Beware the grey plastic (spare) key
Posted: Sun Feb 20, 2011 6:17 pm
Good evening all,
Just a heads up on the capabilities of the grey plastic spare key which usually comes with the X5. For the first time ever I have reason to use it. I only have one 'normal' remote key just now, and as my brother-in-law is using the X for a couple of weeks while I'm abroad, I thought I'd give him the plastic one. Did a quick check with it to see if it worked OK.
It will open the doors manually without a problem BUT will NOT deactivate the alarm.. so the alarm goes off when the door is opened. Similarly, it will re-lock the doors but will not activate the alarm.
I have read my manual,and on page 37 it says ' On certain national-market versions, the alarm system can only be operated by the remote control. Opening these cars with a key triggers off the alarm'.
Upshot is, the car can be opened and driven using the grey plastic key, but if the alarm (and I presume immobiliser) were previously activated by a remote key, if the plastic key is used to open the car, the alarm will go off. If the plastic key is turned to ignition position 1, the alarm is de-activated, but upon manually re-locking the car with the plastic key, the alarm does NOT re-activate. The car is therefore totally unprotected, until the locking procedure is carried out using a remote key.
I know this is a bit long-winded, but just want to alert anyone who may find themselves in a similar position. Although I'm in Ireland, my X was originally registered in the UK before being shipped over.
Fleegle.
Just a heads up on the capabilities of the grey plastic spare key which usually comes with the X5. For the first time ever I have reason to use it. I only have one 'normal' remote key just now, and as my brother-in-law is using the X for a couple of weeks while I'm abroad, I thought I'd give him the plastic one. Did a quick check with it to see if it worked OK.
It will open the doors manually without a problem BUT will NOT deactivate the alarm.. so the alarm goes off when the door is opened. Similarly, it will re-lock the doors but will not activate the alarm.
I have read my manual,and on page 37 it says ' On certain national-market versions, the alarm system can only be operated by the remote control. Opening these cars with a key triggers off the alarm'.
Upshot is, the car can be opened and driven using the grey plastic key, but if the alarm (and I presume immobiliser) were previously activated by a remote key, if the plastic key is used to open the car, the alarm will go off. If the plastic key is turned to ignition position 1, the alarm is de-activated, but upon manually re-locking the car with the plastic key, the alarm does NOT re-activate. The car is therefore totally unprotected, until the locking procedure is carried out using a remote key.
I know this is a bit long-winded, but just want to alert anyone who may find themselves in a similar position. Although I'm in Ireland, my X was originally registered in the UK before being shipped over.
Fleegle.
