Early Impressions of an Electronaut - The Annoyances Part I

[Twscrap]

http://noankelectronaut.blogspot.com/2014/06/she-was-queen-for-about-hour.html

 

[GMac67]

http://noankelectronaut.blogspot.com/2014/06/she-was-queen-for-about-hour.html

A number of things I can't relate to:
+ I don't want to use my car as a back up power supply (but maybe this is due to the fact that I live in Europe, where power is generally reliable )
+ My key has a programmable diamant button (I don't use it, actually I don't use the key at all, I have the easy access option)
+ The radio turns off when you lock the car, not when you close the door.... I never have to manually shut down the radio. When I lock the car, everything shuts down, locks, closes, etc.
+ I am 6'3". Initially I was worried with the seats, as I experienced back issues in the test drives and couldn't find a comfortable seating postion. Now I don't have the issue. I went for the Giga, instead of the all leather Mega interior. I am glad I did. The test cars all had the all leather interior, which I didn't like, but it appears that the seat quality improved as well. I love driving the car. The only issue is the suspension which is pretty unforgiving. I am glad I didn't get the 20" wheels which will increase this issue and potentially the driving quality.

 

[Twscrap]

Others have mentioned the radio - guess I never noticed because I just can't get out of the car without shutting it off. Apparently it will also shut off after some set period of time even if you don't lock the car. Will be testing tonight and updating the blog with what I find.

As for our electrical grid - it was remarkably stable for decades. It was odd for us to get brown outs where we live. Two hurricanes in 14 months changed that. We lost power for 7 days during Hurricane Irene, and then for 6 days during Superstorm Sandy. Many folks went out and bought generators, but seeing as we have several days worth of energy stored in our car batteries, it seemed to make more sense to tap that energy rather than opt for a generator.

 

[GMac67]

Others have mentioned the radio - guess I never noticed because I just can't get out of the car without shutting it off. Apparently it will also shut off after some set period of time even if you don't lock the car. Will be testing tonight and updating the blog with what I find.

As for our electrical grid - it was remarkably stable for decades. It was odd for us to get brown outs where we live. Two hurricanes in 14 months changed that. We lost power for 7 days during Hurricane Irene, and then for 6 days during Superstorm Sandy. Many folks went out and bought generators, but seeing as we have several days worth of energy stored in our car batteries, it seemed to make more sense to tap that energy rather than opt for a generator.

The radio (and everything) shuts down after some time. Actually if you lock the car, you can't use the radio anymore. Experienced this when I left my son in the car to get something quickly. Locked the car and the radio stopped working, and he couldn't get to work anymore.

With regards to power back up, a better option would be a car powered by Fuel Cells.

Btw don't know why you don't know why you don't have the diamant button on your car key. Maybe it comes with the comfort access option.

 

[Twscrap]

With regards to power back up, a better option would be a car powered by Fuel Cells.

Btw don't know why you don't know why you don't have the diamant button on your car key. Maybe it comes with the comfort access option.

Fuel cell vehicles won't be an option in my part of the country for a long time. Already have 2 EVs so trying to make use of what I have. If I could have used both the Focus Electric and the i3, I would have had enough power for a weeklong outage like those experienced during Irene and Sandy. As it is, I'll have to live with the 19 kWh available in the Focus.

It's not comfort access, as my i3 has it. I think the diamond button is absent on all US cars.

 

[Gonville]

We have a diamond...no comfort access.

 

[TomMoloughney]

The programmable diamond key fob button isn't available in the US on any trim level. It's simply not offered here. :x

 

[jelloslug]

The programmable diamond key fob button isn't available in the US on any trim level. It's simply not offered here. :x

It boggles my mind the little options that car companies "leave off" when they sell a car in one country vs another. I just found out today that the Nissan Leaf that is sold in the UK (and who know were else) has rear cupholders that pop out of the back of the center console. Why would you omit that in North America? Another weird one was on the 2nd gen Prius there was no height adjustment on the drivers seat in North America yet in other left had drive countries in Europe the height adjust was not only available but it was standard. The punched holes were even in the frame of the seat, just no adjuster parts.

 

[Gonville]

The programmable diamond key fob button isn't available in the US on any trim level. It's simply not offered here. :x

Maybe this is connected to the whole programmable remote access thing in US and Canada. I believe you can't remotely unlock the vehicle? Is that right?

Maybe that as the diamond is programmed via the remote app they don't want any odd things to happen that they might be sued for?

 

[amateurish]

Is the SOC display only available with the Rex?

 

[stumbledotcom]

Maybe this is connected to the whole programmable remote access thing in US and Canada. I believe you can't remotely unlock the vehicle? Is that right?

