Washing a car with CA

2kaccordocoupe · 04-25-2009, 09:05 AM

So I came across something interesting yesterday while I was washing the car. If you keep the FOB in your pocket and spray the car with water, especially around the door handles the alarm will activate / de-activate.

Moral of the story keep the FOB in the garage away from the car.

BMdblU · 04-25-2009, 09:47 AM

Lol old news to most here.. interesting though, no doubt.

valeram · 04-25-2009, 09:58 AM

Just leave you FOB inside.

John 070 · 04-25-2009, 11:00 AM

haha we all learn that the first time we go to wash our cars. Funny thing is once your dealership replaces your actuator, that kinda stuff happens without water hitting your handle. It happens when you try to just get in your car!

JamieA · 04-25-2009, 11:11 AM

Yes, this is a very well known feature. I just leave the fob inside on the seat.

Don't leave it in a door pocket, CA sometimes has trouble identifying if the key is inside or outside the car when it is sitting in a door pocket, and may lock the keys in the car...

blue2fire · 04-25-2009, 12:03 PM

This is worse when you go to the coin wash place. Where do you put the key except in your pocket?

Kilgore Trout · 04-25-2009, 12:07 PM

Funny, I came in this thread expecting to find you guys screaming "repost" at the OP.

Maybe you are all being nice to him because the OP happens to be a good guy!

But, yeah, it is a pretty funny effect. You don't even have to have the car all wet to get it. If I just use detailing spray on my car with the CA in my pocket, it happens.

335e92tx · 04-25-2009, 12:10 PM

Its only NOOBs that get flamed

Gig103 · 04-25-2009, 06:17 PM

It's a funny problem due to the capacitance switches. Water is conductive of electricity, just like our bodies (which are made mostly of water, of course). So the sensor thinks someone is grabbing the handle

I put my key on my bench in the garage where all my cleaning stuff goes until I'm done. I've gotten into that habit now and I even put my wife's keys there - she doesn't have CA (or a Bimmer for that matter).

VTECaddict · 04-25-2009, 06:21 PM

wait....so what happens in the rain?

JamieA · 04-26-2009, 08:18 AM

If you are inside your car it won't matter - car won't lock or unlock. If you are standing close to one of your car's front door handles when it is raining then theoretically it should unlock/lock... never tried that one before. It is raining a bit at the moment, if I get a chance to check this one out I will let you know how it goes...

PaulBailey@ltbmw · 04-26-2009, 02:04 PM

lib · 04-26-2009, 02:50 PM

Separate the FOB from the metal key

Leave the FOB inside the car to keep it from locking/unlocking.
Leave the metal key in your pocket in case the car decides to lock anyway.

2kaccordocoupe · 04-26-2009, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VTECaddict

wait....so what happens in the rain?

The same thing happens in the rain. My car was sitting in the driveway. I pulled into the driveway with my other car. When I got out of the other car, my e92 starting unlocking / chirping because the FOB was in range and the rain was hitting the sensor LOL.

Pretty funny quirk... I just noticed it this weekend for the first time

Andy M · 04-26-2009, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lib

Separate the FOB from the metal key

Leave the FOB inside the car to keep it from locking/unlocking.
Leave the metal key in your pocket in case the car decides to lock anyway.

That's a good tip! I'll try that next time.

I've just been putting up with the CA going all crazy.

