[JasH]

My dealer just emailed me to report that the key blade has arrived, and the display remote is due this week, as is the new receiver for the i8.

I guess the receiver is not required for 2016 cars perhaps.

I am going to book my car in for the work, in the following week.

[fishpond]

Originally Posted by JasH

My dealer just emailed me to report that the key blade has arrived, and the display remote is due this week, as is the new receiver for the i8.

I guess the receiver is not required for 2016 cars perhaps.

I am going to book my car in for the work, in the following week.

Jas - what's the "key blade"?

I am guessing that the "display remote" is the key itself - correct?

[JasH]

Originally Posted by fishpond

Jas - what's the "key blade"?

I am guessing that the "display remote" is the key itself - correct?

I am guessing here

Bear in mind I have yet to see anything, I would expect the key blade to be the physical key type "metal strip" to open the lock in the event of a battery/signal failure. It probably inserts into the DisplayKey.

Display remote is probably what we have seen pictured as the DisplayKey.

[Ricardinhouk]

My dealer is now quoting about £450 parts plus £150 labour to fit so clearly not a big job. Both +VAT here in the UK I assume.

They have suggested March 16 onwards cars this is free and I've asked for how/where that is detailed given we've all seen this in the launch material.

[Arobotbrain]

Originally Posted by Ricardinhouk

My dealer is now quoting about £450 parts plus £150 labour to fit so clearly not a big job. Both +VAT here in the UK I assume.

They have suggested March 16 onwards cars this is free and I've asked for how/where that is detailed given we've all seen this in the launch material.

It was for sure not a free option in my case (Switzerland), had to pay a couple of hundred dollars for it. On the configurator it shows up as a 0$ option, but when the dealer adds the option the situation changes.

FYI ... no GSM connection and only one battery.

[fishpond]

Originally Posted by Ricardinhouk

They have suggested March 16 onwards cars this is free and I've asked for how/where that is detailed given we've all seen this in the launch material.

BMW didn't want people to hold off placing orders waiting for the display key, so they offered it as a free retro fit to customers ordering cars prior to the display key being made available as standard. I can't remember which build week it became a standard feature (I think it was around week 10 this year).

[itzkoolkidkam]

Does anyone have any insight on whether the display key can be retrofitted/coded to work with a 15'? My local dealer has mentioned something along these lines but just wanted some additional confirmation.

If so, what is involved exactly? Will all the features of the key work?

Thanks in advance!

[Ricardinhouk]

Originally Posted by itzkoolkidkam

Does anyone have any insight on whether the display key can be retrofitted/coded to work with a 15'? My local dealer has mentioned something along these lines but just wanted some additional confirmation.

If so, what is involved exactly? Will all the features of the key work?

Thanks in advance!

Picked up mine is Sep 15 so guessing Aug 15 build and retro fitting is available.

[fishpond]

Originally Posted by Ricardinhouk

My dealer is now quoting about £450 parts plus £150 labour to fit so clearly not a big job. Both +VAT here in the UK I assume.

They have suggested March 16 onwards cars this is free and I've asked for how/where that is detailed given we've all seen this in the launch material.

Would anyone happen to have the part number(s) for the display key?
My dealer is having trouble finding them !!!

[Ricardinhouk]

Originally Posted by fishpond

Would anyone happen to have the part number(s) for the display key?
My dealer is having trouble finding them !!!

Sorry no. Mine is Cooper Teesside if you want to try them.

[fishpond]

Originally Posted by JasH

My dealer just emailed me to report that the key blade has arrived, and the display remote is due this week, as is the new receiver for the i8.

I guess the receiver is not required for 2016 cars perhaps.

I am going to book my car in for the work, in the following week.

Jas - did you get your display key fitted? Is it as cool as it looks in the pics?

[Jvietri]

If you get the part numbers can you post please?

[fishpond]

Originally Posted by Jvietri

If you get the part numbers can you post please?

Hi - I didn't get them. In the end my dealer managed to locate them.

[JasH]

Originally Posted by fishpond

Jas - did you get your display key fitted? Is it as cool as it looks in the pics?

