Keyless start? Anyone got it working?

[the briggie]

Emergency key...if your actual key goes faulty/flat battery or is lost when you are out and about you at least have a back up
For that purpose alone . Day to day use

 

[Diggsy]

Has anyone tried to share the key? Especially anyone with an SE? Be interesting to know if this worked as it could be very useful if you needed to allow someone access to the car whilst you’re not there in person.

 

[AdamskiEM]

I was expecting the sort of Bluetooth key the Teslas have. It should really use BLE and effectively connect as soon as you get within 1m or so of the car, so that you can unlock it as if your phone were the keyfob. I saw it as another feature and reason why I got the trophy, but turns out it was just good marketing, and all we get is some half baked implementation of something that could be way better

 

[the briggie]

"I saw it as another feature and reason why I got the trophy"

You got a Trophy just for the bluetooth key...seriously?

Can we be honest although over 30k it is still a budget vehicle in relation to Tesla and other vehicles with the same range and features. I have reeled in my expectations accordingly and although I have also ordered a trophy I know some of the technology is not up to the same standard than other more expensive cars or the one I have even. Expectations managed.....and if it is better than expected its a bonus if not hey ho you paid your money you made your choice

 

[AdamskiEM]

"I saw it as another feature and reason why I got the trophy"

You got a Trophy just for the bluetooth key...seriously?

Can we be honest although over 30k it is still a budget vehicle in relation to Tesla and other vehicles with the same range and features. I have reeled in my expectations accordingly and although I have also ordered a trophy I know some of the technology is not up to the same standard than other more expensive cars or the one I have even. Expectations managed.....and if it is better than expected its a bonus if not hey ho you pay your money you made your choice

Another reason. Not the only reason…

 

[the briggie]

That makes more sense...yip agreed but I have always regarded bluetooth key as a bit of a gimmick albeit one that could come in handy in an emergency but not that useful on a day to day basis

 

[AdamskiEM]

I’m fortunate enough to have a smart door lock on the house. At the moment the only key I have to carry is for the car. I was hoping I’d be able to do away with the car key and rely on Bluetooth only. I’ll just have to keep on wishing that one day my wish can come true and continue to be just another normal person

Maybe they’ll improve it with an update later. That email a few pages back from Customer Service did sort of imply that there’s something missing if you read it a certain way.

 

[adiel]

Yes, Digital Key works fine in both our MG4 and ZS EV. I see this as an emergency feature if a key is lost or you drive off with your key in someone's pocket that you've just dropped off (not that I've ever done that of course)

 

[the briggie]

Question, slightly off topic. If your smart door lock loses power/goes faulty do you have an emergency way of accessing the house such as a 9v battery connector on the lock for example?

It just seems with such technology you always think you need a back up of some kind. Away from home in the car the backup, if your bluetooth technology went dead, would be to carry a key just in case. I don't think the majority of us have a 100% confidence in such technology at the moment but in the future....

 

[AdamskiEM]

9v backup, and a physical keypad. I get what you mean about the backup for the car.

 

[AdamMGEV]

Same with my credit card. I very rarely carry a wallet, I just use contactless on my phone.


Same reason I'd like to use my phone for the car. But for mine it doesn't work and MG customer services said it doesn't currently work but obviously it does for some people.

 

[the briggie]

AdamMGEV, I get it regarding one device for all services.
My mental debate is back up. If contactless stop functioning due to the phone fine you just can't pay for products or services but perhaps you could get someone to phone a friend to pay if its an emergency.
If it stops working for the car you are stuck, no phone a friend. All hypothetical but just the backup niggle. Even Tesla say:

Remember, if your phone key does not work, you can use your key fob or key card until your phone key is functioning again. Indicating back up.

So if the key goes faulty/stolen/lost you have the phone.
If the phone goes faulty/stolen/lost you have ?

That's just me and my IT disaster recovery background in play....

 

[AdamMGEV]

AdamMGEV, I get it regarding one device for all services.
My mental debate is back up. If contactless stop functioning due to the phone fine you just can't pay for products or services but perhaps you could get someone to phone a friend to pay if its an emergency.
If it stops working for the car you are stuck, no phone a friend. All hypothetical but just the backup niggle. Even Tesla say:

Remember, if your phone key does not work, you can use your key fob or key card until your phone key is functioning again. Indicating back up.

