How far away can you guys unlock your car from?

jcordier · 09-22-2021, 06:45 PM

Random question. But my car doesn't want to lock or unlock unless I'm within like 10 feet. My batteries in my car and remote are new. So that's unlikely the issue. If your guys' unlocks from the same distance then I know it's just BMW engineering at its finest.

_ObiJon · 09-22-2021, 09:20 PM

I'm able to lock/unlock from inside my house, which is about 30 feet from the car. I actually bought an RFID blocking box to hold the key fob because I'm paranoid.

Slick_FThirty · 09-22-2021, 09:27 PM

10 feet sounds about right for me. I'd say my range is around there.

tturedraider · 09-22-2021, 10:00 PM

If you hold the remote against the underside of your chin it will extend the range. Your body acts as an antenna.

Rockinryan2424 · 09-22-2021, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcordier

Random question. But my car doesn't want to lock or unlock unless I'm within like 10 feet. My batteries in my car and remote are new. So that's unlikely the issue. If your guys' unlocks from the same distance then I know it's just BMW engineering at its finest.

About as close as I can reach and unlock it don't feel like replacing my battery but every since I owned the car it's no farther then 10 foot

jcordier · 09-23-2021, 02:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by _ObiJon

I'm able to lock/unlock from inside my house, which is about 30 feet from the car. I actually bought an RFID blocking box to hold the key fob because I'm paranoid.

Interesting. I wonder why yours goes further. Maybe not a whole lot of Wi-Fi around you interfering it, or something.?

Billfitz · 09-23-2021, 07:45 AM

With clear line of sight about 200 feet.

im_an_alien · 09-23-2021, 07:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billfitz

With clear line of sight about 200 feet.

I was just about to chime in too, mine responds from quite a ways out, def more than 100 feet.

Desertnate · 09-23-2021, 08:02 AM

Similar long ranges here. I accidentally unlocked my car from my second floor office while the car was in the lot across the street. Line-of-sight distance was probably at least 100ft...maybe more, and through a sealed window.

Rockinryan2424 · 09-23-2021, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billfitz

With clear line of sight about 200 feet.

What kind of battery you using I gotta get one of those lol

Desertnate · 09-23-2021, 10:56 AM

It's a function of the power output of the transmitter in the fob rather than the battery, unless the battery is losing it's charge. You just need a battery powerful enough to allow the transmitter to energize to it's max capacity.

I've noticed I can unlock my car at ranges well beyond any other car I've owned. As far as I know there is nothing special about the FOB and I'm running on whatever batter was in it when I bought the car CPO. I can get at least 100ft, maybe farther as-is.

MaximusJ · 09-23-2021, 11:04 AM

0 ft. My batteries are dead-low ahah

benjipeg · 09-23-2021, 11:14 AM

new energizer battery, car park 200ft can open close boot and lock/unlock doors/windows etc

Gen13 F36 · 09-23-2021, 04:09 PM

Probably 20 car length.

CajunBMW · 09-23-2021, 05:45 PM

That technically depends on what you want to use to unlock the car. Using the fob, it is at least 100 feet outside. If using the bmw app then that would be a much longer distance.

Walker_CW · 09-23-2021, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by im_an_alien

I was just about to chime in too, mine responds from quite a ways out, def more than 100 feet.

Well more than 100 feet here as well.

steveindabmer · 09-23-2021, 07:30 PM

key fobs can suffer from "harmonic interference". They are weak transmitters and even thought they dont share the same radio band as say a wifi router it may still interfere with it. Any strong RF source nearby can overload the receiver in the vehicle as well.

https://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/harmonic

Find yourself a big parking lot away from anything you think my be putting out a signal or blocking it and test your range there.

interference is a pita to track down and without special equipmnt it can be very frustrating as it could be coming from anywhere...
https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a2...-interference/

suckatall · 09-25-2021, 11:13 AM

around 50 meters

sunilrxthore · 09-27-2021, 02:24 PM

around 100metres, depends on battery as well.

frchdragon · 09-27-2021, 03:06 PM

I never use the keyfob ever. I only put my hand on the door handle.

BMWILUVU · 09-27-2021, 04:06 PM

I have unlocked my car from a spot far out of sight at least 50 yards. When I see the car, I can see its unlocked. BMW makes some powerful fobs. LOL

tturedraider · 09-27-2021, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frchdragon

I never use the keyfob ever. I only put my hand on the door handle.

Me, too.

