Keyless Push Start Help.

[BimmerWerkz]

Has anyone tried or installed a keyless push Start button on there e36ti? Not a push Start where the key needs to be inserted in the ignition. A real keyless push Start. I own a 96 318ti and my key broke in the ignition. Or should I just install a new ignition cylinder? Any thoughts?

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[teetime4one]

I've yet to hear of anyone doing that. Hope it gets worked out tho.

[John Firestone]

It should not be too hard to retrofit if you don't mind making the car easier to steal: by leaving a key in the car, or just its transponder chip, to disable the drive away protection. In Germany, at least, the drive away protection has proven quite effective. An insurance company will only reimburse you 90% against theft if the car doesn't have it, and may not reimburse you at all if you can't account for all of the car's keys.

[teetime4one]

So John, the transponder chip in the key has to be in close proximity to the antenna ring in the ignition cylinder? If so, the key can be zip-tied under the steering column in order for this to work? How would the push button bypass the turning of the key through the positions of the cylinder?
I've never looked into this. Yet, I have a push button starter from a Z8 in my parts stash. If it's not a terrible hassle, I might install it soon.

[John Firestone]

Originally Posted by teetime4one

So John, the transponder chip in the key has to be in close proximity to the antenna ring in the ignition cylinder? If so, the key can be zip-tied under the steering column in order for this to work?

Yeah, people do something like that when they add a remote starter. You would also want to remove the steering wheel lock.

How would the push button bypass the turning of the key through the positions of the cylinder?...

Now, there is a challenge. You can turn the key in two directions; with a single pushbutton and an multi-way impulse relay, you can effectively turn it in only one, say:

ignition 0 -> 1 -> 2 -> 3 -> 0 -> ...

Actually, I would have the pushbutton do:

position 0 -> 1 -> 2 -> 0 -> ...

and have position 2 (or 1 and 2?) crank the ignition if you hold the button for, say, 2-3 seconds.

So, you might need a three position impule relay, a time delay relay and possibly a couple, plain relays to unload the impulse relay. The remote/alarm you presumably would use to secure the car could enable and disable the relays and functions as you saw fit. If it were my car, I would probably program a microcontroller and use it in place of the impulse relay. Either way, I wouldn't consider the mod simple but also not super hard compared to some of the things people have done.

[John Firestone]

I found this pushbutton start retrofit system that replaces the key and ignition switch with: a wireless access card and electronics that cycle the ignition as you press the button. It was the second hit from Google. The $350 MSRP and installation manual might suggest the project's level of difficulty.

[teetime4one]

That would be the way to go. I always have my hands full when approaching my car. There does seem to be a bit going on with it tho.

[hotmilk400]

Some Chinese companies sell the key-less push button start for about $80, and a key-less push button + wireless remote for about $160, but I am not sure of the quality. I assume it would be okay but you never know. Maybe something to try if you are tight on cash but technically its just a fancy relay with some timing controllers. its super cheap to make. for example, A remote start is more complicated and comes with 2 wireless remotes for $80 (namebrand) so I'm not sure why the key-less button is so expensive.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Remote-Car-A...item3f27107c1b


Let us know what you do later. I'm interested for future cars.

[teetime4one]

Thanks for the added info

[John Firestone]

Originally Posted by hotmilk400

...If you simply did not wire up the Tach or the Brake pedal, the system would never shut off, allowing you to use the wireless remote to start the car and drive it....

I have studied about a dozen remote start systems so far in search of one to control my auxiliary heating system at long range. All of them run the engine for a fixed amount of time, typically 20-40 minutes, and then shut down. That might not be helpful while passing on a two lane road. My hunch is you might also have to fool a remote starter into staying on indefinitely.

[John Firestone]

Ha. A Crimestopper RS-840 has an "infinity mode" that will run the engine indefinitely.

To enter it, you first perform a 6 step procedure to put the remote start into "idle down mode" then a 4 step procedure to put it in "infinity mode". I suspect the two part song-and-dance insures the car does not and will not move.

[hotmilk400]

John Firestone,

I actually forgot about the auto-shutoff. That would have made someone's day super exciting, I will edit the post above just so no one ever tries it later. haha

[John Firestone]

Remote engine starters are really cool to repurpose, but most seem to discourage any movement of the car.