04-25-2009, 09:05 AM	#1
2kaccordocoupe Brigadier General 1274 Rep 4,703 Posts Drives: Former ///M Driver Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: The 6ix iTrader: (2)	Washing a car with CA So I came across something interesting yesterday while I was washing the car. If you keep the FOB in your pocket and spray the car with water, especially around the door handles the alarm will activate / de-activate. Moral of the story keep the FOB in the garage away from the car.
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04-25-2009, 09:47 AM	#2
BMdblU Brigadier General 152 Rep 3,983 Posts Drives: F80 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Toronto iTrader: (2)	Lol old news to most here.. interesting though, no doubt.
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04-25-2009, 09:58 AM	#3
valeram Major 37 Rep 1,413 Posts Drives: 992 TTS, 991.2 GT3 T, F80 M3 C Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Dublin, OH iTrader: (0)	Just leave you FOB inside.
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04-25-2009, 11:00 AM	#4
John 070 Lieutenant General 1705 Rep 14,829 Posts Drives: 335i cpe Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: ZSP/ZPP/ZCW iTrader: (0)	haha we all learn that the first time we go to wash our cars. Funny thing is once your dealership replaces your actuator, that kinda stuff happens without water hitting your handle. It happens when you try to just get in your car!
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04-25-2009, 11:11 AM	#5
JamieA Colonel 93 Rep 2,168 Posts Drives: G01 X3 M40i Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Adelaide, Australia iTrader: (0)	Yes, this is a very well known feature. I just leave the fob inside on the seat. Don't leave it in a door pocket, CA sometimes has trouble identifying if the key is inside or outside the car when it is sitting in a door pocket, and may lock the keys in the car... __________________ '05 E90 325i \| '06 E90 325i \| '08 E90 325i LCI \| '13 F30 328i M-Sport \| '14 F10 535d M-Sport Current: '19 G01 X3 M40i
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04-25-2009, 12:07 PM	#7
Kilgore Trout Chicks dig wagons! 43 Rep 1,375 Posts Drives: 2009 E91 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Where you can see through the people, but not the air (i.e., Los Angeles!) iTrader: (0)	Funny, I came in this thread expecting to find you guys screaming "repost" at the OP. Maybe you are all being nice to him because the OP happens to be a good guy! But, yeah, it is a pretty funny effect. You don't even have to have the car all wet to get it. If I just use detailing spray on my car with the CA in my pocket, it happens. __________________ E91 Montego Blue gray leather burl walnut , Idrive, PDC, Logic7, CA, Sirius, xenons, 6FL, ZPP, heated seats, 17" tires. 4, 8, 15, 16, 23, 42
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04-25-2009, 12:10 PM	#8
335e92tx ahat 1036 Rep 2,592 Posts Drives: Was '07-335e92 - Now '13-335IS Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Texas iTrader: (6)	Its only NOOBs that get flamed __________________ '13 335IS N54 (1 of 373 LeMans Blue out of 3597 total production e92)- Grey interior (1 of 24 in LMB with any trans- 1 of 14 with DCT)-MODS -MFactory LSD/MHD-BQ custom Tune/ATM-IC/AFE Momentum GT Intake/Konis/Mfront&HeimJoint Rear rods&arms/Brembos. https://photos.app.goo.gl/Lo6aHZRo7XqtPkhL8
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04-25-2009, 06:17 PM	#9
Gig103 Major 70 Rep 1,324 Posts Drives: 2014 Tesla P85D Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Gilbert, AZ iTrader: (1)	It's a funny problem due to the capacitance switches. Water is conductive of electricity, just like our bodies (which are made mostly of water, of course). So the sensor thinks someone is grabbing the handle I put my key on my bench in the garage where all my cleaning stuff goes until I'm done. I've gotten into that habit now and I even put my wife's keys there - she doesn't have CA (or a Bimmer for that matter). __________________ Was: 2008 335xi sedan 6MT Black Sapphire Metallic Is: 2014 Tesla P85D (Blue Metallic) Wife's: 2013 Infiniti G37 S sedan 6MT, Black
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04-25-2009, 06:21 PM	#10
VTECaddict Where'd my VTEC go? 481 Rep 6,067 Posts Drives: 06 330i 6MT Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Seattle, WA iTrader: (4)	wait....so what happens in the rain? __________________ AW/Terra \| ZSP \| ZPP \| ZCW \| iDrive \| CA Mods: BC BR coilovers \| Blacklines \| M-tech rear \| dual exhaust \| M3 steering wheel \| BMW SSK \| ZHP shift knob \| High-kick CF spoiler \| NBT Retrofit M3 front control arms \| M3 rear guide rods \| Manzo rear toe and camber links \| Monroe rear shock mounts \| Varrstoen ES1 19x9.5+20 Front, 19x11+25 rear
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04-26-2009, 08:18 AM	#11
JamieA Colonel 93 Rep 2,168 Posts Drives: G01 X3 M40i Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Adelaide, Australia iTrader: (0)	If you are inside your car it won't matter - car won't lock or unlock. If you are standing close to one of your car's front door handles when it is raining then theoretically it should unlock/lock... never tried that one before. It is raining a bit at the moment, if I get a chance to check this one out I will let you know how it goes... __________________ '05 E90 325i \| '06 E90 325i \| '08 E90 325i LCI \| '13 F30 328i M-Sport \| '14 F10 535d M-Sport Current: '19 G01 X3 M40i
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04-26-2009, 02:04 PM	#12
PaulBailey@ltbmw General 663 Rep 26,878 Posts Drives: 2-325 330 2-335 2-Z4 2-135 X5d Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Huntington Beach, CA iTrader: (34) Garage List 2008 BMW 335i E90 [7.00] 2011 BMW 335i E92 [7.96]
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04-26-2009, 02:50 PM	#13
lib Major 141 Rep 1,401 Posts Drives: <This space for rent> Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: ATX iTrader: (0)	Separate the FOB from the metal key Leave the FOB inside the car to keep it from locking/unlocking. Leave the metal key in your pocket in case the car decides to lock anyway.
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