Automatic Locking

[Jetmart2]

I just purchased a 2011 Z4 35is with comfort access and have a question about the locking features.
My dealer told me if I select "lock if no door is opened" and use automatic locking that it is possible to lock the key fob inadvertently in the vehicle. I Read it differently in the owners manual. What do people find in practice? Is automatic generally used and seen as a good feature?
Any input would be appreciated.

 

[Angie4m]

If you haven't opened the door then how do you lock the key in the car? It wouldn't be possible. It is however possible to leave the key inside the car, get out, lock it using the touch sensor and forget you've left the key in the car but you can get back in.

You can however have the key on you, have not unlocked the car fully, open the boot and put the key in there and not be able to get back in to get it out therefore locking the key in the boot.

If you think your maybe going to unlock the car and not get in but maybe forget you've opened it then auto locking after 10 seconds is a good feature. It's not one I use personally as I expect if I'm unlocking my car I'm usually opening the door too.

 

[PerryGunn]

If you think your maybe going to unlock the car and not get in but maybe forget you've opened it then auto locking after 10 seconds is a good feature. It's not one I use personally as I expect if I'm unlocking my car I'm usually opening the door too.

I think our X3 locks after 2 minutes if no door is opened, this is very a very useful feature though as it covers the situations where the unlock button has been pressed accidentally when the key's in a pocket/handbag - enabling the 'beep' on lock/unlock helps with this but if the unlock button is pressed while you're indoors you don't always hear it

Personally I'd like to see an additional, and slightly more sophisticated, option in iDrive to allow automatic locking after a user-selectable number of minutes if the following conditions are met
- engine is off
- no key is present in the car (i.e. you've got out)
- boot & all doors are shut
- no seats are occupied (car can detect this from occupancy pads)
as this would cover those horrible 'Oh crap! Did I lock the car' moments.... the sort you have when you're in an airport departure lounge having left the car in the long-term car park...

 

[rjsimmons]

You can however have the key on you, have not unlocked the car fully, open the boot and put the key in there and not be able to get back in to get it out therefore locking the key in the boot.

Does that happen on alternate third Tuesdays, before or after the summer solstice when the waxing moon is full? :scratchhead:

 

[Angie4m]

You can however have the key on you, have not unlocked the car fully, open the boot and put the key in there and not be able to get back in to get it out therefore locking the key in the boot.

Does that happen on alternate third Tuesdays, before or after the summer solstice when the waxing moon is full? :scratchhead:

Sounds a bit like that. I only know about this little 'quirk' because one of the guys on here mentioned his wife did it.

I've never forgotten that so always ensure my key is in my pocket or if it's in my bag, the bags in the front.

 

[Angie4m]

Personally I'd like to see an additional, and slightly more sophisticated, option in iDrive to allow automatic locking after a user-selectable number of minutes if the following conditions are met
- engine is off
- no key is present in the car (i.e. you've got out)
- boot & all doors are shut
- no seats are occupied (car can detect this from occupancy pads)
as this would cover those horrible 'Oh crap! Did I lock the car' moments.... the sort you have when you're in an airport departure lounge having left the car in the long-term car park...

Some good ideas there, Perry. If I'm not sure I always check via the BMW remote on my phone. I've used it a few times as a 'gimmick' not sure how sure I'd be if I was miles away of it telling me it's 'locked' but hey it's worked from my work so a bit more peace of mind for those 'just incase' moments.