A couple of questions for 2012 - sDrive 20i owners?

[Anonymous]

This is just penny pinching, cos surely the cost to do it during the build is minimal.

It is. There is the cost of the copper wiring, the cost of the switch, and the labor to install the switch.


TRUNK UNLOCKING SWITCH 1 61319200316

That switch is used in a lot of different models. Volume should help with costs. I have no idea how much a switch like that costs in large quantities. Parts counter retail is $60.00.

For an estimate, lets say BMW pays £5.00 for the switch, the extra wire is 50p (copper wire isn't cheap) and the logistics and assembly time costs £1.00 --- Total is £6.50. Not much but if you multiply by the number of e89, e9x and e8x 1 series sold in the UK it starts to not be so small.

I see what your saying, but come on, even if it is £6.50 per car as an estimate (at build time it would be simple to install) that sort of scrimping is just tight. ok, multiply that by the number of cars they build and it is soon becoming an enormous amount of money, but "per car" it isn't much. Heck, even add it to the cost of the car.

However, if the button on the key fob does do the same when the engine is running, then its not really an issue, and too be honest, I just press the central locking button to unlock all doors and then its not even an issue for me.

 

[TitanTim]

This an interesting video (American Market) where the guy mentions the top being raised by the key only rather than using the key fob for safety reasons (55 secs into video),

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmGRBvQNHik&feature=related

Tim.

 

[Wondermike]

Yep I think most cars you can usually only raise the roof with the key in the lock. My SLK could do it by remote but it was IR only and not via the radio-waves so you had to be about 2 inches away from the handle before it would actually work.

 

[JDM]

Can you not just press the unlock button on the dash and then the passenger will be able to open the boot by swivelling the BMW roundel? Surely that would be the only reason for using the switch so that someone can gain access whilst your still in the vehicle?

 

[Andrew*Debbie]

This an interesting video (American Market)

Bud called it a zed four and the car has Ontario plates. I admit Americans like to think of Canada as "America Junior" or one of those states up north. Nevertheless Canadian market cars are a little different than the ones sold in the US. Dunno if the top is coded differently.

 

[TitanTim]

This an interesting video (American Market)

Bud called it a zed four and the car has Ontario plates. I admit Americans like to think of Canada as "America Junior" or one of those states up north. Nevertheless Canadian market cars are a little different than the ones sold in the US. Dunno if the top is coded differently.

I did notice that, I was expecting to hear an irritating Zeeeeee4

I do like the red and cream leather 8)

Tim.

 

[Anonymous]

This an interesting video (American Market)

Bud called it a zed four and the car has Ontario plates. I admit Americans like to think of Canada as "America Junior" or one of those states up north. Nevertheless Canadian market cars are a little different than the ones sold in the US. Dunno if the top is coded differently.

That would be "Ooooop North" to the UK readers!!!!

 

[bcworkz]

I have a feeling that it is a legal requirement in the states to have a boot release feature in the cabin and also one in the boot too

AFAIK for US: release in boot, yes. Release in cabin, no. Just BMW being a bunch of cheap ar....

 

[NormStrm]

On the other hand we can use the remote key from inside the car. Not too terrible.

Ahh good point had not tried that, in my mind the key fob was in the dash, but ow you mention it the boot release is still on show so could be pressed for a second to open rather than me stopping the car.

Thanks Andrew - will check it out later.

Forgot to ask if anyone has managed to open the boot with the fob still inserted in the dashboard? Only way I have been able to get the boot open using the roundel is with the fob removed from the dashboard :thumbsdown:

 

[envy]

i have. a friend of mine needed to open the boot whilst i still had the fob in the dash. i just pressed the unlock doors button on the dash twice and he was able to open the boot from the roundel

 

[NormStrm]

i have. a friend of mine needed to open the boot whilst i still had the fob in the dash. i just pressed the unlock doors button on the dash twice and he was able to open the boot from the roundel

thanks envy, i'll give it a go

 

[Zeto]

I have a feeling that it is a legal requirement in the states to have a boot release feature in the cabin and also one in the boot too

AFAIK for US: release in boot, yes. Release in cabin, no. Just BMW being a bunch of cheap ar....

My 2012 Z4 has a button to open the trunk in the cabin as well as the required one in the trunk. It's been a US federal requirement for at least a decade that car trunks can be opened from within the trunk, I believe.