Comfort Access very tempermental

Humphric · 07-20-2023, 03:14 PM

I have just picked up my M340i Touring. Loving the car but one little niggle I have is with the comfort access. I have it set to open and close automatically when I walk up and away from the car.

However I am finding that quite frequently it does not work, both with opening and closing. Do other comfort access users find it reliable? Is this normal (and rather rubbish) or do I need to take it back to the dealer to be looked at?

paulockenden · 07-20-2023, 03:18 PM

Totally reliable here, once I realised that the walk to unlock only works for (I think) three days. After that you need to grab the door handle or use the key button. Never had it fail to lock while walking away though.

Tip: set your mirrors to auto-fold on locking then you have a good visual indication that the car is locked.

Tam the Bam · 07-21-2023, 02:29 AM

I had issues with comfort access not always working which was eventually put down to low battery charge. Charged it up and it worked ok. The battery was a problem though and had to replace it.

vadimo · 07-21-2023, 02:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Humphric

I have just picked up my M340i Touring. Loving the car but one little niggle I have is with the comfort access. I have it set to open and close automatically when I walk up and away from the car.

However I am finding that quite frequently it does not work, both with opening and closing. Do other comfort access users find it reliable? Is this normal (and rather rubbish) or do I need to take it back to the dealer to be looked at?

hi mate

i too have issues with car not closing when walking away, actually even Matt Watson from Carwow pointed this in his 8 series review

I think its just technology which is not always perfect

gavinwong · 07-21-2023, 05:19 AM

2020 330e here. Only time I’ve ever had problems with it opening is if it’s been in my pocket with other things like my house key or phone sometimes. Other than that, works fine for both opening and closing.

Dirty Boy · 07-21-2023, 06:12 AM

2021 320d which Ive had for 3 months. I set it to lock when I walk away only and its never given me a problem. You need to go back to the dealer.

a.summers86 · 07-21-2023, 06:45 AM

Mine all works well. Although I turned off the approach and leave setting as I didn't want it to always lock when I left the car.

Otherwise it hasn't skipped a beat in 2.5 years.

AlfaM · 07-21-2023, 01:29 PM

I’m struggling with mine - the tailgate toe-kick features works 1 out of every 5 times, the ‘Auto Unlock’ unlocks the car as I approach but then locks it again when I grab the handle, and I managed to lock it with keys in the drives door pocket today - luckily I had my phone with me to unlock it.

crowdedhouse · 07-21-2023, 03:35 PM

21 G20 here - I'd say walk away lock works maybe 9/10 times but not perfect. I turned off unlock.
Kick to open/close boot is almost perfect 99/100

Humphric · 07-21-2023, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gavinwong

2020 330e here. Only time I’ve ever had problems with it opening is if it’s been in my pocket with other things like my house key or phone sometimes. Other than that, works fine for both opening and closing.

I've been looking into it today and I am starting to think that it is down to having too much other stuff in my pockets.

gavinwong · 07-22-2023, 03:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlfaM

I’m struggling with mine - the tailgate toe-kick features works 1 out of every 5 times, the ‘Auto Unlock’ unlocks the car as I approach but then locks it again when I grab the handle, and I managed to lock it with keys in the drives door pocket today - luckily I had my phone with me to unlock it.

When grabbing the door handle, careful to not touch the ridges towards the back of the handle as this also sends a signal to the car to either lock or unlock. So if you’re walking up and it unlocks, any slight pressure to the ridges locks it again and vv

paulockenden · 07-22-2023, 03:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlfaM

the ‘Auto Unlock’ unlocks the car as I approach but then locks it again when I grab the handle

Don't touch the knobbly bit of the handle. It's in the manual, although pretty well hidden.

Charlisdad · 07-22-2023, 01:42 PM

Only niggle I have with comfort access is when washing and cleaning the car it's forever locking and unlocking itself.

gavinwong · 07-22-2023, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charlisdad

Only niggle I have with comfort access is when washing and cleaning the car it's forever locking and unlocking itself.

I just leave the key in the cup holder

Squintstream · 07-23-2023, 02:58 PM

Locking (walking away) works 99% of the time on mine. I switched off my unlock (walking to) as the car would do the unlock/lock when going into the garage.

I find the unlock (via door handle) works 80% of the time and is often dictated by the position of the key I’m my pocket or the way I grip the handle.

