Having automatic tailgate to your BMW adds some real convenience. But, depending on your usage, it might cause a few headaches, too. We take a look at a few issues you might be having with the motorized trunk in your BMW, and show you how to solve them.
Opening your BMW's trunk unlocks all your doors
So you're at home, and you just need to grab something from your car quickly. So you pop out to your driveway, open the trunk... and all the doors unlock. Well, that's a bit of a pain!
Or maybe you're heading out somewhere with your family, and you open the trunk to load up some stuff... but the doors are still locked, so you've got frustrated kids pulling on the handles trying to get in. Man, that's a bit of a pain, too!
Luckily, it's up to you how you want the trunk release button to work. You can open the trunk and keep the rest of your BMW locked, or you can unlock the whole vehicle when you open the trunk.
Just head to your BMW's iDrive menu, where you'll find the door lock settings. Alongside a few other things, it will let you set what you want to happen when you open the tailgate with the car locked. You only need to decide which option is going to be more convenient for you.
Your BMW's trunk opens when you don't want it to
There's a little problem with the BMW key fob. I mean, just look at it.
Those buttons aren't recessed at all, they're perfectly flush with the body of the fob. Fine for aesthetics, maybe, but for something that's going to be squeezed into your pocket most of the time, there's an obvious downside — your jeans are going to be pressing those buttons every time you move.
Seriously, they're sensitive. And now most new BMWs come with keyless start, you might even have the fob in your pocket when you're driving. We've heard of people accidentally opening their BMW's tailgate on the road. And if you're relaxing in a coffeehouse, it might be worth peeking out to the parking lot every now and then, in case you've inadvertently popped the trunk.
BMW offers leather cases that are custom made for its fobs, which you should be able to pick up from your local dealership. The leather's thick enough to eliminate any accidental button-presses, so you shouldn't have to worry about any unpleasant surprises.
Of course it also means you'll have a harder time getting at the buttons yourself, if you're the kind who tends to press through your pants instead of pulling out the fob. But that's what Comfort Access — either BMW original or an aftermarket Comfort Access kit — was made for.
Your Power Trunk doesn't open wide enough
With an automatic tailgate, you're at the mercy of your car how wide your trunk opens. That might mean that the motor doesn't open the trunk as wide as you'd like, so it isn't easy getting everything loaded into your BMW. Or if you drive an X Series or Gran Coupe, you might even find the tailgate opens too wide, particularly if you've got a low garage where the trunk lid might scratch something about the vehicle.
BimmerTech's Power Trunk Retrofit makes it easy to adjust your BMW's tailgate to your liking. Just open the trunk manually to a height you're happy with, then hold the trunk release button on the key fob for five seconds. Your preferences will be saved, so when you open your tailgate in future, it will open to the height you specified.