Increase Key Fob Distance/Range When Opening/Closing Hardtop F33

anthonyallergy · 04-03-2018, 04:04 PM

You can hold the key fob lock button to put the top up and the unlock button to put the top down but you have to be within 2-3 feet of the car for the function to work. If you step away, it stops.

Anyone have any ideas on how to increase the range? It's annoying having to wait next to the car to put the top up.

Same with putting it down. I'd like to be able to start the process while I'm walking to the car instead of standing next to it.

Cheers.

IK6SPEED · 04-03-2018, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anthonyallergy

You can hold the key fob lock button to put the top up and the unlock button to put the top down but you have to be within 2-3 feet of the car for the function to work. If you step away, it stops.

Anyone have any ideas on how to increase the range? It's annoying having to wait next to the car to put the top up.

Same with putting it down. I'd like to be able to start the process while I'm walking to the car instead of standing next to it.

Cheers.

First, change your battery.

Second, You don’t want key FOB to transmit over a large distance as code grabbers are not that rare in today’s environment.

anthonyallergy · 04-03-2018, 04:12 PM

The battery is brand new. In the manual it says I need to be next to the car as well so there's a setting somewhere.

I can unlock the car from 100 feet away; I just can't put the top down or up from that far.

Billfitz · 04-03-2018, 04:14 PM

I don't have a drop top, but mine opens the sunroof and windows from at least 100 feet away. Try the coding forum, there may be an adjustment possible.

IK6SPEED · 04-03-2018, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anthonyallergy

The battery is brand new. In the manual it says I need to be next to the car as well so there's a setting somewhere.

I can unlock the car from 100 feet away; I just can't put the top down or up from that far.

GrussGott

You have range issue with your remote and top?

GrussGott · 04-04-2018, 12:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IK6SPEED

Quote:

Originally Posted by anthonyallergy

The battery is brand new. In the manual it says I need to be next to the car as well so there's a setting somewhere.

I can unlock the car from 100 feet away; I just can't put the top down or up from that far.

GrussGott

You have range issue with your remote and top?

No issues from pretty far out, so far that I've never tried farther, although, and this shouldn't matter, I do have smart top

IAmATeaf · 04-04-2018, 11:58 AM

It has to be there for safety reasons no? I can lock and unlock my car from a long way away but my key has to be right next to the door before I can start it. Maybe the system is using the key detected aspect to allow the roof to be raised or lowered?

IK6SPEED · 04-04-2018, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IAmATeaf

It has to be there for safety reasons no? I can lock and unlock my car from a long way away but my key has to be right next to the door before I can start it. Maybe the system is using the key detected aspect to allow the roof to be raised or lowered?

Then GrussGott would have the same issue with his F83

anthonyallergy · 04-05-2018, 09:41 AM

Maybe his car was coded before he purchased it?

It says in the manual you have to be next to the car to put the hardtop down so his set up is not normal. I want it lol.

IK6SPEED · 04-05-2018, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anthonyallergy

Maybe his car was coded before he purchased it?

It says in the manual you have to be next to the car to put the hardtop down so his set up is not normal. I want it lol.

He purchased a Individual 2018 F83 so his car was not coded anything but stock prior obtaining it several months ago. Likewise, he would had noted above if he had coded it to increase distance.

anthonyallergy · 04-05-2018, 01:38 PM

Ah. Maybe this changed in 2018 then. :-(

brettcp · 04-07-2018, 11:51 AM

I was able to to this from far away with my SmartTop module (which I happen to have listed for sale in the classifieds section here - returned my M4 lease last week). I'd regularly open/close my top from my office window when the car was down in the parking lot below.

From the SmartTop module manual:

Function 5 - Remote Top ( 0=OFF / 1=HOLD / 2=TAP / 3=BOTH )

This function allows full automatic top operation with the original remote fob by pressing the lock and unlock buttons.

• Setting 1 (Hold) allows opening and closing of the top by holding down the unlock and lock buttons on the remote.
• Setting 2 (Tap) allows opening and closing of the top by tapping the unlock and lock buttons on the remote multiple times.
• Setting 3 (Both) allows both of the methods to be used.

Top operation with the remote fob using HOLD:
• Hold unlock down for about 4 sec: Open the top and bring the windows into the programmed position.
• Hold unlock down for about 4 sec, let go and tap open again briefly: Open the top and bring the windows into the opposite position.
• Hold lock down for about 4 sec: Close top and windows.
• Hold lock down for about 4 sec, let go and tap close again briefly: Close only the top while leaving the windows down.

Top operation with the remote fob using TAPS:
• Tap unlock 3x in 1 sec intervals: Open the top and bring the windows into the programmed position.
• Tap unlock 4x in 1 sec intervals: Open the top and bring the windows into the opposite position this one time.
• Tap lock 3x in 1 sec intervals: Close top and windows.
• Tap lock 4x in 1 sec intervals: Close only the top while leaving the windows down.

anthonyallergy · 04-07-2018, 01:12 PM

This is AMAZING!

