keyhole cover
 

anyone of you guys installed the keyhole cover ( bimmian.com) for your x?
Is it easy to install?

Didn't install the one from Bimmian but it's the same as the OEM one from the dealer :)

I have a small writeup at http://www.janixworld.com/x5/DoorLock/

You don't need to remove the door panel if you only want to install the cover but retain the lock cylinder (the cover simply slides off/on after removing the
little screw behind the black plastic cover on the inside of the door).

- Jan

isnt there a disadvantge.. in that.. u cant roll up ur windows wit the door lock... god i wish u could hold the button down and the windows would roll up... they roll down wit the key button..WHY NOT UP....

Another potential downside: if you park near a large cell tower or other source of certain radio interference, the remote may not work at all. Happens to me 90% of the time I park at my local grocery store (right across the street form a huge AT&T tower complex). Every time it does, I am thankful that I haven't done this modification as I lock/unlock the old fashioned way.

i have never had the lock/unlock interference with remote until i got the X what gives are their remotes retarded?

I have never heard of this with any car, ever.

ya i have never heard this happen to anyone!

It happens in NYC ALL the time, happened with my '99 Tahoe, happens with my '04 Z06, happened with my '01 X5 4.4, and it happens with my '04 4.4i. It seems to happen with more regularity the closer you park to the Empire State Building and before 9/11, close to the WTC.

so ur remote doesnt work at all even if ur like 2inches away from it?

Nope, it has no effect.

there have been times when my remote lost it's memory and i couldn't use the buttons.

This is not an altogether uncommon problem with some new BMWs. The X5's key operates at 315MHz--localized transmissions around this frequency (actually not a very common communications frequency, but it is used by the military...) could cause interference. There are some SIBs out on this issue but I don't know that they would address problems resulting from localized radio interference. I know that other newer BMWs have this same problem in the same location. My E36 has never had any interference anywhere--I'm not sure what its frequency is.

yup every time it happened was in NYC and i thought i was loosing my mind almost scared the hell out of me then i would get out of the city and voila it works so far 2ce it happened not sure but come to think of it it wasnt too far from empire state building

I have yet to have this problem on my X5 (knock on wood), but have you tried holding the up to your chin to get better "reception"? It looks weird, but for some reason, a car remote works better. I used to do that with an aftermarket remote I had for my Nissan and I would be able to arm/disarm the alarm from 200 ft away whereas I would have to be about 50 or so feet away without it at my chin. It worked with my fiancee's 325i when for some reason she couldn't unlock her car using the remote, but then I told her to hold it up to her chin and it worked. I guess our head amplifies the frequency of the remote.

can you just pull the cover out if you need to access the keyhole again?

that remote to your chin is true, it worked on my acura, on my bonneville and on my diamante. my friends think im insane but its true

It is the corollary of the "my fillings are acting like a radio" thing.

Aside from apperance, it makes no sense to slap the cover over a lock cylinder. This is a theft deterent and you should remove the door panel (15 minutes) and lock if you do this mod.