Keyless Entry

[alland]

Here's a weird one.
I had my M8 GTI parked at our golf club the other day. My car key was in my golf bag, and as I approached my car, it opened as per usual. The car next to mine was also a Mk8 Golf (didn't notice the model, but not a GTI), and amazingly at that same instance it opened too! At first, I assumed another player was also approaching this car, but there was nobody else around!
As I loaded my stuff in, I heard the other car locking again and the mirrors retracted. Still no-one around.
How weird is that? And also a tad worrying I would think!

[Dav3smith]

I disabled mine the day I picked it up from the dealer.

For me it really is a backward step in security. I mean how difficult is it to press the button on the key fob?

[SRGTD]

I disabled mine the day I picked it up from the dealer.

For me it really is a backward step in security. I mean how difficult is it to press the button on the key fob?

Agree. Another of those features that car manufacturers have brainwashed many consumers into believing they must have! My car’s got keyless (unfortunately it was part of the standard spec so I didn’t have the option not to have it) and the car’s too old to permanently disable it. I can disable it each time I lock the car, which I always do.

[alland]

Yes, absolutely agree with the above comments; I mean, you would have to have been living on another planet to have missed all the negative issues regarding  keyless entry and car thefts rocketing. But, I wonder, what are the odds are of my key fob activating another VW? They tell us millions to one allegedly; maybe I should start thinking about a wee flutter on the horses!
So, if you de-activate keyless entry via the infotainment system, is that not permanent? Does it default back to keyless after ignition switch off?

[fredgroves]

That's so strange it seems impossible.

The Mk8 keyless system is a generation beyond the ones which are such a security problem. I wrote a piece on here about how it works if you are interested

[joet]

That's so strange it seems impossible.

The Mk8 keyless system is a generation beyond the ones which are such a security problem. I wrote a piece on here about how it works if you are interested

I would tend to agree.  That's why thieves are now breaking into property to take the keys in order to steal the car (as in my case). Because Keyless is much more sophisticated and difficult to crack these days they resort to that.

[DrG_GTi]

Someone was messing with you!  Too much of a coincidence plus it's impossible

[fredgroves]

So the basic code it sends is a 40 bit code with a pseudo random number added to it.

Thats about 1 in a trillion.

Obviously 1 in a trillion is not impossible (it can't be) but its certainly not likely.

On top of the code, the key fob has to be inside of a UWB location zone (ie near the car) and to my knowledge it also has an identity element (ie not just any key). Yes you can unlock it from further away by pushing the button but for it to AUTO unlock.... no.

So there is the technical description...

[alland]

Interesting comments, guys, but I can assure you this DID happen! I hung around for a good 30 minutes chatting to a mate afterwards and nobody appeared. Also, the clubhouse was closed at the time so there could not have been somebody taking the micky from in there.
Can't explain it - aliens?