09-22-2021, 06:45 PM	#1
jcordier Lieutenant 161 Rep 474 Posts Drives: 2013 black F30 N55 Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: cypress iTrader: (1)	How far away can you guys unlock your car from? Random question. But my car doesn't want to lock or unlock unless I'm within like 10 feet. My batteries in my car and remote are new. So that's unlikely the issue. If your guys' unlocks from the same distance then I know it's just BMW engineering at its finest. __________________ J. D. Cordier
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09-22-2021, 09:20 PM	#2
_ObiJon Second Lieutenant 191 Rep 288 Posts Drives: 2015 428i xDrive Join Date: Mar 2021 Location: Ashburn, VA iTrader: (0)	I'm able to lock/unlock from inside my house, which is about 30 feet from the car. I actually bought an RFID blocking box to hold the key fob because I'm paranoid.
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09-22-2021, 09:27 PM	#3
Slick_FThirty First Lieutenant 125 Rep 326 Posts Drives: 13' BMW 328i Xdrive Join Date: Oct 2019 Location: Canada iTrader: (0)	10 feet sounds about right for me. I'd say my range is around there. __________________ If you can imagine it, you can achieve it. If you can dream it, you can become it.
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09-22-2021, 10:00 PM	#4
tturedraider Major General 4955 Rep 6,222 Posts Drives: 2018 340i M Sport Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Chicago, Edgewater (via Texas & Tennessee) iTrader: (0) Garage List 2018 BMW 340i M Sport [9.38] 2020 BMW M340i xDrive [10.00] 2018 BMW 340i M Sport [8.00] 2006 BMW 330i Sport [4.50] 2004 BMW 330i ZHP [7.25] 2000 BMW 328i [6.00]	If you hold the remote against the underside of your chin it will extend the range. Your body acts as an antenna. __________________ www.bmwcca.org member #388003 - Use me as a referral & you could win a one day ///M Driving School!! ___________________________________________
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09-23-2021, 07:45 AM	#7
Billfitz Lieutenant General 8210 Rep 16,039 Posts Drives: '15 328iX GT Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: New Hampshire iTrader: (0)	With clear line of sight about 200 feet.
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09-23-2021, 08:02 AM	#9
Desertnate Captain 391 Rep 849 Posts Drives: BMW 435i Join Date: Jul 2019 Location: Swansea, IL iTrader: (0) Garage List 2016 BMW 435i [0.00]	Similar long ranges here. I accidentally unlocked my car from my second floor office while the car was in the lot across the street. Line-of-sight distance was probably at least 100ft...maybe more, and through a sealed window. __________________ Stop by and check out my blog: The Car Geek
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09-23-2021, 10:56 AM	#11
Desertnate Captain 391 Rep 849 Posts Drives: BMW 435i Join Date: Jul 2019 Location: Swansea, IL iTrader: (0) Garage List 2016 BMW 435i [0.00]	It's a function of the power output of the transmitter in the fob rather than the battery, unless the battery is losing it's charge. You just need a battery powerful enough to allow the transmitter to energize to it's max capacity. I've noticed I can unlock my car at ranges well beyond any other car I've owned. As far as I know there is nothing special about the FOB and I'm running on whatever batter was in it when I bought the car CPO. I can get at least 100ft, maybe farther as-is. __________________ Stop by and check out my blog: The Car Geek
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09-23-2021, 11:04 AM	#12
MaximusJ Colonel 301 Rep 2,485 Posts Drives: 340Xi MG 2017 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Quebec, Canada iTrader: (21) Garage List 2017 BMW 340XI (F30) [9.00] 2006 BMW 325I (E90) [7.44]	0 ft. My batteries are dead-low ahah __________________ Mineral Grey '17 F30 340XI [Garage] // [Build Journal] Jet Black '06 E90 325I [Garage]
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09-23-2021, 11:14 AM	#13
benjipeg New Member 2 Rep 7 Posts Drives: F31 320d & E91 318d Join Date: May 2018 Location: wales iTrader: (0)	new energizer battery, car park 200ft can open close boot and lock/unlock doors/windows etc
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09-23-2021, 04:09 PM	#14
Gen13 F36 Brigadier General 1599 Rep 3,752 Posts Drives: 428i Gran Coupe Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Los Angeles, CA iTrader: (1)	Probably 20 car length.
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09-23-2021, 05:45 PM	#15
CajunBMW Lieutenant Colonel 1289 Rep 1,641 Posts Drives: BMW 340i and X1, Chrysler Van Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: Shreveport, LA iTrader: (0)	That technically depends on what you want to use to unlock the car. Using the fob, it is at least 100 feet outside. If using the bmw app then that would be a much longer distance.
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09-23-2021, 07:30 PM	#17
steveindabmer Private First Class 48 Rep 112 Posts Drives: 2019 440i Xdrive M-Sport Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Allentown iTrader: (0)	key fobs can suffer from "harmonic interference". They are weak transmitters and even thought they dont share the same radio band as say a wifi router it may still interfere with it. Any strong RF source nearby can overload the receiver in the vehicle as well. https://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/harmonic Find yourself a big parking lot away from anything you think my be putting out a signal or blocking it and test your range there. interference is a pita to track down and without special equipmnt it can be very frustrating as it could be coming from anywhere... https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a2...-interference/ Last edited by steveindabmer; 09-24-2021 at 10:51 AM..
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09-25-2021, 11:13 AM	#18
suckatall New Member 2 Rep 5 Posts Drives: BMW F30 320i 2013 Join Date: Sep 2021 Location: Malaysia iTrader: (0)	around 50 meters
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09-27-2021, 02:24 PM	#19
sunilrxthore New Member 2 Rep 7 Posts Drives: BMW 420I GC Join Date: Sep 2021 Location: London iTrader: (0) Garage List 2017 BMW 420I GC F36 [0.00]	around 100metres, depends on battery as well.
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09-27-2021, 03:06 PM	#20
frchdragon Lieutenant 338 Rep 416 Posts Drives: 2016 BMW M4 Join Date: Feb 2021 Location: ON, Canada iTrader: (0)	I never use the keyfob ever. I only put my hand on the door handle. __________________ '16 M4 bone stock '13 335ix Msport BM3 stage1 - MAD FMI - FTP CP - Bilstein B4 (SOLD) '85 635csi M30 turbo race car (SOLD)
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09-27-2021, 04:06 PM	#21
BMWILUVU Lieutenant Colonel 809 Rep 1,597 Posts Drives: 340ix Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: The Boibs iTrader: (0)	I have unlocked my car from a spot far out of sight at least 50 yards. When I see the car, I can see its unlocked. BMW makes some powerful fobs. LOL
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