[gloster]

Many folks here know that in most (all?) countries other than in the U.S., the key fob can be used to remotely close the windows by holding down the key fob lock button.

It works in the U.S. by holding down the CA lock point or turning the key in the door keyhole.

So I assume the key fob function is simply disabled for U.S. cars. Anyone have any theories on what it would take to enable it?

[Lee Rambler]

+1

[Lee Rambler]

what's weird is my e46 could do it...

[SoYank]

I've had my car in for a software upgrade and asked if it would be possible to set the software to allow the windows to raise with the close button. I was told that it isn't available as a retrofit and the SA implied that it would cost quite a bit to do. My car is a US spec in the UK.

I'm thinking of taking it to a different BMW to see what they say; not to say my locals are lying to me.

[canucklion]

sometimes they just don't know what the hell they're talking about

Originally Posted by SoYank

not to say my locals are lying to me.

[tintivilus]

I've been thinking about this lately, too, and I can only conclude that it *has* to be possible at some level, though the only concrete reason I can come up with (not working for BMW and all) is that it makes absolutely no sense to have separate physical modules for each combination of weird quirks when everything's controlled by programmable modules and it would be so easy to configure the behavior in software.

I can think of two plausible reasons why the dealership couldn't poke the behavior if you asked them nicely enough:

- The dealership software is set up to hide options depending on the market (very possible)
- The modules don't have flags for each option, but rather just a "locale" setting that configures everything (sounds unlikely and hard to maintain)

I'm anxiously waiting (but not holding my breath) for some third-party service tool company to reverse-engineer all the setting flags so us Americans can get back some of the supposedly lawsuit-triggering features.

[canucklion]

Originally Posted by tintivilus

- The dealership software is set up to hide options depending on the market (very possible)

I believe that's the most likely explanation. Your'e right, it doesn't make sense, financially and logistically, to have two physically different modules.

[SoYank]

Originally Posted by canucklion

I believe that's the most likely explanation. Your'e right, it doesn't make sense, financially and logistically, to have two physically different modules.

Kinda like the amber/red European taillights vs. the red/red North American taillights.

[gloster]

Back when I had my VW Passat (2000), the key fob had no window functionality at all. However, you could hold the key in the keyhole lock position and the windows would lower / keyhole unlock position and the windows would close.

A forum member did some poking around and came up with a mod that allowed you to lower/raise the windows from the fob. He modified folks fobs for $25. It was a great $25 mod.

I'm hoping an e90 member can dream something up. Perhaps there is an alternative path to figuring out how to change the software settings over to "rest of world" settings. Instead, perhaps the windows could be fooled into thinking they are getting the signal to lower in another way. Obviously the Passat mod was not based on changing to a rest of world setting.

[tintivilus]

Originally Posted by gloster

Instead, perhaps the windows could be fooled into thinking they are getting the signal to lower in another way.

Isn't that how the magical convertible boxes work? It seems relatively simple to make a little box that sits on CAN or iBus or something and responds to a "double lock" command with a "windows up" command (maybe "mirrors in" too), or something to that effect.

Also, I want my doors to unlock when I stop the engine when "auto-lock" is turned on... and hell, I want my windows and sunroof to close when the car senses rain!

[HyperM3]

This is like the same thing about 2007 models not being able to close the side mirrors from the door handle while the 2006 models can. I cant imagine its anything other than the disabling of a code.

There has to be a crack for it, thats all.

[tintivilus]

Originally Posted by HyperM3

This is like the same thing about 2007 models not being able to close the side mirrors from the door handle while the 2006 models can.

Was that only in the US/NA market, or is it global? If it was a global behavior change, there might have been other issues involved.

I hope it's US-only so we can hope for a crack.

Hey, speaking of which, is all this stuff (mirrors/windows/sunroof/etc) controlled by one module? It'd be a neat experiment to swap a Euro-coded one for a US-coded one and seeing what happens.

[ifaudi]

On my Audi all I had to do was reprogram the car with a VAG-COM to get the keyfob to roll up the windows. Hopefully its easy for the E9x and someone eventually figures it out.

[HyperM3]

Originally Posted by ifaudi

On my Audi all I had to do was reprogram the car with a VAG-COM to get the keyfob to roll up the windows. Hopefully its easy for the E9x and someone eventually figures it out.

Well, from what Ive heard through the rumormill.....theres a vag-com like unit supposedly coming out for the BMW's.

[tintivilus]

Originally Posted by HyperM3

Well, from what Ive heard through the rumormill.....theres a vag-com like unit supposedly coming out for the BMW's.

From their faq:

Ross-Tech has plans to introduce a diagnostic package for BMW/MINI and we have put considerable effort into its development. However we've come to realize that before this product can meet the high standards that our
customers have come to expect from VAG-COM, it will require considerably more time and resources than originally planned. Therefore the BMW/Mini product release is not imminent. As this situation changes, we will update this FAQ entry with the relevant information and will post announcements on our News page.

[gloster]

"it will require considerably more time and resources than originally planned"

in other words.......we are utterly confused by the BMW control systems and are sitting in our cubicles staring vacant eyed into the distance clutching our coffee mugs in hope of inspiration.

[tintivilus]

Originally Posted by gloster

in other words.......we are utterly confused by the BMW control systems and are sitting in our cubicles staring vacant eyed into the distance clutching our coffee mugs in hope of inspiration.

hahaha. The interpretations I was considering are "We're not going to bother until the marketing guys think we'll sell enough" and "It doesn't work, we don't know why, and we no longer care"

[robbie211]

I would be very interested in getting this mod...I know that back on the E46 they were able to do this with the help of iWindows mod found here http://tvonnav.com/iwindows.html hopefully we can get something like this on our E9xs

[doba_s]

I would be very interested in getting this mod as well ... i hope it will be available soon ...

[tintivilus]

That iWindows thing is neat, but it just seems unfinished/unpolished:

Sedans:
Pinch protection is *not* active when putting up windows.

Coupes:
When windows are put up using the iWindows Module the windows will go down the 1/4" when the door is opened, however the windows will *not* go back up the 1/4" when the door is closed.

iRain Sensor Information:
With the iRain Sensor, when the vehicle is turned off, if rain is sensed on the iRain sensor the iWindows module will put up all the windows and sunroof.

Actually re-programming the BMW module would fix the first two. Adding rain defense would take some more doing, maybe a custom module... but ffs, I already have a rain sensor. Adding a duplicate sensor just screams "hack" to me.