Why is the fob the size of a hand grenade?

wdc330i · 10-04-2017, 06:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PANDA F22

Heres a comparison between my '07 X5 and my '15 m235i. I definitely like the size of the '07 fob more. The biggest difference is the thickness.

Yes. The F15 X5 key is a little thinner still, although a bit bigger.

Peakrunner · 10-04-2017, 10:42 AM

Come on, you paid tens of thousands for these cars. Don't you want to feel the weight of the debt/burden in your pocket?

Viffermike · 10-04-2017, 10:44 AM

All I'm saying is that compared to fob from all makes, BMW's 2 Series fob is average in size. Comparing it exclusively to other BMW fobs is asenine ...

And to wdc330i 's point: My Porsche fob is considerably narrower, but it's actually thicker than the 2 series fob because of the trademark car cabin-shaped hump it has in the middle. In my pocket, the BMW fob actually plays nicer ...

... but I don't complain, because Porsche.

cxp213 · 10-04-2017, 10:55 AM

Yeah, it is a bit oversized unnecessarily. I also have it in a case which certainly doesn't help with the thickness.

MadOzodi · 10-04-2017, 11:57 AM

Simple solution:

Buy the largest size iOS or Android smart phone and carry that in your front pocket. You will easily appreciate how small the key fob is by comparison.

Viffermike · 10-04-2017, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MadOzodi

Simple solution:

Buy the largest size iOS or Android smart phone and carry that in your front pocket. You will easily appreciate how small the key fob is by comparison.

Boy howdy ain't THAT the truth. I'm about to downsize from an iPhone 6 Plus to an iPhone 8 for that very reason (but add an iPad to make up for that for home use).

#PhabletsSuck

Lew Carrum · 10-04-2017, 12:38 PM

It could be a bit smaller I agree, whats not helping either is phones getting bigger every new model (the latest Samsung is like a laptop) and actually if you have realised that trouser pockets are getting smaller too.

Viffermike · 10-04-2017, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lew Carrum

It could be a bit smaller I agree, whats not helping either is phones getting bigger every new model (the latest Samsung is like a laptop) and actually if you have realised that trouser pockets are getting smaller too.

On some, true dat ... on others, not so much ...

#BonobosKhakisFTW

Elvisfan · 10-04-2017, 05:55 PM

My Acura FOB is larger. It’s thinner though.

Rayscott · 10-04-2017, 07:19 PM

Whine, whine whine. Get over it and stop sounding like pussy's.

RoundelM3 · 10-05-2017, 07:12 AM

I'm still wondering where this "hand grenade" size description is coming from - the grenades I handled and threw while serving in the Army were WAY bigger than this little key fob. A hell of a lot heavier, too. And if you want to see a REALLY big fob, take a look at the one for the new 7-series, which is the size of a 1st-gen "smart" phone.

Ron Jeffries · 10-05-2017, 09:21 AM

I may have exaggerated a bit when I said "hand grenade".

Ron Jeffries · 10-05-2017, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rayscott

Whine, whine whine. Get over it and stop sounding like pussy's.

The plural of pussy is pussies, not pussy's.

wdc330i · 10-05-2017, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron Jeffries

The plural of pussy is pussies, not pussy's.

mdputnam · 10-05-2017, 11:18 AM

Comming to the 2019 M250i!!!!

Now that's a BIG one.

Dylan86 · 10-05-2017, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PANDA F22

Heres a comparison between my '07 X5 and my '15 m235i. I definitely like the size of the '07 fob more. The biggest difference is the thickness.

Interesting! I've never noticed the difference between them, probably because it's in my pocket most of the time, lol.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mdputnam

Comming to the 2019 M250i!!!!

Now that's a BIG one.

Rayscott · 10-05-2017, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron Jeffries

The plural of pussy is pussies, not pussy's.

Sorry, didn't know you had one.

Ron Jeffries · 10-05-2017, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rayscott

Sorry, didn't know you had one.

I have had one but it was a bloody long time ago.

ggggbmw · 10-05-2017, 07:47 PM

I think the key fob is on the large side also. The fob from my 2007 Altima had the same functions ('comfort access', internal key), but was at least a third smaller. It was also a smoother, more ovalish shape, so it fit in my pocket better.

But the thing that really chaps me about the BMW fob is the horrible range of the lock function. I half to be right next to the car (within 10') for the lock to work. Super annoying.

My Altima fob would work from 30+ yards away. Closer to a 100 yards if I had a clear line of sight and battery was fresh. I'm always walking away a bit and forgetting if I locked the door or not. With the Altima fob, I could just hold it over my head, push the button from halfway down the block, and I'd get the comforting beep.

With the BMW fob, if I'm more than 10' away, I need to walk all the way back to make sure. Half the time it's faster to pull out my phone, open the BMW app, send a remote lock request, and wait for the response. You'd think as bit as the key is it would have a decent battery and antenna and work from a reasonable distance.

cxp213 · 10-05-2017, 11:07 PM

^ Weird you say that because my range on the BMW key fob is very good. Much further than my Nissan's ever was, but that was a separate key fob and key combo.

aerobod · 10-06-2017, 12:56 AM

These are the 3 electronic key fobs I have for my cars. If all you need is a proximity key, you don’t get much more compact than the one for the Caterham in the middle. It is passive though, no battery needed, just an antenna and RFID chip - could be a lot smaller if it didn’t need a case to stop it being lost too easily.

stevenvillatoro · 10-06-2017, 10:20 AM

Amended your comment:

Quote:

Originally Posted by aerobod

... could be a lot smaller if it didn’t need a case to stop it being (overlooked in your pants pocket headed for the washing machine) too easily.

