Congratulations to this thread on hitting 1000 replies!

 

I"ve tried this and it works. Why, though????

 

Works with just about any transmitter (car alarm, gate/door opener). The car audio guy who first told me about this while installing a car alarm for me said it was due to dental fillings. Some here have mentioned it is just due to your skull amplifying the signal.

 

Just a tip for everyone posting, make sure that the tips are for 1st and 2nd Gen and not 2nd Gen only.

I haven't read through this thoroughly, but I have seen some sigs of 2nd Gen MINIs and just want to make sure everything is clear.

 

careful with that. my SA told me that the emergency key had a limited number of uses due to its plastic construction.

 

I think we all know that when you press the unlock button, the front, side and rear indicator lights will flash twice.

However, if instead you press the "boot unlock" button, you will only have the side and rear indicator lights flash. The fronts stay dark.

 

At temps below 37, it chimes a warning.

 

I'm no rocket scientist, but perhaps its like putting a bigger antenna on your radio or TV. I've been hoping someone with expertise in this matter might provide a more technical explanation.

 

The cavities in your head (sinuses, etc) amplify the signal.

 

This happened to come up yesterday, when Hubby had the key and I needed to get into the car. He was quite a distance away (I had to shout), and slightly downhill. He held the key up high over his head. No luck. I shouted back to hold it touching his cheek, and it opened right up! My engineer husband was baffled.

 

You're pulling our legs, right? Surely there must be someone out there who
knows the real answer. Ann Landers?? The Playboy Advisor??
Marilyn Vos Savant?? Anyone??

 

The body acts as an antenna.
Don't believe me? Are you old enough to remember TV rabbit ears? And how the signal would get better when someone touched them, but degrade when they let the ears go?

 

Yep - your body's acting as a "passive radiator", extending the range of the remote transmitter.

Sometimes you'll have the same thing happen near large concrete buildings - the mesh of metal rebar in the concrete walls will pick up the signal and re-radiate it. Power lines (or any kind of nearby wiring) can also do the same thing.

 

For what it's worth, I'm an engineer with experience with radar systems. Trust me. Go read about magnetrons and cavities.

 

"The cavities in your head (sinuses, etc) amplify the signal"

this improvement of range of the remote when next to your head....I discussed this with my wife and how it is the cavities in your head and how this technique really works well for me...she looked at me and said: obviously! Perhaps it works better for some and less in others?

 

I would have to say you're right. It does work for me, but sometimes when my fiancee and i are walking out to the car from a store (like Wal-Mart or something) I'll put the key up to her head and press the un-lock button and it works from a greater distance than if I were to put it up to my head. She isn't really too amused by it

 

The antenna theory seems most logical to me, but I'm open to the cavity
theory as well. I'll look into the latter--the theory, not the cavity.

 

The two theories aren't actually separate. So don't worry about neglecting one over the other.

 

The cavities in your head help range? Shoots, mine should work a country mile away then!

 

I stood in conference room with a all glass outer wall overlooking the parking lot, and opened my windows and lowered my convertible top from about 350 feet away. Amused my fellow meeting victims.

No cavities, held a butter knife vertically with the tip of the key touching it out in front of me. Extended the range quite a way. I'd suggest a capacitive link with your body acting as a extended antenna. Google human body and antenna theory and you can read all night. :-) I've also extended the range to a lesser degree by touching it to my chin, or with the tips of my index and middle finger of the other hand held vertically in line with the key. You could carry around a nice metal mixing bowl too.

 

Hey guys, how does this work? How can I do it??

The UNLOCK button when held in will roll down all the windows and open the sunroof unless it has been de-activated.

I've a 06 MCS.

 

have to agree with the passsive antenna theory ( also was a radar/electronic tech at one time in my life ); don't any of you "older" drivers remember having to "strike a pose" while holding the rabbit ears on the TV?? same principal I'd imagine. And to preludestuntin, I wouldn't say ANYTHING about the cavities in her head being bigger so they're better antennas if I was you!

 

I've added emphasis to the quote because I'm assuming that is the part you are asking about - right? If so, then simply hold the UNLOCK button down for a while - let's say 6 or 7 seconds - and you'll see things open up. (NOTE: All doors must be closed for this to work.) I know this works with the key, but I was told it also works with the unlock toggle - although I've never bothered to try, so I cannot verify).

 

How do I use/program those options? The daytime running lights and the unlock button thing?

 

Thanks! This is what I was looking for clarification for: the toggle key.

Another thing, my car does not close windows up/ open windows down from the key remote control. If I keep pressing the lock or unlock buttons nothing happens. I know other Minis do but not mine. Any clues?