UK iTrader: (0)	I've always thought of these new key systems to be a bit of a gimmick. The digital key looks way to clunky and laggy to be practical and as OP said, NFC on phones and card's isn't really much different to comfort access. I haven't got comfort access on my car but parent's have it on theirs. 9/10 I never see them using it, seems like one of those options that's nice to have if you're buying a used car and it comes with it, but not something worth the extra if buying new. Then there's also the risk of thieves with the antenna extenders which is becoming a prolific problem in some area's. I can't see having the key on your phone being any more secure...
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08-24-2019, 11:59 PM	#6
RobUK Brigadier General 2867 Rep 4,967 Posts Drives: 340i MPPSK Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Sussex, N.Yorks, UK iTrader: (0) Garage List 2015 340i MPPSK [0.00] 2001 Yamaha FZS1000 [0.00]	These proximity technologies are not infallible. I had CA on my E81 and about 8 months from new it failed and wouldn't let me into the car. Never spec'd it since. __________________ Life is a state of mind
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08-25-2019, 03:19 AM	#7
330XDave Major 621 Rep 1,470 Posts Drives: 330d xDrive Touring Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: Nottingham, UK iTrader: (0)	It would be of benefit to me as a cyclist. If I race it would be much better for me to have a card in my pocket rather than a key.
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08-25-2019, 08:49 AM	#10
celsdogg E4 Mafia 361 Rep 443 Posts Drives: E30, E36/5, E46x2, F22, F30 Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: MD iTrader: (0)	the future is stupid. __________________ Squad - '90 E30 325i MT (226k) \| '98 E36/5 318ti MT (160k) \| '03 E46 325i MT (156k) \| '04 E46 330xi MT (195k) \| '15 F22 M235i MT (66k) \| '15 F30 335i MT (85k) KIA - '91 E30 325i AT (146k) \| '02 E46 325i MT (212k) Bring back the purple M stripe
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08-26-2019, 03:56 AM	#12
RobUK Brigadier General 2867 Rep 4,967 Posts Drives: 340i MPPSK Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Sussex, N.Yorks, UK iTrader: (0) Garage List 2015 340i MPPSK [0.00] 2001 Yamaha FZS1000 [0.00]	Sorry, not dismissing the convenience of a credit card sized key vs a traditional key, more that your specific use case must be a very small percentage of BMW owners overall. For instance I have the traditional style key and it's separate to my main bunch of keys. If I go out running and there's someone at home then I just take the car key and slip it into my pocket when I need to. If there's no-one else at home then I have a whole bunch of keys to take and store no matter what type of car key I have. My other half is in the same boat and she actually got a credit card key with her Lexus but in all the time she's owned it she's never once used it. PS - I never leave my house keys in the car. __________________ Life is a state of mind
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08-26-2019, 11:57 AM	#14
225 Major General 2838 Rep 5,232 Posts Drives: 340i Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Uk iTrader: (0)	I can see this being useful if you go for park runs etc. However it also means remembering where you left a credit card sized "key" all the time! Keyless entry is great and very useful IMO, definitely going on my next options list.
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