Going to go try it now on my 2014 435i.

anthonyallergy · 04-10-2018, 02:20 PM

Didn't work

!

Billfitz · 04-10-2018, 02:37 PM

Do you have a Smart Top module?

anthonyallergy · 04-10-2018, 02:39 PM

Ahh. I didn't realize that was a thing. I do not. Looking into it now. Thank you for letting me know it exists!

04-03-2018, 04:04 PM	#1
anthonyallergy New Member 3 Rep 21 Posts Drives: 2014 435i Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	Increase Key Fob Distance/Range When Opening/Closing Hardtop F33 You can hold the key fob lock button to put the top up and the unlock button to put the top down but you have to be within 2-3 feet of the car for the function to work. If you step away, it stops. Anyone have any ideas on how to increase the range? It's annoying having to wait next to the car to put the top up. Same with putting it down. I'd like to be able to start the process while I'm walking to the car instead of standing next to it. Cheers.
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

04-03-2018, 04:12 PM	#3
anthonyallergy New Member 3 Rep 21 Posts Drives: 2014 435i Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	The battery is brand new. In the manual it says I need to be next to the car as well so there's a setting somewhere. I can unlock the car from 100 feet away; I just can't put the top down or up from that far.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

04-03-2018, 04:14 PM	#4
Billfitz Lieutenant General 8271 Rep 16,133 Posts Drives: '15 328iX GT Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: New Hampshire iTrader: (0)	I don't have a drop top, but mine opens the sunroof and windows from at least 100 feet away. Try the coding forum, there may be an adjustment possible.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

04-04-2018, 11:58 AM	#7
IAmATeaf Captain 238 Rep 878 Posts Drives: 2015 F30 335i Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: UK iTrader: (0) Garage List 2015 BMW 335i [0.00]	It has to be there for safety reasons no? I can lock and unlock my car from a long way away but my key has to be right next to the door before I can start it. Maybe the system is using the key detected aspect to allow the roof to be raised or lowered?
	Appreciate 0 Quote

04-05-2018, 09:41 AM	#9
anthonyallergy New Member 3 Rep 21 Posts Drives: 2014 435i Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	Maybe his car was coded before he purchased it? It says in the manual you have to be next to the car to put the hardtop down so his set up is not normal. I want it lol.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

04-05-2018, 01:38 PM	#11
anthonyallergy New Member 3 Rep 21 Posts Drives: 2014 435i Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	Ah. Maybe this changed in 2018 then. :-(
	Appreciate 0 Quote

04-07-2018, 11:51 AM	#12
brettcp Captain 348 Rep 703 Posts Drives: 2012 E93 M3 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: So Cal iTrader: (2)	I was able to to this from far away with my SmartTop module (which I happen to have listed for sale in the classifieds section here - returned my M4 lease last week). I'd regularly open/close my top from my office window when the car was down in the parking lot below. From the SmartTop module manual: Function 5 - Remote Top ( 0=OFF / 1=HOLD / 2=TAP / 3=BOTH ) This function allows full automatic top operation with the original remote fob by pressing the lock and unlock buttons. • Setting 1 (Hold) allows opening and closing of the top by holding down the unlock and lock buttons on the remote. • Setting 2 (Tap) allows opening and closing of the top by tapping the unlock and lock buttons on the remote multiple times. • Setting 3 (Both) allows both of the methods to be used. Top operation with the remote fob using HOLD: • Hold unlock down for about 4 sec: Open the top and bring the windows into the programmed position. • Hold unlock down for about 4 sec, let go and tap open again briefly: Open the top and bring the windows into the opposite position. • Hold lock down for about 4 sec: Close top and windows. • Hold lock down for about 4 sec, let go and tap close again briefly: Close only the top while leaving the windows down. Top operation with the remote fob using TAPS: • Tap unlock 3x in 1 sec intervals: Open the top and bring the windows into the programmed position. • Tap unlock 4x in 1 sec intervals: Open the top and bring the windows into the opposite position this one time. • Tap lock 3x in 1 sec intervals: Close top and windows. • Tap lock 4x in 1 sec intervals: Close only the top while leaving the windows down.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

04-07-2018, 01:12 PM	#13
anthonyallergy New Member 3 Rep 21 Posts Drives: 2014 435i Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	This is AMAZING! Going to go try it now on my 2014 435i.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

04-10-2018, 02:20 PM	#14
anthonyallergy New Member 3 Rep 21 Posts Drives: 2014 435i Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	Didn't work !
	Appreciate 0 Quote

04-10-2018, 02:37 PM	#15
Billfitz Lieutenant General 8271 Rep 16,133 Posts Drives: '15 328iX GT Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: New Hampshire iTrader: (0)	Do you have a Smart Top module?
	Appreciate 0 Quote

04-10-2018, 02:39 PM	#16
anthonyallergy New Member 3 Rep 21 Posts Drives: 2014 435i Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	Ahh. I didn't realize that was a thing. I do not. Looking into it now. Thank you for letting me know it exists!
	Appreciate 0 Quote