Dave had some questions on proximity keys in an earlier post, so earlier in the week while I was over there we experimented. Not the full driving away with no key experiment, that will come later.

Dave was with a friend earlier in the week that has a proximity key for his BMW. Dave challenged him. Dave said that the car will still start even if the key in on the roof. Brian said it won't.

Now before I give you the answer to the challenge, Brian should be right. If the key is on the roof of the car, outside of the vehicle, the car should not start. These cars with proximity keys have sensors all around the car and they can determine where you are in relationship to the car. They can determine if you are inside or out. My Toyota Prius will no lock the doors if the key are inside the car, making it virtually impossible to lock you keys in the car. If it can do that, you'd think it could determine if the key was outside the vehicle as well. I would assume the BMW has the same technology.

So the answer is the car started! I was surprised by this and said ti Dave that "my Prius won't start". And the challenge came. I'm thinking "shit, watch it start". We go outside, put the key on the roof, I get in and nothing. Won't start. Bring the key inside the vehicle and it starts right up. Damn it, I should have bet him!

So strike one against the BMW... sorry Brian :(

Next we will try the driving away with no key to see what happens. Will the car just turn off? How far from the key does it have to be? Stay tuned.

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