E89 Comfort Access Retrofit

[Christopher72]

The only promising thread I've been able to find for a comfort access retrofit is https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1211167&highlight=comfort+access and it's for E90. Has anyone here taken it on? It seems like used parts wouldn't be too hard to find.

My thoughts are, if I'm going down the path to retrofit a PDC, rear-camera, Mr 12-volt, it would probably also be the best time to do the Comfort Access, since everything will be apart. Thoughts?

 

[B21]

Good luck with it, yes it should be plug n play but the devil is in the detail…ie coding…

 

[AnubisZed]

For what you gain, ie; not having to press your fob to unlock the car and not having to put your key in the slot and combined with all the parts you have to fit and wire in (no existing wiring is there!) along with the coding, I've thought about it but totally dismissed it completely.

And I've done some retrofits that are possibly pointless compared to the work and money involved.

 

[Christopher72]

Dave,
I'm gathering parts and still have the ambition. I promise that if you post your OEM PDC refit vid for me to follow along with, I'll record the installation of the Comfort Access, if my willpower to do so continues. I'm a sucker for a magic door handle.

 

[javis20]

Why not just get a SmartTop module?

 

[Smartbear]

Why not just get a SmartTop module?

That won’t give you keyless entry to the car or remove the need to place the key in its housing to start the engine?
Rob

 

[AnubisZed]

Dave,
I'm gathering parts and still have the ambition. I promise that if you post your OEM PDC refit vid for me to follow along with, I'll record the installation of the Comfort Access, if my willpower to do so continues. I'm a sucker for a magic door handle.

Fair enough
PDC retrofit video will be live very soon, its all finished just haven't had time to upload it yet.

 

[AnubisZed]

Why not just get a SmartTop module?

That won’t give you keyless entry to the car or remove the need to place the key in its housing to start the engine?
Rob

 

[Nictrix]

I have comfort access in my X6 and never use it.
I always unlock with the fob and still put the fob in the slot on the dash before starting it.
Got to keep the fob out of range while washing the car as the soapy water unlocks and locks he doors repeatedly.

 

[Pondrew]

Got to keep the fob out of range while washing the car as the soapy water unlocks and locks he doors repeatedly.

+1. PITA.

I have two cars with keyless start, so when I use the Z4 (which hasn't) I am always leaving the key in the slot when getting out. One day someone will nick it!

 

[Christopher72]

I have two cars with keyless start, so when I use the Z4 (which hasn't) I am always leaving the key in the slot when getting out. One day someone will nick it!

Yep -- same feeling. I'm so used to touching a handle to lock and unlock as well as keyless ignition, when I use the smart top to open the car, I'm always putting the fob back in my pocket, only to have to dig it back out while in a seated position. Which can draw stares if not executed well.

 

[peeder]

I did the comfort access retrofit a couple years ago on my E89.
I contacted dumitru.o from e90post and he hooked me up with the CA Passive Go module, antennas, wiring harness, adding $322 to my VO and brand new CA key from BMW.

The things i had to source myself were the door handles and the associate door wiring for the handles. This was the hardest part for me!
Door handles need 2 plugs, one for the light, and the other for the touch sensor.
Found on Aliexpress the plug for the light, but not the touch sensor. So to get it to work, I had to buy 2 used door harnesses from a E9X 3 series that had comfort access so i could reuse the plug!
Had i known that the plugs were that hard to source, I would have asked the breakers to sell me the harness when I was buying the door handles.

I did ths in conjuction with a power folding mirror retrofit too. I coded a whole bunch of things at the same time, but for CA coding, I believe I just added $322 to my VO and then in CAS changed the below to active:
PASSIVE_ACCESS
KOMFORTSCHLIESSUNG_FB
KOMFORTSCHLIESSUNG_PA

The only thing I haven't been able to get working is to have the power mirrors fold when using comfort access via the door handle.
Mirrors will fold if I use/hold the lock button on the remote, but not when i have my finger on the door ridges/sensor.

As for your plans to put in PDC and rear camera, I would at least physically install and route the wiring into the boot for those at the same time. The rear bumper needs to come off to put the CA antenna back there anyway.

Let me know if you need more info, i'll have to go through my old notes I made when I did this retrofit.

 

[AnubisZed]

Nice info
Was it worth the expense and time? :wink:

...The only thing I haven't been able to get working is to have the power mirrors fold when using comfort access via the door handle.
Mirrors will fold if I use/hold the lock button on the remote, but not when i have my finger on the door ridges/sensor.

