Is This the Future of the Key?
Or is the future already in your pocket in the form of your smartphone? Either way what you see here is the Android based key fob that BMW will introduce this fall for the BMW i8. However like most technology within the BMW Group, we expect this to make its way down the range of BMWs and even MINI in some form in the years ahead.
The key is made entirely of aluminum and glass and houses a 2.2″ LCS screen that displays charge levels, time on charge as well as the distance the vehicle can travel before recharging/fueling. Additionally it allows you to change a number of settings on the car as well as lock/unlock and raise/lower the windows.
It’s similar to BMW’s Remote app but rather than requiring a cellular connection, it uses the same radio signals that traditional keys use. The fob charges by being placed on the charging tray in the center console or via micro USB. Look for availability this fall for the i8 and potentially in the years ahead for future BMW and MINI models.
<p>I think it’s interesting how MINI finally went to a key that you don’t have to put in a key slot in the car and then it’s going to eventually go back to that (since these keys will need to be charged).</p>
<p>Oh god I hope not. That thing is enormous. I wouldn’t want to put that in my pocket.</p>
<p>pocket tumor</p>
<p>The existing BMW key fob is already too large. It’s quite functional, but impractical. At least the MINI one used to fit in my key pocket (the little pocket in your right front pocket). The BMW one juts out precariously. And that thing up there is as big as a cellphone used to be.</p>
<p>It is the only way if you don’t want to end with an iPhone-do-it-all</p>
<p>More pointless complexity!</p>
<p>I’d be happy with something that was thin enough to fit in my wallet. A phone app (biometrically or password controlled) would be nice too. But that thing is way too big.</p>
<p>Ugly, useless, and costly. My R56 fob already costs $400 to replace (or so my dealer told me). The key/fob is dead. Let’s get on with NFC and building truly usefully functionality into a phone app instead.</p>
<p>BMW keys have had NFC for years to work with service tools. I thought MINIs did as well?</p>
<p>They do; when I had my 2003 they used the key in the NFC reader to look up the information. The person above was wanting to use NFC from a phone.</p>
<p>Correct. I think we need to get away from having to use yet another there physical device, especially one as big and complicated looking at that proposed unit. If BMW/MINI wants to build advanced functionality, let them do it in a phone app instead.</p>
<p>When will normal keys become archaic enough to gain retro-fashionability? I’m looking forward to that.</p>
<p>This is absolutely ridiculous. The person who came up with this should be quarantined from the other engineers studied for dysfunction and possibly prevented from breeding.</p>
<p>Meanwhile we are still waiting for car companies in particular to figure out that nobody actually likes to carry around a bunch of crap that can get lost or stolen….not to mention how that bulge looks in those skinny jeans</p>
<p>OK, we need something the size of a 10 year ago cell phone to stay in my pocket that will start my car? Really? The key for my 38 Ford hotrod, hemi powered by the way, is 1/8″ thick and about 1″ long. And it goes into the key slot on my column drop that also locks the steering wheel. Sure the fancy BMW and MINI FOB looks nice, but why? My guess the answer to that is that they cost a bunch more than my 38 Ford key, and they can get information out of it that maybe you don’t want MINI/BMW corporate to know. Like when you missed a shift, or put the wrong gasoline in it.</p>
<p>Key is too thick, but I like the concept. The apps are nice for the first few years of the car, if you don’t mind being forced into an approved phone, but what happens in a decade or so, when tech has changed, and won’t connect to the old car. At least this key will still work and give you the advanced functions that will seem archaic by then.</p>
<p>When is the industry going to realize that we only need two keys: Old, traditional ones that fit on a key ring without problem, and an app on my phone. These ever larger and larger dongles aren’t driven by the size of the required electronics (don’t believe me? Take yours apart and see how much free space is there. I think they do it for marketing the brand).</p>
<p>Look, if I can do banking via my phone, and I can have NFC do magic with home locks and the like, why the heck can’t I have an app for my phone that is a smart-key? I hate the huge things and they cost $200+ to replace.</p>
<p>While this is neat tech-gazmo show and tell, lets say someone has three or four cars. This would be like carrying and extra Motorola StarTac phone (sorry for the dated reference) for each and every car. And I’m guessing these would be more than $200 to replace.</p>
<p>Why not just build it into the Smart Watches that are becoming ever more prevelent. Lower cost, better ease of use, and one gizmo could serve many fucntions.</p>
<p>Just because you CAN do it doesn’t mean one SHOULD do it. This is glitzy, but really, really dumb.</p>
<p>I completely agree. But one thing that you mentioned about using a smart phone to start your car. Doesn’t GM have this already? I’m trying to remember when it was, but a fellow worker seems that he was able to do this on his Chevrolet Cruse a couple of years ago. I could be wrong but I know he was bragging about he didn’t need a key. I didn’t persue this any further, maybe he had to place a key in after he got in the car.</p>
<p>You can get smartphone enabled keyless start in the aftermarket for about $300 last I looked.</p>