BMW removed the traditional key method so people won't over crank the engine during start up. The Z4s and X3s will soon have the same keys as all the newer models. And yes, people like the looks of the new keys and it fits better in your pocket.

 

I have not tried this, but can we actually over crank the engine in our E60s with the traditional key?

 

To lock, you simply touch a specific area on any of the door handles. btw, holding your finger on that area causes all of the windows and the moonroof to close.

I know that CA is a novelty, but I've got to tell you, it's the best toy that I have on my new car. I just got finished moving my cars around in my driveway, and it was sooooo convienient not having to take the key out of my pocket to start and stop the car and to lock and unlock it. I know it sounds silly and lazy, but I love it!

 

Did you ever try to over crank your E60? You can't. Using the key is like pressing a start/stop button. I don't think there's any real difference -- the key initiates a "start command" the same way pressing the start button does.

Removing the metal key just makes it cheaper to manufacture since there's no longer a need to include a mechanical lock cylinder in the steering column. The older (metal) keys still have chips in them that allow the car to be started, etc. so changing to the start/stop button was a matter of some relocating some wiring and switches.

Also, I agree that without comfort access, there's no real benefit to the button. Basically, as I said above, it's just one less moving part (mechanical part) on a car which is precisely the direction most manufacturers are taking if and when they can do it...

 

Without comfort access I feel inserting and removing the key fob to be much more fragile than inserting and removing a real metal key.

 

Not really. The new style keys are actually pretty solid. I can't see what could be fragile about inserting them in the slot. If anything, the metal style key could scratch the steering column, etc. if you missed the keyhole. Also, there have been times when I was holding the old style key in my hand while reaching in to place something on the passenger seat and I came very close to damaging the headliner with the metal part of the key as my hand moved across the car.

Each time I've driven a loaner car with the new key, I found it to be solid and well built.

 

The key fob itself is solid... but I found that whats holding the key in the actual slot to feel fragile... pushing the fob in and out of the slot feels fragile...

I also found several loners where the driver must have not known how to remove the key from the slow and actually broke the mechanism that holds the fob in the slot.

Yes they metal key can be dangerous if not used properly... I like the new start stop button... ONLY if it has Comfort Access... otherwise I'll take the old key.

 

Gotcha. I know what you mean about not knowing how to remove the key. I was guilty of a similar thing the first time I drove a loaner with the fob. I like the way M-B does their key -- it slides in and out of the keyhole normally and you turn it like a regular key. On cars that have keyless-go (comfort access), there is a start/stop button as well. Also, they give you a flat, credit card size transponder for keeping in your pocket.

I kind of like the idea that the BMW key and transponder is all in one unit but until I have time to actually play around with my new car, I'm not yet sure which company does it better...

 

i havent had the privilege of experiencing comfort access, but i have experienced the start/stop button. after reading about comfort access, maybe its just me but its not that hard to use the key to lock and unlock the car in my opinion. i think that i would actually feel safer unlocking and locking the car myself with the key and hearing those beeps compared to the key/sensor being in my pocket and just touching the door handle. plus i enjoy turning the key opposed to pushing a button. just my opinion.