10-04-2017, 10:42 AM	#24
Peakrunner Mile High Member 6 Rep 109 Posts Drives: 2012 x5d Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Renton, WA iTrader: (0)	Come on, you paid tens of thousands for these cars. Don't you want to feel the weight of the debt/burden in your pocket? __________________ I believe in Karma. That means I can do bad things to you all day long and assume you deserve it
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10-04-2017, 10:44 AM	#25
Viffermike Colonel 1753 Rep 2,942 Posts Drives: '18 black-n-blue 718 Cayman Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Big D iTrader: (0)	All I'm saying is that compared to fob from all makes, BMW's 2 Series fob is average in size. Comparing it exclusively to other BMW fobs is asenine ... And to wdc330i 's point: My Porsche fob is considerably narrower, but it's actually thicker than the 2 series fob because of the trademark car cabin-shaped hump it has in the middle. In my pocket, the BMW fob actually plays nicer ... ... but I don't complain, because Porsche. __________________ --Life is a journey made more exciting with a fast car.-- --Helmets are for closers.-- <<Current: "Blackened" '18 NBM Porsche 718 Cayman ... Gone (but not forgotten): "Blackened" MG '15 228i M Sport w/aFe filter/scoop, Hertz drivers, P3Cars multigauge, other goodies>>
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10-04-2017, 10:55 AM	#26
cxp213 Lieutenant 313 Rep 525 Posts Drives: M235i Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: TX iTrader: (0)	Yeah, it is a bit oversized unnecessarily. I also have it in a case which certainly doesn't help with the thickness.
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10-04-2017, 11:57 AM	#27
MadOzodi Second Lieutenant 53 Rep 190 Posts Drives: '14 EBII M235i Join Date: May 2017 Location: MidWest iTrader: (0)	Simple solution: Buy the largest size iOS or Android smart phone and carry that in your front pocket. You will easily appreciate how small the key fob is by comparison.
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10-04-2017, 12:38 PM	#29
Lew Carrum Private First Class 32 Rep 143 Posts Drives: M 240 Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Swansea iTrader: (0)	It could be a bit smaller I agree, whats not helping either is phones getting bigger every new model (the latest Samsung is like a laptop) and actually if you have realised that trouser pockets are getting smaller too.
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10-04-2017, 05:55 PM	#31
Elvisfan Major 516 Rep 1,452 Posts Drives: 2018 430ix convertible MGM Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Illinois iTrader: (0)	My Acura FOB is larger. It’s thinner though.
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10-04-2017, 07:19 PM	#32
Rayscott Major 376 Rep 1,154 Posts Drives: BMW 228ix Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Lewes DE iTrader: (0)	Whine, whine whine. Get over it and stop sounding like pussy's.
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10-05-2017, 07:12 AM	#33
RoundelM3 Major General 1837 Rep 6,990 Posts Drives: 15 F80 M3, 22 G01 X3 30i Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Clayton, NC iTrader: (2) Garage List 2022 BMW X3 [9.83] 2015 BMW M3 [6.50]	I'm still wondering where this "hand grenade" size description is coming from - the grenades I handled and threw while serving in the Army were WAY bigger than this little key fob. A hell of a lot heavier, too. And if you want to see a REALLY big fob, take a look at the one for the new 7-series, which is the size of a 1st-gen "smart" phone. __________________ 2015 F80 ///M3 Sedan 7DCT Tanzanite, 2022 X3 sDrive30i 8AT Brooklyn Grey
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10-05-2017, 09:21 AM	#34
Ron Jeffries Old Member. Old in general, actually. 388 Rep 889 Posts Drives: 2018 M240i xDrive convertible Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Michigan iTrader: (0)	I may have exaggerated a bit when I said "hand grenade".
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10-05-2017, 11:18 AM	#37
mdputnam Lieutenant 289 Rep 556 Posts Drives: 135i & M235i Convertibles Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: SoCal iTrader: (0)	Comming to the 2019 M250i!!!! Now that's a BIG one.
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10-05-2017, 07:47 PM	#41
ggggbmw Lieutenant 433 Rep 442 Posts Drives: 2017 M2 Manual Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: Minnesota iTrader: (0)	largish size, and rotten range I think the key fob is on the large side also. The fob from my 2007 Altima had the same functions ('comfort access', internal key), but was at least a third smaller. It was also a smoother, more ovalish shape, so it fit in my pocket better. But the thing that really chaps me about the BMW fob is the horrible range of the lock function. I half to be right next to the car (within 10') for the lock to work. Super annoying. My Altima fob would work from 30+ yards away. Closer to a 100 yards if I had a clear line of sight and battery was fresh. I'm always walking away a bit and forgetting if I locked the door or not. With the Altima fob, I could just hold it over my head, push the button from halfway down the block, and I'd get the comforting beep. With the BMW fob, if I'm more than 10' away, I need to walk all the way back to make sure. Half the time it's faster to pull out my phone, open the BMW app, send a remote lock request, and wait for the response. You'd think as bit as the key is it would have a decent battery and antenna and work from a reasonable distance.
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10-05-2017, 11:07 PM	#42
cxp213 Lieutenant 313 Rep 525 Posts Drives: M235i Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: TX iTrader: (0)	^ Weird you say that because my range on the BMW key fob is very good. Much further than my Nissan's ever was, but that was a separate key fob and key combo.
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10-06-2017, 12:56 AM	#43
aerobod Car Geek 3626 Rep 3,594 Posts Drives: Caterham R500, M2-G87, Macan S Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Calgary iTrader: (0)	These are the 3 electronic key fobs I have for my cars. If all you need is a proximity key, you don’t get much more compact than the one for the Caterham in the middle. It is passive though, no battery needed, just an antenna and RFID chip - could be a lot smaller if it didn’t need a case to stop it being lost too easily. Attached Images
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