Garage Door/Gate Opener Doesn't Work When the Car is Off?

[rfx45]

Is it really made to be this way or is there a problem with mine? My Lexus IS works with the car on or off.

[jparnes1]

Yeah, that's our Z4 all right. It's also true for my 525, but that's a 2006. Newer models will allow you to close the sunroof while the engine is off, and possibly the garage opener, but I'm not sure on that one.

[rfx45]

Why is it designed that way though? It's not like it'll drain the battery to press the button once the ignition/engine if off.

[Jayda]

My car is a 2009 and I found it odd as well that the garage feature doesn't work with the engine off....nor does top down. However, still loving the car especially in the prime top down weather we have been having!

[rfx45]

At least the top works with the remote.

Been enjoying the car with the top down the past few days too, finally hitting upper 60's here in Cali. Should be in the mi to upper 70's next week.

[baldguyj]

My 2010 is the same and yep a bit of a pain.

[toplessrydr]

It's probably a safety issue. If your car is parked outside, someone can break the car window and hit the button to get inside the house.

[Incipio]

Originally Posted by toplessrydr

It's probably a safety issue. If your car is parked outside, someone can break the car window and hit the button to get inside the house.

I am pretty sure that's why it is. But they could have linked the key to the Garage opener like comfort access and car start.

[rfx45]

Originally Posted by toplessrydr

It's probably a safety issue. If your car is parked outside, someone can break the car window and hit the button to get inside the house.

The alarm should go blaring if someone breaks the window. In the end, chances are you'll be parking the car inside the garage anyways.

[e85sbm]

Originally Posted by toplessrydr

It's probably a safety issue. If your car is parked outside, someone can break the car window and hit the button to get inside the house.

+1

this is the reason why it doesn't work with engine off.

[rfx45]

It should just have a safety where it won't work if the alarm is activated (when someone breaks in your car). The same way the car won't start if the alarm is activated. I'm guessing my Lexus has that because I have never heard of that problem happening before.

[wdlfbio]

Lame as hell. Our '08 M3 and '12 335 don't work unless the car is active. My Chevy homelink works any time I push it. Apparently it's some safety deal in case stupid people forget to park their $50k-$125k inside their garage and leave it unlocked. I wonder how many of us with garages park inside instead of outside?

[az34]

Originally Posted by toplessrydr

It's probably a safety issue. If your car is parked outside, someone can break the car window and hit the button to get inside the house.

that make sense!

[toplessrydr]

Originally Posted by rfx45

It should just have a safety where it won't work if the alarm is activated (when someone breaks in your car). The same way the car won't start if the alarm is activated. I'm guessing my Lexus has that because I have never heard of that problem happening before.

I don't think just simply breaking a window will activate the alarm. A circuit needs to be broken like a door open to activate the alarm. Someone correct me if I'm wrong here. Not too familiar with BMW's and I sure as heck not going to break my window to find out. At least my other rides are set up like this. This is why a lot of thieves just smash the window climb in and take whatever and never set off the alarm. If you have an aftermarket alarm with motion sensor or impact sensor then it's a whole different story.

[rfx45]

Originally Posted by toplessrydr

I don't think just simply breaking a window will activate the alarm. A circuit needs to be broken like a door open to activate the alarm. Someone correct me if I'm wrong here. Not too familiar with BMW's and I sure as heck not going to break my window to find out. At least my other rides are set up like this. This is why a lot of thieves just smash the window climb in and take whatever and never set off the alarm. If you have an aftermarket alarm with motion sensor or impact sensor then it's a whole different story.

It should, these cars are very sensitive. One time when I was washing the car, the hose hit the fender and the alarm started blaring. Havne't you noticed cars with loud exhaust activating alarms if they rev up in a parking lot? Give your Z4 a test, lock it to enable the alarm and start shaking the car, the car alarm will likely go on if you rock hard enough. Trust me, smashing the window on the BMW or almost any car with an alarm out there will activate the alarm.

Those robbers who smash the windows do it on cars w/o alarms and that is why new cars with alarms (even w/o ones) has that blinking light now when the car is locked to let people know that it has an alarm and prevent the robbers from trying to find out by doing something.

[Mayhem]

Originally Posted by toplessrydr

I don't think just simply breaking a window will activate the alarm. A circuit needs to be broken like a door open to activate the alarm. Someone correct me if I'm wrong here. Not too familiar with BMW's and I sure as heck not going to break my window to find out. At least my other rides are set up like this. This is why a lot of thieves just smash the window climb in and take whatever and never set off the alarm. If you have an aftermarket alarm with motion sensor or impact sensor then it's a whole different story.

Windows can be broken with sparkplug chips and not activate the alarm. Also, I don't park my car in the garage simply because I have more cars than garage space. By the same token, I don't always drive my Z. So in a perfect storm, someone could break my window with spark plug chips while it is parked outside, and I am away in another car of mine....

[toplessrydr]

Originally Posted by rfx45

It should, these cars are very sensitive. One time when I was washing the car, the hose hit the fender and the alarm started blaring. Havne't you noticed cars with loud exhaust activating alarms if they rev up in a parking lot? Give your Z4 a test, lock it to enable the alarm and start shaking the car, the car alarm will likely go on if you rock hard enough. Trust me, smashing the window on the BMW or almost any car with an alarm out there will activate the alarm.

You're talking about the Z right? Why would you lock your car when you are washing it? Did you installed an aftermarket alarm in the Z? From what I know manufactures install a "security" system in cars. Not the so call alarm. It arms when the car is locked.

Security system protect the car from ignition tampering (ie. immobilizing system) and force entry when a door is opened without a key or remote. An alarm system will add bells and whistles like motion sensor, tilt sensor, impact sensor, and so forth. The alarms you hear going off in public garages when you rev your exhaust is caused my the percussion of your exhaust activating the impact sensor of the alarm system.

I'm glad to see our Z's have these added features if indeed you are correct. Anyone else can confirm this?

[rfx45]

I simply did not unlock the car. I usually clean the inside afterwards so it doesn't need to be unlocked while I am washing it. And no, I do not have aftermarket alarm in it.

I would be very, very surprised if smashing the windows in our cars would not activate the alarm, that is almost a must.

[Mayhem]

Originally Posted by rfx45

I would be very, very surprised if smashing the windows in our cars would not activate the alarm, that is almost a must.

Not if you use sparkplug chips. In Los Angeles, a lot of car burglars use them.

[cdeslandes]

Originally Posted by rfx45

The alarm should go blaring if someone breaks the window. In the end, chances are you'll be parking the car inside the garage anyways.

The motion sensor in the Z4 is designed to work with the roof open, which means it ignores motion above the doors. Breaking a window and reaching for the garage door opener will not trip the alarm.

[toplessrydr]

Originally Posted by rfx45

I simply did not unlock the car. I usually clean the inside afterwards so it doesn't need to be unlocked while I am washing it. And no, I do not have aftermarket alarm in it.

I would be very, very surprised if smashing the windows in our cars would not activate the alarm, that is almost a must.

I'm gonna have to do some research on this and see what exactly our security system has. Please chime in if anyone knows for sure what it covers.

[toplessrydr]

Originally Posted by cdeslandes

The motion sensor in the Z4 is designed to work with the roof open, which means it ignores motion above the doors. Breaking a window and reaching for the garage door opener will not trip the alarm.

The Z have motion detector? Where can I find that info. Looked online at the manual but didn't find anything.