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Technical Topics iDrive, Nav, Phone, Audio, Video, Cameras, Electronics Digital Key Not Locking or Unlocking

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      02-01-2020, 08:07 PM   #1
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Digital Key Not Locking or Unlocking

Tried the Digital Key for the first time.

Has been activated and is active. The Digital Key will start and stop the engine, but it will not lock or unlock the car. I place the digital key between the driver's door handle and the door and it does not respond.

Have tried it with the card facing me and away, but to no avail. Have also tried deactivating and activating it again, but no joy.

Am I missing something?

Thanks for your help in advance!
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      02-01-2020, 08:52 PM   #2
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bmwphile View Post
Tried the Digital Key for the first time.

Has been activated and is active. The Digital Key will start and stop the engine, but it will not lock or unlock the car. I place the digital key between the driver's door handle and the door and it does not respond.

Have tried it with the card facing me and away, but to no avail. Have also tried deactivating and activating it again, but no joy.

Am I missing something?

Thanks for your help in advance!
Place it on the outer right side of the handle. It's a little finicky but it will work once you find the right location.
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      02-01-2020, 09:21 PM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hockeymen14 View Post
Place it on the outer right side of the handle. It's a little finicky but it will work once you find the right location.
Like he said. Place it on the outside part of the drivers side door handle, towards the rear of the car. It worked for me whenever I tried it.
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      02-01-2020, 09:38 PM   #4
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First time I did it it took a few seconds and swipes. Outside door handle, find the sweet spot by waving it around. The next time it'll be much quicker.
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      02-01-2020, 10:08 PM   #5
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I find this annoying and was thinking my car's IR sensor was tripping out. It worked when i was at home, so i take it to the mall in glendale and when i get back to my car, the damn key doesnt register. I was there for about 15 min. and mall security ended up walking up to me and I had to explain that my card key isnt working and no I am not trying to steal this car. I did everything, tapped it on the outerside of the handle, inside the handle, flipped the card around and did both. Finally after walking away from the car and walking back, it recognized the card and unlocked. Security was ready to pull me away from the car thinking i was lying. Since that day, card is now tucked back into the car manual, never using that piece of junk again.
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      02-01-2020, 10:14 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pmanzonfotos View Post
I find this annoying and was thinking my car's IR sensor was tripping out. It worked when i was at home, so i take it to the mall in glendale and when i get back to my car, the damn key doesnt register. I was there for about 15 min. and mall security ended up walking up to me and I had to explain that my card key isnt working and no I am not trying to steal this car. I did everything, tapped it on the outerside of the handle, inside the handle, flipped the card around and did both. Finally after walking away from the car and walking back, it recognized the card and unlocked. Security was ready to pull me away from the car thinking i was lying. Since that day, card is now tucked back into the car manual, never using that piece of junk again.
Exactly what I’m afraid of. Which is why, even though it has worked every time I tried, I still have my wife carry my key just in case.
When I go out alone, I always carry the key with me.

OT - Does connecteddrive not work for you? I would’ve tried unlocking my car via the app had it not worked for me. Just wondering whether it would start if the handle doesn’t recognize the card.
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      02-01-2020, 10:45 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by VipinLJ View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by pmanzonfotos View Post
I find this annoying and was thinking my car's IR sensor was tripping out. It worked when i was at home, so i take it to the mall in glendale and when i get back to my car, the damn key doesnt register. I was there for about 15 min. and mall security ended up walking up to me and I had to explain that my card key isnt working and no I am not trying to steal this car. I did everything, tapped it on the outerside of the handle, inside the handle, flipped the card around and did both. Finally after walking away from the car and walking back, it recognized the card and unlocked. Security was ready to pull me away from the car thinking i was lying. Since that day, card is now tucked back into the car manual, never using that piece of junk again.
Exactly what I'm afraid of. Which is why, even though it has worked every time I tried, I still have my wife carry my key just in case.
When I go out alone, I always carry the key with me.

