[merle]

I can see where CA would be nice to have when you're going to your car and starting it up. But don't you still need the key to lock the car when you walk away? What's the use of that if you have to reach in your pocket to lock the door??

[crqflier]

You don't need to use the key to lock. You just put a finger on the top of the door handle. CA is well worth the $500.

[northernlights]

I agree, worth every penny. You become spoiled by never having to fiddle with your key. Another cool feature is being able to close your windows and sunroof by simply touching the handle. Necessary? Of course not. Another pleasure of your daily BMW experience? Definitely.

[FirstClass]

Originally Posted by northernlights

I agree, worth every penny. You become spoiled by never having to fiddle with your key. Another cool feature is being able to close your windows and sunroof by simply touching the handle. Necessary? Of course not. Another pleasure of your daily BMW experience? Definitely.

Didn't they remove the wndow close feature on the 07s due to some silly government reg/liability issue?

[Neon21db]

Originally Posted by FirstClass

Didn't they remove the wndow close feature on the 07s due to some silly government reg/liability issue?

The removed it from the key fob, not the door handle/lock.

[wnston1127]

no offense, but isn't reaching and touching the door handle to open/lock the doors and windows relatively the same as reaching into your pocket and pressing the open or lock doors buttons or holding onto the button to open/close all the windows?
aren't you thus technically just paying $500 to reach and touch your door handle instead of you keys?
i mean I also know that apparently with CA you don't have to put in the key fob to start the car, but when your hands already in your pocket to unlock the car, isn't it pretty a much a non issue just to grab the keys as you pull your hand out? and i mean, once you've got your keys in hand, with CA you still have to press the start/stop button, but the key slot is directly underneath, its pretty much on your way to put the keys in
iunno, just personally i wouldn't get CA unless it unlocked when you walked up to the car, locked when you walked away.

[youyou]

Originally Posted by wnston1127

no offense, but isn't reaching and touching the door handle to open/lock the doors and windows relatively the same as reaching into your pocket and pressing the open or lock doors buttons or holding onto the button to open/close all the windows?
aren't you thus technically just paying $500 to reach and touch your door handle instead of you keys?
i mean I also know that apparently with CA you don't have to put in the key fob to start the car, but when your hands already in your pocket to unlock the car, isn't it pretty a much a non issue just to grab the keys as you pull your hand out? and i mean, once you've got your keys in hand, with CA you still have to press the start/stop button, but the key slot is directly underneath, its pretty much on your way to put the keys in
iunno, just personally i wouldn't get CA unless it unlocked when you walked up to the car, locked when you walked away.

Great points.
And i thought the exact sam things when i ordered my car...
But you know what???
I got it just for the heck of it. :rocks:
I mean you're spending 60k$ + (in Canada) already for the car what's an extra couple of hundred $$ more gonna change in your life.

[wnston1127]

lol, thats a good point, what's a couple hundred bucks on a car thats around 60k

[wuufer001]

Already starting to hate the loaners they give me witout the CA. Only way to describe it is CONVENIENCE. Don't have to stick your hand in pocket to reach for the key to unlock and stick it in to start (other way round too). Just the Get In and Go

[shimshimhada]

Whenever I detail a E90/92 with CA, I'm like IT'S SOOOOOO COOOOOOLL. lol

[Phila]

The main point of CA is that it gives you access to the car as long as you got a key on your body somewhere. It makes it effortless to get in and start driving. Another great CA feature is that you never have to unlock & lock the trunk. I love just reaching out and opening my trunk to get my stuff, and when I leave, I know its locked up. Not having to stick the key into the dash is a bonus. Everything is effortless and natural ... except for locking the car.

About 'touching the door' vs 'reaching for the key fob' to lock the car. The way I see it is, either way you need to lock your doors. Sure itd be great if it just locked itself when you walked away, but how would the car know when you DONT want it to lock itself up?

[krafty04]

Have to chime in.. we though no way... but the SA gave us a demo. Then I tried it. You grab the door handle like your going to open the door and it unlocks.. the trick is where to place your thumb... When you shut the door, place your thumb correctly and it locks itself. Not having to take the fob out of your pocket, the wifes purse, your jacket to start the car? Priceless.

I was also concerned if someone noticed the car had CA and a perp was standing by so when the wife approached the car, he could grab the door handle and open the car, but you need to be within about 4 feet and it only works on the side of the car that you approach, so they can't jump in the other side.

I think its a step in the right direction..... plus the cool factor is about 3 points.

