BMW Key telemetry

fly-boy · 08-26-2010, 01:15 PM

Hi, when i picked up my new car the sales man mentioned that the key holds telemetry data which can be read by the service dept. to diagnose the car. I was just wondering if anyone knows exactly what data is stored? (service intervals etc. fine, but I would feel a little more un easy about things like rev plots and speed being recorded! (for obvious reasons).

What also springs to mind is lets say in an accident, would the old bill be able to analyse the key and find that you were indeed doing a perfectly legal speed and changing up at perfectly sensible RPM?

gnat · 08-26-2010, 01:41 PM

I know it stores fault codes and things like that. Haven't heard that it stores anything about your driving habits.

Most modern car computers do record and store some information that you probably wouldn't like to be stored. Just read up about the Toyota scandal to get an idea about what some store (e.g. they could see the speed, which pedals were being used, etc..).

And that's just the on board system. Things like OnStar and BMW Assist have detailed access (e.g. GPS) to where you go, how fast you got there, etc... OnStar has been involved in a few questionable cases where they gave law enforcement access to find (GPS) people/cars or bug (voice comm system) cars. I also remember (but can't find it quickly) a case when OnStar was only a few years old where they turned over detailed information about where a suspect had been without a warrant ever being issued.

While some of the benefits of these services can be nice, the draw backs are kinda scary.

ORIGIN M. · 08-26-2010, 02:04 PM

Easy.

I use one key for daily, and one for service!

TMR013 · 08-26-2010, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by red-sauerkraut

Easy.

I use one key for daily, and one for service!

Willing to bet it syncs with the ECU every time you put it in the slot.

ORIGIN M. · 08-26-2010, 04:15 PM

Yes, but that key is only used, when the ECU is clean, and ready for service.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TMR013

Willing to bet it syncs with the ECU every time you put it in the slot.

KingOfJericho · 08-26-2010, 04:36 PM

It stores things like bulbs being out, etc. as well as fault codes.

Dackelone · 08-26-2010, 04:40 PM

Here you GO fly-boy....

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showt...t=key+fob+info

This is only 'some' of the data that is stored. Btw... I do not believe you need to have your key inserted into teh slot for the data to get onto your key. The key only needs to be in the slot to be CHARGED! The data gets on the key fob via some sort of blue tooth dongle.

I think things like V-Max gets stored too.

fly-boy · 08-26-2010, 07:30 PM

scary stuff! and thanks Dackelone.

m981addicts · 08-26-2010, 07:56 PM

Took my car in for annual oil change on Tuesday and the service guy called me by my name as I stepped out of the car.

Sylon · 08-27-2010, 12:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fly-boy

Hi, when i picked up my new car the sales man mentioned that the key holds telemetry data which can be read by the service dept. to diagnose the car. I was just wondering if anyone knows exactly what data is stored? (service intervals etc. fine, but I would feel a little more un easy about things like rev plots and speed being recorded! (for obvious reasons).

What also springs to mind is lets say in an accident, would the old bill be able to analyse the key and find that you were indeed doing a perfectly legal speed and changing up at perfectly sensible RPM?

From the key fob? No, however the NHTSA is pushing for an indestructable automotive event data recorder, similar to the famous "Black Box" on aircraft, to record data just before and after an accident. Last time I read Congress have not made them law just yet, but don't be surprised if they do in the coming years.

http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/31/r...otive-black-b/

gnat · 08-27-2010, 07:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sylon

Last time I read Congress have not made them law just yet, but don't be surprised if they do in the coming years.

Yeah, they've been after it for years. I've been wondering if the Toyota fiasco might give them enough leverage to finally get it done....

Guess I should start practicing saying "I'm sorry officer, I must have clipped the wrong wire when installing my new stereo" with a straight face

Ash83 · 08-27-2010, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by red-sauerkraut

Easy.

I use one key for daily, and one for service!

+1

JasonCSU · 08-27-2010, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sylon

From the key fob? No, however the NHTSA is pushing for an indestructable automotive event data recorder, similar to the famous "Black Box" on aircraft, to record data just before and after an accident. Last time I read Congress have not made them law just yet, but don't be surprised if they do in the coming years.

http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/31/r...otive-black-b/

Here's a recent article from Road & Track about the event data recorders. It mentions that Congress is looking to require EDRs for the 2015 model year.

http://www.roadandtrack.com/auto-new...data-recorders

08-26-2010, 01:15 PM	#1
fly-boy Registered 1 Rep 4 Posts Drives: 118d coupe Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: uk iTrader: (0)	BMW Key telemetry Hi, when i picked up my new car the sales man mentioned that the key holds telemetry data which can be read by the service dept. to diagnose the car. I was just wondering if anyone knows exactly what data is stored? (service intervals etc. fine, but I would feel a little more un easy about things like rev plots and speed being recorded! (for obvious reasons). What also springs to mind is lets say in an accident, would the old bill be able to analyse the key and find that you were indeed doing a perfectly legal speed and changing up at perfectly sensible RPM?
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08-26-2010, 01:41 PM	#2
gnat Second Lieutenant 13 Rep 246 Posts Drives: Wishing for an e30iX Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: NoVA iTrader: (0)	I know it stores fault codes and things like that. Haven't heard that it stores anything about your driving habits. Most modern car computers do record and store some information that you probably wouldn't like to be stored. Just read up about the Toyota scandal to get an idea about what some store (e.g. they could see the speed, which pedals were being used, etc..). And that's just the on board system. Things like OnStar and BMW Assist have detailed access (e.g. GPS) to where you go, how fast you got there, etc... OnStar has been involved in a few questionable cases where they gave law enforcement access to find (GPS) people/cars or bug (voice comm system) cars. I also remember (but can't find it quickly) a case when OnStar was only a few years old where they turned over detailed information about where a suspect had been without a warrant ever being issued. While some of the benefits of these services can be nice, the draw backs are kinda scary.
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08-26-2010, 02:04 PM	#3
ORIGIN M. Banned 3161 Rep 9,134 Posts Drives: ///M Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Northern Hemisphere iTrader: (0)	Easy. I use one key for daily, and one for service!
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08-26-2010, 04:36 PM	#6
KingOfJericho Major General 2452 Rep 7,341 Posts Drives: Yes Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: CT iTrader: (1) Garage List 2010 135i Coupe [5.26]	It stores things like bulbs being out, etc. as well as fault codes. __________________ The views and opinions expressed in this post are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Bimmerpost. 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee High Altitude Hemi \| 2010 S4 Sold \| 2010 BMW 135i Retired \| 2006 Lotus Exige Sold
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08-26-2010, 04:40 PM	#7
Dackelone European Editor 10589 Rep 22,992 Posts Drives: N54 e82 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Bayern, Germany iTrader: (1)	Here you GO fly-boy.... http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showt...t=key+fob+info This is only 'some' of the data that is stored. Btw... I do not believe you need to have your key inserted into teh slot for the data to get onto your key. The key only needs to be in the slot to be CHARGED! The data gets on the key fob via some sort of blue tooth dongle. I think things like V-Max gets stored too.
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08-26-2010, 07:30 PM	#8
fly-boy Registered 1 Rep 4 Posts Drives: 118d coupe Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: uk iTrader: (0)	scary stuff! and thanks Dackelone.
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08-26-2010, 07:56 PM	#9
m981addicts Lieutenant 145 Rep 426 Posts Drives: 98Mz3-09-135i6sp-13-135isDCT Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Motor Earth iTrader: (0)	Took my car in for annual oil change on Tuesday and the service guy called me by my name as I stepped out of the car.
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