OT - Does connecteddrive not work for you? I would've tried unlocking my car via the app had it not worked for me. Just wondering whether it would start if the handle doesn't recognize the card.
Oh God, let's not start with connecteddrive app! Even more unreliable than the key card. Still waiting for a fix to this day!!!
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      02-01-2020, 11:45 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by VipinLJ View Post
Exactly what I’m afraid of. Which is why, even though it has worked every time I tried, I still have my wife carry my key just in case.
When I go out alone, I always carry the key with me.

OT - Does connecteddrive not work for you? I would’ve tried unlocking my car via the app had it not worked for me. Just wondering whether it would start if the handle doesn’t recognize the card.
I actually did try the connecteddrive, and it kept failing to send to vehicle. Not sure why it wouldnt connect.
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      02-01-2020, 11:47 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pmanzonfotos View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by VipinLJ View Post
Exactly what I’m afraid of. Which is why, even though it has worked every time I tried, I still have my wife carry my key just in case.
When I go out alone, I always carry the key with me.

OT - Does connecteddrive not work for you? I would’ve tried unlocking my car via the app had it not worked for me. Just wondering whether it would start if the handle doesn’t recognize the card.
I actually did try the connecteddrive, and it kept failing to send to vehicle. Not sure why it wouldnt connect.
Apps broken. No resolution out yet.
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      02-02-2020, 02:43 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hockeymen14 View Post
Place it on the outer right side of the handle. It's a little finicky but it will work once you find the right location.
Tried your suggestion, but still does not work
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      02-02-2020, 04:47 AM   #11
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Sorry all, looks like I have got my terminology wrong, my original question is with the Keycard not the Digital Key (aka Smartphone with a digital key installed). My understanding is that Keycard can ONLY work if one has a digital key already installed on a smartphone. Furthermore, a digital key can only be installed on an Android phone. Do I have my facts correct?

So...is there anyone with a functioning Keycard without a digital key installed on an Android phone?
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      02-02-2020, 05:42 AM   #12
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I’ve not tried my keycard but according to the manual it is independent from a smartphone.

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      02-02-2020, 06:53 AM   #13
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Originally Posted by Tam the Bam View Post
I’ve not tried my keycard but according to the manual it is independent from a smartphone.

Attachment 2231577
The first sentence of the 2nd paragraph

"A digital key that has already been paired with the vehicle is installed on the key card"

Doesn't this mean that the pairing to a smartphone is a pre-requisite for the key card to function?
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      02-02-2020, 07:34 AM   #14
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No I read it that the digital key has been put on the keycard and just needs iDrive activation.

Not everyone has a specific Android phone and digital key doesn’t work on Apple.
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      02-02-2020, 09:07 AM   #15
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No. You do not need to pair it to a smart phone. Both work independently. Only a Samsung galaxy phone can be used as a digital key. I don’t have a samsung galaxy. I couldn’t use my phone as a key card even though it has nfc.
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      02-02-2020, 09:22 AM   #16
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I really dont recommend trusting the key card
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      02-02-2020, 01:33 PM   #17
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Its independent. Don't have anything configured on my phone for the card. I use the keycard occasionally.
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      02-02-2020, 01:43 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chris_portimaog20 View Post
I really dont recommend trusting the key card
I agree. I simply cannot bring myself to trust keycards. Just like how I can’t trust adaptive cruise control

And I just tried it. Luckily, my keycard still works fine. I had to keep the key card there for a second before it unlocked. A quick swipe might not work.
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Last edited by VipinLJ; 02-02-2020 at 01:57 PM..
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      02-06-2020, 05:07 PM   #19
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And today, it refuses to work. Same problem as the OP. It refuses to unlock or lock the car but car can be started once I’m inside (after unlocking the car with my app). Went into iDrive settings and it shows the key card is active and ticked. I thought I’d try to remove it and re-pair it but I cannot find an option to delete the key card. Anyone have any idea on how to delete and re-pair the NFC card?
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