1997 528i Self Lock?

[rsn48]

Can a 1997 528i be programmed to self lock at a certain speed like my 330xi or not?

[billB]

I am not so sure if it can be done. Anyone?

[PJV 528]

I posted this up not so long ago but no-one replied with a solution so i guess no-one knew...

My nextdoor neighbour has a 2001 525 (the facelift version) and his doors lock after he drives 10 yards (or summin like that).

I asked him how he done it and he said it came like that from the factory. Ive looked in my manual (i own a 98 528) and it says it CAN be done but does not say how.....

[mrogers]

Easy, guys...it's a dealer-set option, along with things like should the car whistle when you lock it and do you want the power steering wheel to move up when you open the door to allow easier access. You just take your car to the dealer and ask them to change it. I don't know how much they'll charge you, so you may want to call them up and ask.

[billB]

Mrogers
Excellent reply and my second question is this reprogramming applicable to both the 528 and the 540 as well?

[mrogers]

Yes, it is. I even had a copy of the dealer-option form once that listed this auto-locking feature on it, although I can't find it now. I was considering having it done to my car, but I never got around to it. If any of you talk to your dealer, post back here about the cost. I would hope if you bought your car from them they'd do it for you for free since it's a simple matter of plugging in a computer and changing a single settings, but you know how some dealerships are...

[rsn48]

I went to a BMW dealer here in Vancouver, BC and the 97 528i can't be reprogrammed for self locking.

[mrogers]

Well that's strange, because my neighbor/doctor had his 540i set that way, and said the option form just listed '5-series' at the top, not a specific model; why would the locking system be any different on a 528i? Maybe the more advanced computer in the 540i is what makes it work...that's the only thing I can think of, but if my old cheap Dodge Intrepid can lock automatically I would hope a BMW could.

[Dirty_Tool]

Guys, this is a car-key memory feature which was not introduced until i think in 1999 starting with the e46.

[PJV 528]

So how comes my friends E39 does it?

Explain....

[Dirty_Tool]

All model year 1999 and later will do it. It just was 1st introduced on the e46. April of 1998 was when it was released. Car key memory was at the time a new wave of technology and wasnt available on earlier models such as RSN 48's 1997 model. If you dont understand how car key memory works take a look at this article

http://www.bmwnation.com/tech/glossary/tec...rkeycfg_01.html

[PJV 528]

Nice link dirty_tool....

All model year 1999 and later will do it

Ah crap...mines a december 98, i will still enquire!!! :P

[billB]

A note worth mentioning: Unlike the U.S. In Many countries any car produced after sep. is registered as a model of the following year. i.e. If and when the German brief (title) lists 10/1998 as the date of production, the car is considered 1999. This is not to get confused with the early production of the new cars in the U.S. i.e 2005 Dodge Neon for example may be introduced in may-sep 2004.