Just bought our F56 a couple of days ago and noticed a little black button on the outside door handle but can't figure out what it does yet.

 

Comfort access?

 

I think the big button on the handle is for opening via comfort access... isn't the tiny little black one a removable cover that allows you to physically insert the key in case the battery is dead on the fob? I haven't seen it in person but have heard people talk about that, sounds right.

 

Makes sense - I think I remember reading something about that in the online manual.

 

Mine are chrome. The big chrome panel is for key access (removed from the bottom).
Small black button is for comfort access. Hit it once the doors unlock but you can programme it to just open the drivers door...etc....etc...close the roof holding it in ...etc.
Mine requires 3 pushes to lock for some reason. The passenger side locks with one push. Anyone have the same problem?

 

Other way around. The black thing would be the comfort access button. The removable cover is chrome-colored plastic.

 

Comfort Access.... with remote in pocket or hand push button and door unlocks. But only door that is in range of remote.

 

Greg, I have the same issue, although it isn't a biggie. I notice that if I wait around 5 seconds after exiting the car before pushing the black button, the car will immediately lock. If I push it too soon, I usually have to push it 3 times before it locks. But I think it is more a timing issue. Try giving it 5-7 seconds before pushing the button. I'll bet it will then lock with just the one push.

 

Hey Bob. I'm hitting the unlock button (unlocks both doors) as I get out. When I do this as described above the doors lock instantly with just one touch.
Hopefully a software upgrade will illuminate this procedure.

 

Are you hitting the unlock button on the remote when you exit the car or the black button on the outside door handle.

 

Hitting the unlock inside the car. Then the black button to lock the car. I never take the key out of my pocket!

 

Ah, the unlock inside the car. I'll try that tomorrow. Thanks. But you would think that holding the outside black button down or pressing it once would lock the car.

 

I agree but when just the drivers door is unlocked it demonstrated the symptoms you describe. There is another workaround.
Program all doors to unlock when you first hit the button and have the door not lock automatically when you drive off. This way both doors are unlocked when you hit the button.

 

Thanks Greg.

 

Exactly, the programming has to complete the sequence, if the driver's door only opens initially, and nothing disturbs the cycle, like GregoryK hitting the unlock button, the next step is unlocking the passenger door which is what mine does on the first button press upon exiting, second press after a few seconds locks all doors and arms the alarm. As stated, if the initial behavior unlocks all doors, exiting requires only one press if nothing has manually reset the lock/unlock sequence. Sorry, for the long winded response, I played with this for about 30 minutes to confirm it does this on my car at least. As mentioned, a software update could correct this if needed. I like figuring out this type of stuff, helps understand the engineering thought process or lack of it as the case may be.

 

Why can't BMW make their door locks like normal cars? This is just silly.