COMFORT ACCESS MALFUNCTION!!

[Penguin]

Originally Posted by The Big Easy

pressure is being exerted on the comfort open/close portion of the handle by the water stream

FYI, BMW can never do anything simply...

"With the aid of the 3 sensors, the electronic outside door handle module detects the
status of the outside door handle. Each change in the status of the outside door handle
module triggers the corresponding function.
These functions are:
• Trigger pulse by inserting a hand into the handle recess of the outside door handle;
Capacitive sensor 1
• Unlock request by pulling the outside door handle; Hall sensor
• Lock request by touching the sensitive area on the outside door handle; Capacitive
sensor 2
Sensors
To protect the battery, the outside door handle electronics module switches off the
capacitive sensors for the driver's side after 192 hours when the vehicle is at rest. The
passenger-side capacitive sensors are switched off after 72 hours.
Capacitive Sensor 1
A pulse is generated when a hand is inserted into the handle recess of the outside door
handle.The pulse wakes up the electronic circuitry in the outside door handle.
If the vehicle is in sleep mode, the electronics module will wake up the Comfort Access
and Car Access System 3. This involves the outside door handle electronics module
sending out a wake-up signal via the CAS-bus.
Comfort Access permanently switches on the remote control receiver in order to receive
the data sent from the ID transmitter.
Capacitive Sensor 2
Touching the sensitive area generates a signal from the capacitive sensor 2 until contact
ceases. The electronic module in the outside door handle sends the request via the CAS
bus. The request is to lock the vehicle.
Outside Door Handle Hall Sensor
The Hall sensor is a backup system for capacitive sensor 1. After 192 hours, the outside
door handle electronics in the driver's door enter sleep mode. This period begins when
the vehicle is locked or unlocked. The Hall sensor remains operational for a longer period.
Sleep mode reduces the power consumption of the outside door handle electronics by
switching off the capacitive sensors. By pulling twice on the outside door handle (two Hall
sensor status changes) the vehicle is unlocked.
Note: Both outside door handle electronics modules on the passenger-side
and the rear outside door handle electronics module on the driver's side
switch off after only 72 hours.
Door Locks
The capacitive sensor 1 initiates the vehicle unlocking procedure.
The door locks are equipped with an additional spring to ensure the vehicle can be
opened fast enough. The spring exerts pretension on the central locking drive unit for the
unlocking procedure. The door is already unlocked before an attempt is made to open it
with the outside door handle.
Note: If pulled very fast, however, it may be necessary to pull the outside door
handle a second time in order to open the door."

[Craig]

I've had mine lock and un lock when washing my car. I've never had the windows go down or unlock the car. Maybe, you had one of the fobs in your pocket and pressed the buttons without knowing so. I keep my key away from the car when I wash it and don't have the problem when washing my car anymore...

Craig

[nynd]

Had my X two years with comfort access, no issue whatsoever. Must be something which is not functioning right.

[cmyX6go]

Originally Posted by nynd

Had my X two years with comfort access, no issue whatsoever. Must be something which is not functioning right.

Same here. I'm on my second vehicle with comfort access, no issues. I go to a car wash and keep the key in my pocketbook. I've never had the water trigger any lock/unlock or open the windows or sunroof.

Good luck!

[alexmish]

With CA, you can only unlock the car by pressing on the door's handle, but continue pressing on it will NOT open the windows.

A common problem is when people lock the car, put the key in the pocket and walk away. While still close to the car, something in the pocket can press and hold the unlock button leading to unlocking the car and lowering the windows.

I never put the keys in my pocket until I am sufficiently far away... I had similar problems in the past with my others which did not even have CA feature - it was always accidental press on the buttons. Get yourself that BMW leather key holder, it will protect it from accidental presses !

http://www.bmw-online.com/ProductDetail.aspx?p=2345

[dok]

Originally Posted by alexmish

With CA, you can only unlock the car by pressing on the door's handle, but continue pressing on it will NOT open the windows.

A common problem is when people lock the car, put the key in the pocket and walk away. While still close to the car, something in the pocket can press and hold the unlock button leading to unlocking the car and lowering the windows.

I never put the keys in my pocket until I am sufficiently far away... I had similar problems in the past with my others which did not even have CA feature - it was always accidental press on the buttons. Get yourself that BMW leather key holder, it will protect it from accidental presses !

Leather Key Cases

Thanx for all the great replies! To reiterate my fobs were on the third floor on the table, about 400 to 500 feet away concrete house hurricane proof on the gulf of mexico, SW Florida. No buttons pressed.

what is my recourse with BMW and rain damage?

dok

[FunfDreisig]

Originally Posted by alexmish

With CA, you can only unlock the car by pressing on the door's handle, but continue pressing on it will NOT open the windows......

Ironically, pressing and then continuing to press on the bumpy part of the door handle will lock the X5 and then CLOSE all the the windows and sun roof (called Comfort Closing). I guess the question is whether this works correctly all the time on all X5s. Or is every case reported really a key fob operator mistake.

FWIW those of us without comfort access can close all our windows and doors too. But here in the US we have to use the little physical key in the electronic key fob. IOW BMW wants us to be in physical contact with the X5 to avoid liability for anyone who might get hurt by a closing window etc.

Funf Dreisig

[Armand]

I just confirmed that splashing water on the door handle does open the locks if the remote is close by. So in a severe downpour, you could unwittingly unlock the car. Also the car really hated it when I tried to wash it with the keys on me (yes. That was my first time!). Kept locking and unlocking and making that beep sound I gave it a good hose down around the door handle but it did not try to open the windows.

These cars have so much electronics you don't know what to expect. I would not discount the possibility of lighting induced electrical surges causing weird behavior including opening the locks and perhaps windows etc.. I would imagine the great minds at BMW would have safeguards against such things. If indeed lightening did cause windows to roll down, it might even be able to start the car and perhaps even put it in gear and drive away. Imagine the picture of zombie X5s after a storm

[ard]

Originally Posted by Armand

. I would imagine the great minds at BMW would have safeguards against such things.

I don't.

[bracoX5d]

Originally Posted by FunfDreisig

Ironically, pressing and then continuing to press on the bumpy part of the door handle will lock the X5 and then CLOSE all the the windows and sun roof (called Comfort Closing). I guess the question is whether this works correctly all the time on all X5s. Or is every case reported really a key fob operator mistake.

FWIW those of us without comfort access can close all our windows and doors too. But here in the US we have to use the little physical key in the electronic key fob. IOW BMW wants us to be in physical contact with the X5 to avoid liability for anyone who might get hurt by a closing window etc.

Funf Dreisig

Funny you mention this, apparently in Europe you can open and close all windows from key fob, but I guess it was too risky for US market. I did a European Delivery on my 330i and the person presenting the car to me was so confused that windows would not close when holding down the lock button on the fob. He though there was something wrong with the car, so he called over his boss who confirmed that for US market cars this was disabled.