Why no passive alarm set?

[marcx5]

Originally Posted by HaroldC

I would guess that they did it on purpose. It's just too easy to arm and lock with the keys or something valuable in the car (pets, kids, etc....). Plus no way of remote unlocking it would make it a nightmare...... could you imagine the number of calls BMW assist would get.

As an example, Onstar uses a perfect example of the following senario: Tiger Woods gets locked out of his car during a tournament and needs a 9 iron (iirc). Onstar unlocks it for him and .......

BMW assist can't do this. Thus it's going to require the spare key, or a tow. Both of which are very inconvenient.

that's not true... BMW assist CAN unlock vehicles... at least from 2008 on...

[rh71]

Originally Posted by HaroldC

I would guess that they did it on purpose. It's just too easy to arm and lock with the keys or something valuable in the car (pets, kids, etc....). Plus no way of remote unlocking it would make it a nightmare...... could you imagine the number of calls BMW assist would get.

As an example, Onstar uses a perfect example of the following senario: Tiger Woods gets locked out of his car during a tournament and needs a 9 iron (iirc). Onstar unlocks it for him and .......

BMW assist can't do this. Thus it's going to require the spare key, or a tow. Both of which are very inconvenient.

Again, passive arming does not and NEVER SHOULD LOCK the car. The purpose of an alarm is to alarm anyway. While it can be an annoyance with false alarms that we hear all the time, they can allow us to set the timer for it in idrive (as with pathway lighting), one time, and we'd be set.

I'm surprised there's nobody who has wondered the same thing here. We didn't all grow up in BMW vehicles I'm sure.

[HaroldC]

Originally Posted by marcx5

that's not true... BMW assist CAN unlock vehicles... at least from 2008 on...

huh...... I didn't know that. It might not be intentional then......

[Arkay]

Originally Posted by nynd

I think the feature being described is he would like the vehicle to lock and arm itself if you left the car unlocked for a period of time.

This particular feature is in all the cars I've had or currently have that uses a remote device (key or key fob) to lock/unlock the door(s) - and it works even with the Keyless Go option on my E63 when locking and then unlocking again WITHOUT opening the door using the buttons on the door handles, I've tested it just to be sure. So assume that the 4.8i will have it as we ordered it with Comfort Access - will have to test it when we pick it up.

I think though, the OP is saying that WITHOUT unintentionally unlocking the car, the alarm system should re-arm itself after a period of time if the vehicle is not locked.

[mwares212]

Originally Posted by rh71

Again, passive arming does not and NEVER SHOULD LOCK the car. The purpose of an alarm is to alarm anyway. While it can be an annoyance with false alarms that we hear all the time, they can allow us to set the timer for it in idrive (as with pathway lighting), one time, and we'd be set.

I'm surprised there's nobody who has wondered the same thing here. We didn't all grow up in BMW vehicles I'm sure.

I still do not see the point of this "passive alarm". I could see this causing many false triggers. If you want the alarm set, LOCK THE CAR. What's next, "The car should drive itself so I don't have to". We can't expect the car to do everything for us.

[rh71]

Originally Posted by mwares212

I still do not see the point of this "passive alarm". I could see this causing many false triggers. If you want the alarm set, LOCK THE CAR. What's next, "The car should drive itself so I don't have to". We can't expect the car to do everything for us.

You never forget anything right? I guess I'm the only one who forgets anything ever? It's a safety measure... safety measures are "just in case" kinda things... such as just in case you FORGET to lock the car, an alarm is still on your side.

Despite having a downside, I absolutely don't understand how you can't see an upside to this. Especially because it already exists in other cars and is a feature in many alarm systems including aftermarket.

quickie search result... why active and not passive for bmw? Passive is considered a better safety measure as evidenced by insurance discounts. More. Oh wait, I already claimed passive was better in my very first post!

I'm done trying to convince people at this point by saying the same thing over and over. What I do want is for the company to consider giving us the choice for passive or hear why they didn't put it in in the first place.

[mwares212]

Originally Posted by rh71

You never forget anything right? I guess I'm the only one who forgets anything ever? It's a safety measure... safety measures are "just in case" kinda things... such as just in case you FORGET to lock the car, an alarm is still on your side.

Despite having a downside, I absolutely don't understand how you can't see an upside to this. Especially because it already exists in other cars and is a feature in many alarm systems including aftermarket.

quickie search result... why active and not passive for bmw? Passive is considered a better safety measure as evidenced by insurance discounts. More. Oh wait, I already claimed passive was better in my very first post!

I'm done trying to convince people at this point by saying the same thing over and over. What I do want is for the company to consider giving us the choice for passive or hear why they didn't put it in in the first place.

My insurance only asked if I had an alarm, not if it was passive or active.

Anyway, I think we all need to calm down and face the facts that the X5 does not have a passive alarm. The old saying "Pick your hill to die on" certainly applies to this. I am certainly not going to lose sleep over this problem. Just enjoy everything else about the X5.
Have a good weekend and enjoy the driving.