All in all I’m happy, but it can act a little “female” at times

Funboy78 · 07-26-2023, 02:42 PM

I agree….. mine seems to pick and choose!
I don’t rely on it anymore, I listen for the annoying beep and visually check folding mirrors. I can’t seem to figure out a pattern either, most issues are locking as opposed to unlocking. Works 85% of the time I’d say

willougs · 07-27-2023, 12:46 AM

Only time locking fails for me is when I have passengers that are slow to get out of the car and Im out of range before they shut their door. Other than that it seems to work perfectly. I assume anyway. I have disabled the annoying beep as it was just far far too loud, and during the winter months I disable the folding mirrors to avoid that iced up plastic cogs crunching sound, so just tend to trust it's locked ok.

Unlocking-wise I have disabled and just rely on touching of the handle, avoiding the ridged part in the corner.

Riccardog · 08-03-2023, 07:16 AM

Have to say that on my '21 Touring the Comfort Access is annoying. Definitely has a mind of its own, sometimes I'm stood by the car and it hasn't unlocked. Othertimes I've walked far away and need to go back and click the remote to have it lock.

Possibly as I don't use the car that much and battery isn't always fully charged. This also affects stop-start and remote updates.

What's this about the ribbed bit on the handle? I recall reading the manual about it but can't quite remember what it does.

willougs · 08-03-2023, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Riccardog

What's this about the ribbed bit on the handle? I recall reading the manual about it but can't quite remember what it does.

Touching that with the key nearby will lock the car. Not ideal if you are trying to open the door after it unlocking via CA as you walked up to it.

vadimo · 08-07-2023, 04:20 PM

Locking when walking away is the issue for me, however I noticed it works 100% in my drive BUT where it starts go unreliable is in public places.

I wonder if there is some sort of RF interference.

When I realise its hasn't locked, walking back to the car, opening a door and then walking away works.

paulockenden · 08-07-2023, 04:28 PM

The only problem I've ever had with not locking when walking away is when I have passengers on board, and they still have a door open at the point where the car would normally lock. Apart from that it's been 100% reliable, both at home and elsewhere. Although I do always check the car's ears (wingmirrors) to see if they've folded in. Better safe than sorry...

