Keyless start? Anyone got it working?

[mg4mc]

Did you try the new key calibration?

Yep

 

[Yorkshire Hillbilly]

OK. so when you go into the app under your profile then select digital key. Has a digital key been generated and protected by your user PIN number? i.e are you even able to get that far in the app. If this has been done then the keyless start option wont even be selectable in the app. What errors at which stage of digital key setup or usage are you getting in the app?

See Keyless start? Anyone got it working?
*the screenshots are from an older version of the app but the process is still the same, as is the outcome.

 

[fnegroni]

Yep

You didn’t by an unfortunate chance, shared the key with the account that you are currently using?
Hence why I asked if you tried unbinding the car from the account and then create a new account and repeat the procedure there.

You didn’t by an unfortunate chance, shared the key with the account that you are currently using?
Hence why I asked if you tried unbinding the car from the account and then create a new account and repeat the procedure there.

And by this I mean:

 

[Tig170]

No, not needed it, as prefer a physical key on the same fob as the house key - I'd hate to drive 100+ miles, and then realise that I've left the keys in the front door ? ?

 

[Ian Key]

I'm sorry but what is the advantage of using the keyless start/digital key?

With the physical key on your person, you press the button on the driver's door, you get in and off you go. How is using your phone easier and quicker especially with a car that's known for flaky Bluetooth?

Is the worry of "Am I going to be able to get in the car and get it to recognise the digital key so I can get home" worth it?

 

[wandle MG4 trophy]

I'm sorry but what is the advantage of using the keyless start/digital key?

With the physical key on your person, you press the button on the driver's door, you get in and off you go. How is using your phone easier and quicker especially with a car that's known for flaky Bluetooth?

Is the worry of "Am I going to be able to get in the car and get it to recognise the digital key so I can get home" worth it?

Opening the car door with just a phone is incredibly useful for me (and works reliably).

Opening the door and driving without a physical key is for me a useful emergency back up which I would probably never use.

However it really irritates me that an advertised function of the car does not work for me. I returned an expensive Apple HomePod because one of its advertised features did not work yet I cannot return a car with dodgy software.

 

[decrep]

So if you're out walking, pull your hanky out of your pocket, and the fob disappears down a drain hole, You either phone somebody to bring the spare key, or you use the phone to drive home.

A bit remote, I'll admit, but it was good rising to the challenge to get it working.
I do feel better afterwards.
Any technological win at my age is a psychological boost.

 

[tsedge]

I'm sorry but what is the advantage of using the keyless start/digital key?

With the physical key on your person, you press the button on the driver's door, you get in and off you go. How is using your phone easier and quicker especially with a car that's known for flaky Bluetooth?

Is the worry of "Am I going to be able to get in the car and get it to recognise the digital key so I can get home" worth it?

While I am with you, and I don't use it, there are a number of advantages I am aware of.

Some people are very good at losing their keys, wallets etc... but their phone, being like a second husband or wife to them (and one that doesn't backchat!) is cherished in a way that means they are less likely to lose it.

Some people want to minimise what they carry and have already replaced their wallet with a phone, and maybe even have an electronic front door lock on their house, removing car keys too can complete the picture. Such people would have a chip embedded in their body if it was available!

Sometimes people want to be able to give driving access to others without giving them a key, although this is stretching it a bit.

 

[Yorkshire Hillbilly]

It's 2024 and I just don't want to carry keys anymore. I made my house keyless, I made my office keyless, I want what I paid for, which is to make my car keyless too.

It's not about the speed or the ease of use. I like to live at the forefront of technology and do things because I can. MG said I could use my phone as my key, so I desperately want to do that.

 

[Martinonline]

Just checked and my DK works - Moto g8 power/android 11.

In house, key fobs in Faraday bags, Bluetooth not connected to car.

Opened app and approaching car pressed Unlock button on home page - no remote access so did a status scan and then unlock worked. Note no pin required!

Pressed 'Keyless Start', app said to sit in the car.