Sadly not yet. The install date was too close to my Pure Impulse event, and I did not want to get it done just prior in case of any problems. So I have booked the car in for after that, on 14 June.

[Nivarox]

Originally Posted by Arobotbrain

Picked up my i8 today (unfortunately it was raining) and got the display/smart key along with the standard key. Yes, it is pretty big, weights 85 grams and lies good in the hand. The standard key fits well into the jeans key pocket, but display key just doesn't.

Charging is unfortunately done over a USB cable ... no wireless charging. BMW told me that the battery lasts 3 day ... which is not that much. Otherwise it is similar to the known BMW display key ... but does not feature the autonomous parking aid as in the BMW 7 Series. As mentioned by others ... it is a gadget ... but that's what we love and live for.

My very fist post on the forums and thanks for providing the photos side by side . I was kinda upset not having a smart key but having seen the photos I think I need to re think whether or not is it a good idea to go for it
It's very heavy too

[zagaboo]

From the horses mouth! UK General Manager for BMWi informed all guests at the 'ipure going green event' that all i8s will be eligible for smart key retrofit. Upon clarification, he said although 'imminent' BMW UK had elected to delay rollout until a wireless charging solution/kit had been sourced. Great news indeed!!

[Ricardinhouk]

Originally Posted by zagaboo

From the horses mouth! UK General Manager for BMWi informed all guests at the 'ipure going green event' that all i8s will be eligible for smart key retrofit. Upon clarification, he said although 'imminent' BMW UK had elected to delay rollout until a wireless charging solution/kit had been sourced. Great news indeed!!

Any mention of price?

I don't follow the delay comment as my dealer is happy to order for me and has done for another customer I believe.

[hytek]

Honestly, I don't quite get this. Why would I want to carry an additional item as big as a cell phone in my pocket, and worry about recharging it every other day. Even the current i8 key, coupled with all other keys forms an embarrassing bulk in my pocket. It's also triggered the car alarm a few times when I sat down.

If you ask me, I want a smaller key with physical buttons. That way, I can just put my hand in my pocket and know what to press without taking it out. With comfort access, the only time I need to do this is for opening the trunk.

All other fancy functions, just add them to the phone app.

[zagaboo]

From the chat it was implied that it would be fitted for free. Though he did question when I took delivery of the car (late Dec 15). The suggested reasoning behind the delay was to source induction charging, as 'to have trailing wires just wouldn't look right'.

[zagaboo]

Originally Posted by hytek

Honestly, I don't quite get this. Why would I want to carry an additional item as big as a cell phone in my pocket, and worry about recharging it every other day. Even the current i8 key, coupled with all other keys forms an embarrassing bulk in my pocket. It's also triggered the car alarm a few times when I sat down.

If you ask me, I want a smaller key with physical buttons. That way, I can just put my hand in my pocket and know what to press without taking it out. With comfort access, the only time I need to do this is for opening the trunk.

All other fancy functions, just add them to the phone app.

Dead right. Serves no practical purpose whatsoever, but it is a gadget and most of us just have to have the latest gadgets ;-)

[Arobotbrain]

Just got a letter from BMW saying that the key displays some wrong information and needs to be fixed. Guess they released it before testing and bug fixing was over. However, thumbs up for the way BMW manages this "minor" problem.

[ChiTownM]

Originally Posted by hytek

Honestly, I don't quite get this. Why would I want to carry an additional item as big as a cell phone in my pocket, and worry about recharging it every other day. Even the current i8 key, coupled with all other keys forms an embarrassing bulk in my pocket. It's also triggered the car alarm a few times when I sat down.

If you ask me, I want a smaller key with physical buttons. That way, I can just put my hand in my pocket and know what to press without taking it out. With comfort access, the only time I need to do this is for opening the trunk.

All other fancy functions, just add them to the phone app.

I was initially upset to get my car without it and the more I thought about it, the more I ended up with the same opinion as yours. I did miss keyless entry sometimes though since I couldn't wait and got s 2014 model........