So if the key goes faulty/stolen/lost you have the phone.
If the phone goes faulty/stolen/lost you have ?

That's just me and my IT disaster recovery background in play....

I agree.... but if its meant to be there and working it should. Also I don't think I have ever failed to pay for anything with my phone, I can't remember the last time i took my credit card out with me. So if it was reliable as that I'd be very confident in using it.

As a backup I do have AA, and i can't see me ever doing this if it was a long journey so i'd always be within taxi range.

I guess its the same as having MG pilot. Its advertised as having it, its nice to have the feature, but it doesn't replace you having to drive the car, its just another nice to have.

 

[tsedge]

I went phone-only for payments and it was great not having to carry a wallet.

Then one day I was in Plymouth and drove into a car park advertising card payments - turned out they only accepted cash and not contactless. No app available.

When I came to leave, I could not pay. No problem I thought, there’ll be someone to help me. But no, car park is now unmanned and the council phone number only operates 9-5 Mon-Fri and it was Saturday.

“Never fear!”, I thought, I’ll walk into town and get some money out. But then none of the shops would give me cash without a card. “Not a problem” I thought, the bank is open on Saturday mornings.

45 minutes later the bank told me they couldn’t give me cash without ID and my phone wasn’t an approved form of ID and then they told me they don’t have access to the cash safe on a Saturday…

Eventually I got out of the car park by driving to the emergency barrier and pressing the emergency button and persuading them to let me go.

Since then I always take my wallet with my phone, even though I almost always pay on the phone.

 

[Stageshoot]

I went phone-only for payments and it was great not having to carry a wallet.

Then one day I was in Plymouth and drove into a car park advertising card payments - turned out they only accepted cash and not contactless. No app available.

When I came to leave, I could not pay. No problem I thought, there’ll be someone to help me. But no, car park is now unmanned and the council phone number only operates 9-5 Mon-Fri and it was Saturday.

“Never fear!”, I thought, I’ll walk into town and get some money out. But then none of the shops would give me cash without a card. “Not a problem” I thought, the bank is open on Saturday mornings.

45 minutes later the bank told me they couldn’t give me cash without ID and my phone wasn’t an approved form of ID and then they told me they don’t have access to the cash safe on a Saturday…

Eventually I got out of the car park by driving to the emergency barrier and pressing the emergency button and persuading them to let me go.

Since then I always take my wallet with my phone, even though I almost always pay on the phone.

A couple of pound coins and a fiver wrapped up at the back of the glove box, always for situations like this, just in case phone fails and you need something in emergency.

 

[sgt4hed]

The start/stop button in the digital key on the app is there for a purpose. When you unlock the car you only have a specific period of time to "turn on" the car (press the brake on the MG4 or the start button on the ZS), if you don't do it in this time period (on the ZS i think it is 30 seconds) you have to press the start/stop on the app to allow you to "turn on" the car. I have used this in my ZS to great success, I now leave my keys at home frequently and just use my phone.

 

[Stageshoot]

The start/stop button in the digital key on the app is there for a purpose. When you unlock the car you only have a specific period of time to "turn on" the car (press the brake on the MG4 or the start button on the ZS), if you don't do it in this time period (on the ZS i think it is 30 seconds) you have to press the start/stop on the app to allow you to "turn on" the car. I have used this in my ZS to great success, I now leave my keys at home frequently and just use my phone.

Yep MG4 says its 120 Secs after unlocking the door, till you must sit on the seat and activate start with the brake otherwise you need to use the start button in the app

 

[tsedge]

A couple of pound coins and a fiver wrapped up at the back of the glove box, always for situations like this, just in case phone fails and you need something in emergency.

Yes, I do that too, but the experience taught me that when the technology doesn’t work or isn’t available, you really need alternatives. So the wallet goes with me.

 

[Stageshoot]

Yes, I do that too, but the experience taught me that when the technology doesn’t work or isn’t available, you really need alternatives. So the wallet goes with me.

I keep a curve card (Can be linked to any credit/debit card) hidden in the car,

Can be turned on from the app only when you need it, so no danger if stolen.

Covers you for those times you need a card due to failure of contactless or the purchase is over the contactless limit. Curve is free only takes money out of your accounts when you spend (Not preloaded)..

 

[AdamMGEV]

I always have about £20 worth of change in my car just incase.