07-20-2023, 03:14 PM	#1
Humphric New Member 2 Rep 7 Posts Drives: BMW M340i Touring Join Date: Feb 2023 Location: Oxford iTrader: (0)	Comfort Access very tempermental I have just picked up my M340i Touring. Loving the car but one little niggle I have is with the comfort access. I have it set to open and close automatically when I walk up and away from the car. However I am finding that quite frequently it does not work, both with opening and closing. Do other comfort access users find it reliable? Is this normal (and rather rubbish) or do I need to take it back to the dealer to be looked at?
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07-20-2023, 03:18 PM	#2
paulockenden Major 583 Rep 1,226 Posts Drives: 330e xDrive Touring Join Date: Oct 2020 Location: South Coast iTrader: (0)	Totally reliable here, once I realised that the walk to unlock only works for (I think) three days. After that you need to grab the door handle or use the key button. Never had it fail to lock while walking away though. Tip: set your mirrors to auto-fold on locking then you have a good visual indication that the car is locked.
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07-21-2023, 02:29 AM	#3
Tam the Bam Grumpy Old Git 443 Rep 923 Posts Drives: BMW G20 330i RWD M Sport Join Date: May 2019 Location: Scotland, UK iTrader: (0) Garage List 2020 BMW 330i M Sport [0.00]	I had issues with comfort access not always working which was eventually put down to low battery charge. Charged it up and it worked ok. The battery was a problem though and had to replace it. __________________ Retired: F10 520D M Sport E60 520D SE Volvo S60 type R
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07-21-2023, 05:19 AM	#5
gavinwong Second Lieutenant 157 Rep 278 Posts Drives: BMW G20 330e M Sport Join Date: May 2021 Location: Netherlands iTrader: (0) Garage List 2020 G20 330e [9.50]	2020 330e here. Only time I’ve ever had problems with it opening is if it’s been in my pocket with other things like my house key or phone sometimes. Other than that, works fine for both opening and closing.
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07-21-2023, 06:12 AM	#6
Dirty Boy New Member 12 Rep 18 Posts Drives: 2021 320d Touring Join Date: Feb 2023 Location: Midlands, UK iTrader: (0)	2021 320d which Ive had for 3 months. I set it to lock when I walk away only and its never given me a problem. You need to go back to the dealer.
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07-21-2023, 06:45 AM	#7
a.summers86 Lieutenant 193 Rep 473 Posts Drives: BMW G20 MSport Pro Join Date: Jan 2021 Location: Yorkshire iTrader: (0)	Mine all works well. Although I turned off the approach and leave setting as I didn't want it to always lock when I left the car. Otherwise it hasn't skipped a beat in 2.5 years.
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07-21-2023, 01:29 PM	#8
AlfaM Captain 282 Rep 613 Posts Drives: M340d Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	I’m struggling with mine - the tailgate toe-kick features works 1 out of every 5 times, the ‘Auto Unlock’ unlocks the car as I approach but then locks it again when I grab the handle, and I managed to lock it with keys in the drives door pocket today - luckily I had my phone with me to unlock it.
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07-21-2023, 03:35 PM	#9
crowdedhouse Second Lieutenant 70 Rep 266 Posts Drives: 2021 G20 330d mSport Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Ireland iTrader: (0)	21 G20 here - I'd say walk away lock works maybe 9/10 times but not perfect. I turned off unlock. Kick to open/close boot is almost perfect 99/100 __________________ Seven Worlds Will Collide
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07-22-2023, 01:42 PM	#13
Charlisdad Private First Class 64 Rep 115 Posts Drives: M340D, 320d M Sport Join Date: Apr 2021 Location: Durham iTrader: (0)	Only niggle I have with comfort access is when washing and cleaning the car it's forever locking and unlocking itself.
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07-23-2023, 02:58 PM	#15
Squintstream Captain 141 Rep 736 Posts Drives: F32 435i M Sport Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Derby iTrader: (14)	Locking (walking away) works 99% of the time on mine. I switched off my unlock (walking to) as the car would do the unlock/lock when going into the garage. I find the unlock (via door handle) works 80% of the time and is often dictated by the position of the key I’m my pocket or the way I grip the handle. All in all I’m happy, but it can act a little “female” at times
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07-26-2023, 02:42 PM	#16
Funboy78 Second Lieutenant 91 Rep 279 Posts Drives: ‘72’ BMW M340d G20 LCI Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Uk iTrader: (0)	I agree….. mine seems to pick and choose! I don’t rely on it anymore, I listen for the annoying beep and visually check folding mirrors. I can’t seem to figure out a pattern either, most issues are locking as opposed to unlocking. Works 85% of the time I’d say
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07-27-2023, 12:46 AM	#17
willougs Captain 267 Rep 861 Posts Drives: BMW 330e Join Date: Jan 2021 Location: Southampton iTrader: (0)	Only time locking fails for me is when I have passengers that are slow to get out of the car and Im out of range before they shut their door. Other than that it seems to work perfectly. I assume anyway. I have disabled the annoying beep as it was just far far too loud, and during the winter months I disable the folding mirrors to avoid that iced up plastic cogs crunching sound, so just tend to trust it's locked ok. Unlocking-wise I have disabled and just rely on touching of the handle, avoiding the ridged part in the corner. __________________ '21 BMW 330e xDrive ///M Sport For cheaper charging, switch to Octopus Energy using this link and get £50 free credit
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08-03-2023, 07:16 AM	#18
Riccardog Second Lieutenant 38 Rep 204 Posts Drives: G21 320i Touring MSport Join Date: Jun 2021 Location: London, UK iTrader: (0)	Have to say that on my '21 Touring the Comfort Access is annoying. Definitely has a mind of its own, sometimes I'm stood by the car and it hasn't unlocked. Othertimes I've walked far away and need to go back and click the remote to have it lock. Possibly as I don't use the car that much and battery isn't always fully charged. This also affects stop-start and remote updates. What's this about the ribbed bit on the handle? I recall reading the manual about it but can't quite remember what it does.
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08-07-2023, 04:20 PM	#20
vadimo Major 310 Rep 1,338 Posts Drives: 2014 F30 320D X-Drive Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Surrey UK iTrader: (0) Garage List 2020 M340i [0.00]	Locking when walking away is the issue for me, however I noticed it works 100% in my drive BUT where it starts go unreliable is in public places. I wonder if there is some sort of RF interference. When I realise its hasn't locked, walking back to the car, opening a door and then walking away works. __________________ Current Ride: 2020 G20 M340i in Metallic Black Sapphire with Individual Full Merino Ivory White and Piano Black Trim Previous Ride1: 2014 F30 M Sport 320D X-Drive Auto, Dakota Beige Leather, M Sport Brakes, Adaptive M Suspension, Paddle Shifters, 19" 403 Alloys, Folding Mirrors, Pro Sat Nav & Harman Kardon Surround Sound. Previous Ride2: 2004 E46 M Sport 320CI Auto, Montana Beige Leather & 18" 135M Alloys.
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08-07-2023, 04:28 PM	#21
paulockenden Major 583 Rep 1,226 Posts Drives: 330e xDrive Touring Join Date: Oct 2020 Location: South Coast iTrader: (0)	The only problem I've ever had with not locking when walking away is when I have passengers on board, and they still have a door open at the point where the car would normally lock. Apart from that it's been 100% reliable, both at home and elsewhere. Although I do always check the car's ears (wingmirrors) to see if they've folded in. Better safe than sorry...
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