[john0213]

to people who think CA makes no sense, do you guys even wear tight jeans? i mean the Levis sort of jeans. I find it not so convenient everytime i have to lift the edge of my shirt a bit, reach into the small tight pocket squeeze my big hand into it and pull it back out sometimes getting the inner pocket to come out too, and it happens every freakin day~ i mean if you don't have that kind of situation then you won't feel it, but if i am to order my bmw it will be with CA~

one thing that different Lexus CA with BMW CA is that the Lexus one does not use touch sensitive button like the one on the 3 series, and it won't recognize on which side you are in. basically u press the button and it will unlock, u hold it and it will unlock all four door~ and u can't stand in the back of ur trunk expecting it to unlock itself. it won't~

[merle]

Oh man... great reasons to go with CA. I was all ready to do it, but then my sales guy (and my wife) talked me out of it saying that it really wasn't worth it because he has it and he takes the fob out and puts it somewhere on the dash because he needs it to lock the car when he gets out anyway. He has an 06 330 so I'm not sure if it's been improved in the 07.

Maybe I'll talk to the wife and convince her the $455 is worth it (he's giving me invoice on the options)! I'm doing ED in feb, so i have some time to change some options.

[MBrown1003]

Originally Posted by wnston1127

no offense, but isn't reaching and touching the door handle to open/lock the doors and windows relatively the same as reaching into your pocket and pressing the open or lock doors buttons or holding onto the button to open/close all the windows?
aren't you thus technically just paying $500 to reach and touch your door handle instead of you keys?
i mean I also know that apparently with CA you don't have to put in the key fob to start the car, but when your hands already in your pocket to unlock the car, isn't it pretty a much a non issue just to grab the keys as you pull your hand out? and i mean, once you've got your keys in hand, with CA you still have to press the start/stop button, but the key slot is directly underneath, its pretty much on your way to put the keys in
iunno, just personally i wouldn't get CA unless it unlocked when you walked up to the car, locked when you walked away.

What about when approaching the car during a snowstorm? I'll be very happy to not have to stand there getting snowed on while I unzip my jacket, pull off my glove, and pull the key out of my pocket.

Also, while driving my M5 last night on a bumpy road, I could hear the other keys and the key fob smacking against the dashboard. I reached down to hold them for a second and realized that won't happen in my 335i 'cuz the keys won't be hanging off the steering column.

I *think* I remember reading something in the Owner's Manual about the car automagically locking once the key is no longer detected. Can anybody confirm?

[rjm]

Once you have a car with CA, you will be annoyed when you have to drive one without it and find yourself having to reach into your pocket to get your keys to unlock and start your car. It is a nice little convenience that grows on you and you will probably never order a car without it again. Just one of the perks of the "new technology."

[john0213]

btw, one thing, my key always have something hanging with it, it can be a string of "stuff" like something special or a key chain. When you pull the lump of stuff out and the key chain gets hooked in your pocket, it gets pretty nasty~

[FirstClass]

Originally Posted by john0213

to people who think CA makes no sense, do you guys even wear tight jeans? i mean the Levis sort of jeans. I find it not so convenient everytime i have to lift the edge of my shirt a bit, reach into the small tight pocket squeeze my big hand into it and pull it back out sometimes getting the inner pocket to come out too, and it happens every freakin day~ i mean if you don't have that kind of situation then you won't feel it, but if i am to order my bmw it will be with CA~

I don't know what's worse, you describing that situation in explicit detail, or me knowing exactly what you're talking about from experience.

[Ninjaneer]

Originally Posted by merle

Oh man... great reasons to go with CA. I was all ready to do it, but then my sales guy (and my wife) talked me out of it saying that it really wasn't worth it because he has it and he takes the fob out and puts it somewhere on the dash because he needs it to lock the car when he gets out anyway. He has an 06 330 so I'm not sure if it's been improved in the 07.

Maybe I'll talk to the wife and convince her the $455 is worth it (he's giving me invoice on the options)! I'm doing ED in feb, so i have some time to change some options.

Sounds like your sales guy is confuzzled about CA

[Ninjaneer]

merle: You NEED to watch the videos in this thread: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...+access+videos

Shows how CA works.

[Russellnyc]

Originally Posted by wnston1127

no offense, but isn't reaching and touching the door handle to open/lock the doors and windows relatively the same as reaching into your pocket and pressing the open or lock doors buttons or holding onto the button to open/close all the windows?

Why would it be the same? When you use the fob, you have to (1) get the fob into your hand, (2) press the button, (3) grasp the door to open it. When you use CA, all you do is (1) grasp the door to open it.

My guess is that people who move quickly and live in areas with bad weather (me) find this much more useful with people who aren't really in a hurry and who live in nice climates. The value of CA while in the rain, while wearing a long heavy coat and gloves, or while carrying packages is substantial. If you have ever dropped your keyfob under the car while fumbling for it in a hurry, as I have, this $500 is WELL worth spending.

[Mr. Smith]

wait, dumb question:

you can lock the car just by touching the handle? Where?