How does key memory work?

[mendes9]

So, on my previous GMC envoy car you had 2 keys, labeled 1 and 2. It was easy, when you unlocked the car, it knew which key it was and when you set your seat to whatever position you want it saved it automatically, there was nothing to do.

On my 06 X5, I learned that you have memory seats which worked, but when using the remote key, it didn't work. While taking the car to the dealer for scheduled maintenance, I told them that key memory didn't seem to work. They said that seat memory and key memory was 2 different things, and it would be a $60 charge to program it. I said fine, then I assumed it would just like my envoy, I set whatever settings I want, such as seat, steering wheel etc, and it would rmemeber it. Well that doesn't seem to work. How do I change a setting and save it for key 1 and key 2? The manual is vague at best in terms of how this works, so I'm hoping someone can clue me in.

Last question, how can you listen to the radio while parked? The key won't turn backwards, so I have to leave it in pre-igntion setting that turns on the lights etc, which I don't want so it doesn't drain the battery.

Thanks in advance.

[diyanich]

hi there,
both keys need to be initialized subsequently and after that I just put the desired key into ignition position #2 and adjust everything to my liking and press M on the seat and the desired # in my case 3(it's the closest to the M) ; same with my wife's key and after if I unlock with mine I get my settings,she gets hers with her key.
BUT....I find that memory is adaptive and in 1 year I still seem not to find the reason why it changes by itself.....
good luck,it should work for you....
60 bucks for this seems to much IMO..but dealer is always unreasonable in this kind of details ..

[mendes9]

Thank you I will try that.

[Kunphuzi0n]

All you have to do to listen to the radio when parked is press in the volume knob. It will run for about 20 min, or you lock the car. I use it all the time when I am cleaning the car or waiting for my girlfriend to run in a store.

[DWill]

Yep the key thing is kind of a bummer if you're the omly driver of the car.

I spent maybe 20 minutes getting things set upnthen way I wanted them the day I picked up my X5M. Plus a couple hours of tweaking things while I was driving back to San Diego from Begas that day.

Stopped for gas and to get a bite to eat. Decided to use the "other" key.
Everything I had sone was gone as soon as I uses the second key.

You would think that with all the software in the car BMW could have put an option in to store the setting in either the car or the key and then program the key accordingly.

[X5Sport]

Not sure whether this will make a difference, but it seems to work on my E53. Having set the seats, mirrors, steering wheel etc to where you want it, and using the appropriate key, press 'M' and one of the three numbers on the driver's seat. I think that then tells the car which key uses which memory.

e.g. Key 1 is mine and I use Mem 1 on the Seat. Key 2 is my Wife's and her settings are stored on Mem 2. Each key also has the little colour tag on it so we know which one is which. Just to be clear, you must have the correct key in use at the time in order to get the settings stored against the correct key.

It certainly works on mine and whoever unlocks the car next time they need to use it, everything moves to the stored position for that key. Given that there's a 14inch height difference between us (she's shorter), the memory storage of the correct settings is kinda important!!