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Basil

Basil

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So this past Friday I take the wife's BMW Z4 to work because I'm going to take it for an oil change after work. As I was leaving work, I had already dropped my briefcase in the trunk, when I remembered something in my office. So I ran back in and got what I needed, then back to the parking lot to leave work. I decided to put the keys to my office in my briefcase that was in the trunk, so I popped open the trunk and (you know where this is going) unzipped the side pouch on my case to drop the keys in. As soon as I closed the trunk, I realized that I still had my office keys in my hand, meaning of course that I had just locked my car keys in the trunk! This was a car we bought used and the PO had lost the extra key so this was the ONLY key we had.

So, I called a locksmith and he came out and was able to get the driver's door open (using a special bar to reach in and pop the door from the inside). Great! Now I can just push the little button under the dash and pop the trunk, right? Wrong! The anti-theft system in this car knew that the door was not open the proper way and the button would NOT work.

The trunk as a key latch, but BMW uses special super-duper key system that even the locksmith can't break into. My only option was to leave the car there over the weekend. I went to the dealer to order a new key based on the VIN# and I just got a call that the new key (you don't want to know how much $$$) has arrived! I'm on my way to hopefully rescue the wife's car finally!
 
Kind of makes you appreciate the siplicity of older British cars,
doesn't it?
My Wife had a rental car,& on one cold morning,she let it warm up,
to defrost the windows.Turns out that the doors would automaticly lock,
after the doors were closed after a certain amount of time.
On the other hand,the 2002 Dodge Dakota that I had wouln't let you
lock the door with the key in the ignition.I sold it-couldn't handle a
vehicle that's smarter than me.

- Doug
 
I don't know if you could access the battery by popping the hood once you were in the car but if you could, I wonder if you had disconnected the battery and let it sit for a couple of mins, then reconnected whether or not the trunk release would work?.... moot point now :wall:
 
I hate keys generally. Necessary evil, I know.

We have all the LBC's working with ONE key. Alfa and Diesela are both different, with two keys each. When I'm juggling "stuff" the FIRST rule is to put the car keys in my pocket immediately after opening the door/trunk. Never locked myself out of a car but did once close the front door to the house and instantly had that "Oh POOP!" moment. Used a library card to B&E. Deadbolt wasn't "automatic". :smirk:

Decades ago, Snap-On had a little promo gift, a 1/4" universal made into a two-ring key fob: roll-pin removed, rings thru the pin holes. I have multiple sets of those with car keys for each vehicle on the female side of one u-j each. Other side has house & shed (all locksets are keyed to ONE key), toolboxes (same scheme, seven box locks, one key), 3 LBC's and one client's key. Four keys only. When it comes time to drive a different car, that set couples to the other "main" set. Added advantage is the iggy switch never has anything but one other key dangling: the main set is disconnected, in my pocket.

Simplify! :thumbsup:
 
Not one of the cars I personally use can the doors be locked without using the key. Willys, both Fords,and the Jag. Handy.
They all also have windwings. And crank-down windows. And 4-40 AC. And no autotatic transmissions....or automatic chokes.....or computers....or any of that other nonsense.
 
TR6BILL said:
Uh, er, Hide-A-Key perhaps....
Click to expand...
Uh.... he did in the trunk.
 
I guess BMW changed the locking system. My M coupe won't lock except by using the key. Can't even push the locks down on the doors manually. I need to get a good second key though. The one that came with the car when I bought it was not made correctly. Be thankful you don't need a key for a Ferrari, that takes a couple weeks and comes from Italy, only after you can provide proof of ownership at the dealer.
 
What a pain, Basil!

I've BTDT, had to smash the "opera" window out of an '86 Cutlass once to break in the car. Not fun.

Now, I have Hide a Keys everywhere . . . :yesnod:
 
And the point is... Never, never and I mean never put your hands on the wife's car again! I guess I'm a bit territorial about my vehicle. Won't let hubby get his hands on it unless he has a really, really good excuse. :nonono:
 
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