Sat in car with door open and 'Smart key not detected' shown. Waited for Bluetooth to connect but needed to press the info home button before a connection was made.

Closed door and 'Smart key' message disappeared. Pressed highlighted in blue 'Keyless Start' button and car went into ready mode.

Tried again. Bluetooth not connected.

Opened car from app home page. Sat in the seat. Smart key warning appeared. Waited for Bluetooth connection to appear on my phone. Did not appear. Pressed brake pedal and second warning appeared.

Pressed Keyless Start on app home page and driver's screen powered up with the usual warnings associated with a delayed info screen start. Waited for info screen to start but needed to press home button to start.

Once powered up the screen and my phone showed a Bluetooth connection.

I don't know what all this means but my major concern, as before, is that I did not need a pin to unlock the car but I need one to start the HVAC!

 

[DixieTGS]

Tried again. Bluetooth not connected.

Opened car from app home page. Sat in the seat. Smart key warning appeared. Waited for Bluetooth connection to appear on my phone. Did not appear. Pressed brake pedal and second warning appeared.

Pressed Keyless Start on app home page and driver's screen powered up with the usual warnings associated with a delayed info screen start. Waited for info screen to start but needed to press home button to start.

Once powered up the screen and my phone showed a Bluetooth connection.

I don't know what all this means but my major concern, as before, is that I did not need a pin to unlock the car but I need one to start the HVAC!

It doesn't need the PIN if you have used it since opening the app. If you just press back to get out of the app or switch apps, it stays running in the background. Next time you go to the app no PIN is required.

Exit the app fully if you want to ensure the PIN is required next time.

This behaviour may have changed on the latest version, I haven't checked.

 

[Martinonline]

Replied to a DM with more information.

 

[DerekH]

Might sound obvious but the keyless option won't work if the car is unlocked.. try this sequence.
1. Unlock the car using the app
2. Get in the car and lock using the app
3. Select the digital key under the profile option after first ensuring the app is indicating a Bluetooth connection has been succesfull.

 

[phil99]

Might sound obvious but the keyless option won't work if the car is unlocked.. try this sequence.
1. Unlock the car using the app
2. Get in the car and lock using the app
3. Select the digital key under the profile option after first ensuring the app is indicating a Bluetooth connection has been succesfull.

Why not just unlock the vehicle using the digital key in the first place? That works fine.

It's slightly weird that the app provides two different ways to lock/unlock the vehicle - one is "in-app" and the other is the digital key, and they both work slightly differently. i.e. you can't lock the car using just the "app" functionality if you haven't shut it down first yet you can do this with the digital key.

Just another small way that you can tell this really hasn't been designed/tested particularly well.

 

[SH58]

Yes, keyless as in you don't have your key with you. Yes it is Trophy only.

Not sure that is right, I have an SE and used mine on a number of occasions. It can be a slow to initially work, and relies on the phone connected via Bluetooth too.

 

[Diggsy]

Not sure that is right, I have an SE and used mine on a number of occasions. It can be a slow to initially work, and relies on the phone connected via Bluetooth too.

I believe it was intended to be a Trophy only feature, but it works on the SE as well. Pretty handy too, especially with the new app using FaceID etc

 

[Martinonline]

But if your 12v battery goes flat I assume the DK will not work and without the physical key you will be a bit stuck.

 

[Ian Key]

But if your 12v battery goes flat I assume the DK will not work and without the physical key you will be a bit stuck.

Correct.
It's worth checking you have the physical key in the fob as some don't. I also have a silicon rubber cover on mine to stop the physical key getting lost and I keep a spare battery for the fob in the car.

https://amzn.eu/d/i71CPpl

 

[Yorkshire Hillbilly]

I keep a spare battery for the fob in the car.

That's boy scouts level prepairdness, you sir are a genious

 

[Ian Key]

That's boy scouts level preparedness, you sir are a genius

Not really. I was caught out a few years ago when the battery went in my Mondeo's key fob and had difficulty starting the car. I've kept a spare battery in the car ever since.