Before doing my Powerfold mirror retrofit I watched this guy and he also had problems with the "fold on touch" feature....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGiY_v6zxrI

 

[peeder]

Before doing my Powerfold mirror retrofit I watched this guy and he also had problems with the "fold on touch" feature....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGiY_v6zxrI

Yeah, that's exactly the same vid that I was watching to get my power mirrors to work too!
He seemed to have the 'fold on touch' working, but after countless hours i've given up


Worth the expense? It wasn't too bad, it ended up around $1.6K AUD. But it's just one of those features that I'm used to with my other cars having keyless unlock/start, so it felt like i was going backwards not having it on the Z4.
It did take a fair bit of time though, had the car apart for a couple of months. But that's what you get for doing everything in one hit.

 

[AnubisZed]

Worth the expense? It wasn't too bad, it ended up around $1.6K AUD. But it's just one of those features that I'm used to with my other cars having keyless unlock/start, so it felt like i was going backwards not having it on the Z4.
It did take a fair bit of time though, had the car apart for a couple of months. But that's what you get for doing everything in one hit.

Yeah my wife has it on her Ford Kuga, biggest problem, for her anyway, is then leaving her key in her bag, thus then not remembering where it is :?
I've just done a bunch of retrofits all at the same time, fortunately my wife was away so I had her car for a couple of weeks so could just leave the Z in bits most of the time while I did all the work

 

[pvr]

I actually de-specced comfort access on my M to avoid it being stolen. The same on the Porsche, I just don’t want it but each to their own.

 

[Christopher72]

I contacted dumitru.o from e90post and he hooked me up with the CA Passive Go module, antennas, wiring harness, adding $322 to my VO and brand new CA key from BMW.

Peeder, can you help with a parts list that you used? Diumitru.o mentioned that he could help with the CA Key, but most things I see out there are not E89 specific in retrofit detail.

 

[Christopher72]

Alright - Here's where I am so far with this

I have gathered these for a total of $220 USD from part-outs - really not that bad at all...
(#1) - Control Unit Passive Go - 61359134708
(#2) - Bumper Antenna passive access- 61356922212
(#3) - 3x Interior Antenna Convenience Access - 61356922211
(#4) - Bracket for Ferrite Antenna - 65206934497
Two comfort access/light package handles 51217250103, 51217250108 in tiefsee-blau metallic


https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showparts?id=LM13-USA-08-2016-E89-BMW-Z4_35is&diagId=61_1718

No clue what #5 and #6 are -- since they are greyed out on RealOEM. What the actual freak? :soapbox: My Honda Bishko service manuals are so much more helpful than anything I've seen from BMW or 3rd party. Maybe I'm manual impaired.

I still have to get E89 Drivers and Passenger's Door Wiring harnesses - 61129232415, 61129232423 -- Or would an E92/E93 equivalent also work in wiring length without modification? Anyone ever swapped one in instead of the more expensive rare e89 harnesses?

I'm hopeful to work with someone to build a custom wiring harness for the antenna, CA Go module, and CA Key - That's still the unknown.

Of course, any BMW service information I've found isn't being helpful to how this is laid out - trying to figure out the actual locations for the antenna and wiring runs. One antenna sits in front of the center console, one behind, one in the battery area... but the bumper one is still a mystery.

Help welcome -- and yes you don't have to warn me off of this being a difficult retrofit. I'm willing to fail, but not planning to -- If I succeed, I'll document it for anyone else who is interested.

 

[Christopher72]

These will polish nicely.

I still have to get E89 Drivers and Passenger's Door Wiring harnesses - 61129232415, 61129232423 -- Or would an E92/E93 equivalent also work in wiring length without modification? Anyone ever swapped one in instead of the more expensive rare e89 harnesses?

I'm hopeful to work with someone to build a custom wiring harness for the antenna, CA Go module, and CA Key - That's still the unknown.

I've discovered that it's possible to take the extra wires for the CA from the E92/93 harness and then add to the E89 -- I may just wait and look. I am working with Dumitru on a custom harness and VIN# modification for 322 comfort access. I'll get a CA Key once everything else is sorted.

 

[Christopher72]

Thread update. My VIN has been updated with $322, Dumitru.o is building a custom CA wiring harness for the antenna and go module and I'I have a CA key on order with a little difficulty in the local dealer accepting that CA is an option on my VIN -- We'll see how that pans out. The wrecked CA door handles are looking spiffy and much better than the scuffed mess they were pre polishing. A local college senior cleaned them up to be respectable when installed, with a promise to make them match a whole car paint correction once they are mounted.

I just picked up a passenger door harness for £17 part number 61129214109 that may or may not workout, but the price was worth the investigation.

So we're still under $900 with Ebay sourced parts and BMW sourced key and custom cabling/VIN update by Dumitru.o -- that's if my maths/memory work out. I'll likely need to invest in a coding cable -- I'm hearing that this coding has to be done with BMW soft.