Maybe that as the diamond is programmed via the remote app they don't want any odd things to happen that they might be sued for?

No, remote unlock is an option from the iRemote app or by calling BMW Assist.

Keyfobs in the US have the panic button instead of the diamond. It's probably a marketing-driven decision. I almost can see the focus groups voting for the illusion of safety that red button provides vs. the utility of programmable.

 

[Twscrap]

Maybe this is connected to the whole programmable remote access thing in US and Canada. I believe you can't remotely unlock the vehicle? Is that right?

Maybe that as the diamond is programmed via the remote app they don't want any odd things to happen that they might be sued for?

No, remote unlock is an option from the iRemote app or by calling BMW Assist.

Keyfobs in the US have the panic button instead of the diamond. It's probably a marketing-driven decision. I almost can see the focus groups voting for the illusion of safety that red button provides vs. the utility of programmable.

Does make you wonder how many times an intentional panic button press has occurred v. accidental ones.

 

[znino]

Maybe this is connected to the whole programmable remote access thing in US and Canada. I believe you can't remotely unlock the vehicle? Is that right?

Maybe that as the diamond is programmed via the remote app they don't want any odd things to happen that they might be sued for?

No, remote unlock is an option from the iRemote app or by calling BMW Assist.

Keyfobs in the US have the panic button instead of the diamond. It's probably a marketing-driven decision. I almost can see the focus groups voting for the illusion of safety that red button provides vs. the utility of programmable.

The is no remote unlocking from the app (in Canada I can confirm 100% and I suspect the USA as well). They told me this was for security reasons if someone finds your phone but that is BS. With an app password they could also implement a feature password and nobody could tamper with the unlocking. It is much easier to just break a window

 

[stumbledotcom]

The is no remote unlocking from the app (in Canada I can confirm 100% and I suspect the USA as well). They told me this was for security reasons if someone finds your phone but that is BS. With an app password they could also implement a feature password and nobody could tamper with the unlocking. It is much easier to just break a window

You're right. I'm wrong. I saw the lock icon on the app's remote screen and assumed it was a toggle that went either way. Nope. Lock only. In my defense, I've lived with the traditional BMW single lock/unlock button long enough that the toggle function seemed like a natural conclusion. The i3's more mainstream double button setup (on the doors no less!) still throws me.

Speaking of BMW traditions, I also miss the blue/red dial for the center vents.

 

[Gonville]

I've lived with the traditional BMW single lock/unlock button long enough that the toggle function seemed like a natural conclusion. The i3's more mainstream double button setup (on the doors no less!) still throws me.

Are your fobs different then? US market? I think we've always had two buttons ? Central logo button for lock and other button for unlock.

Is the US standard a single button for both? Be interested to see picture of non i3 fob.

Or are you talking just about the remote app?

 

[Gonville]

...
I've lived with the traditional BMW single lock/unlock button long enough that the toggle function seemed like a natural conclusion. The i3's more mainstream double button setup (on the doors no less!) still throws me.

This is what we have had in UK for some years, about 4 I think, they are gradually getting bigger used to be not so long and broad.

 

[stumbledotcom]

Are your fobs different then? US market? I think we've always had two buttons ? Central logo button for lock and other button for unlock.

Is the US standard a single button for both? Be interested to see picture of non i3 fob.

Or are you talking just about the remote app?

I was referring to the single lock/unlock button in the cabin. As far as I know, all BMW models used a single button on the center stack/console since the central locking system appeared (in the 70s?). When I saw the single lock button on the remote screen of the iApp, I wrongly assumed it followed the same logic.

The key fob remotes have used two buttons (top unlocks, roundel locks) since the toggle logic doesn't apply when you add the option of unlocking only the driver's door or all.

I've never noticed a diamond button on a US fob (I'm hardly a definitive source). My guess is that substituting the panic button is standard North American market practice—not an i-subbrand innovation.

 

[Gonville]

Ah OK I see.

Interestingly on my long test loan drive I couldn't find the unlock button when my partner was stood outside for a pickup....that didn't go down well. Just as well it wasn't raining. Had to press the stop button to get it to unlock.

 

[philcro]

Ah OK I see.

Interestingly on my long test loan drive I couldn't find the unlock button when my partner was stood outside for a pickup....that didn't go down well. Just as well it wasn't raining. Had to press the stop button to get it to unlock.

Unlock in UK is on the door just above the mirror adjustment switches.
I asked BMW why no Boot/Bonnet release inside car and was told that it is only part of the "Comfort Access".

Philip

Ionic Silver, Ordered 2nd Dec delivered 30th May.

 

[Gonville]

That is so annoying - did look there too. I saw there was a blank button below the 'froot' release button. Didn't have comfort access though.