Thinking of buying car which had the keyless optio

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Sun 20 Apr 2025 18:16
Thinking of buying car which had the keyless optio - BMWistheBest

Hiya

As the title states. I've had BMW's for a while all old and the current one is a 2007 car.

I've been looking at a Mercedes GLE, 350d. The car was made in 2015, late model, w166, - 135 thousands miles and FSH via various garages and 4 owners.

According to the spec, the then new owner opted not to have the keyless. Therefore, could this car started by thieves as they do with keyless start cars by driving off without a key.

The car has a factory alarm and immobiliser etc, Could this car be easily driven away by some smack-head etc. I'm sure the more experienced, steal to order could steal the car but as its almost 10 years old and I doubt they'd want to.

I've looked around the websites and so on but always end up with the keyless cars. The car I am hoping to buy will only start with a key and has no start push button.

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Sun 20 Apr 2025 19:19
Thinking of buying car which had the keyless optio - elekie&a/c doctor
Non keyless cars are more secure, because the key has to be turned to release the steering lock , although still an electronic device. You’ll probably find the non keyless models don’t come with a sunroof.
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Sun 20 Apr 2025 19:20
Thinking of buying car which had the keyless optio - FP

"According to the spec, the then new owner opted not to have the keyless. Therefore, could this car started by thieves as they do with keyless start cars by driving off without a key."

As I understand it, the "keyless" thieves rely on being able to use a device which they bring close to the house in which the fob is kept, hoping to pick up a signal which is then amplified and tricks the car into thinking someone with the fob is standing nearby, so the doors can be opened and the car started.

The solution is well documented: at home, you keep the fob in a "faraday pouch", which effectively isolates it.

I believe some fobs have an off switch which achieves the same thing.

To answer your question: I see no reason why someone who chooses the "keyed" option in a car should end up with a functioning keyless system.

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Sun 20 Apr 2025 21:18
Thinking of buying car which had the keyless optio - BMWistheBest

OK. So it can't be started and driven away without a ket as the car is key operated/started even though the option was there to get the keyless option. Almost every other GLE I have looked at on the web and enquired is keyless but not this one and it is one of the main reason I may buy it.

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Sun 20 Apr 2025 22:05
Thinking of buying car which had the keyless optio - elekie&a/c doctor
Exactly that . The key needs to be physically inserted into the ignition slot and turned . No other way will work .
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Sun 20 Apr 2025 22:19
Thinking of buying car which had the keyless optio - bathtub tom

Isn't 'keyless entry' an option on the car's menu? Recently had experience with an Ioniq that would unfold its mirrors on approach, but not unlock the doors. Asked the owner if they'd turned the option off, but, unfortunately they didn't have a clue.

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Sun 20 Apr 2025 22:14
Thinking of buying car which had the keyless optio - Big John

One of my rather long list of requirements when I bought a new car recently was for it NOT to have keyless entry. As with any car with Toyota hybrid gubbins it's a push button to power on though.

One slight security issue I encountered was that on locking the car wasn't deadlocked by one lock button press - you have to press twice to double/deadlock.

Now I know, it's not an issue. My previous Skoda was the opposite way round in than 1 lock button press was deadlocked and 2 lock button press wasn't deadlocked and alarm disabled.

Edited by Big John on 20/04/2025 at 22:17

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Sun 20 Apr 2025 22:20
Thinking of buying car which had the keyless optio - elekie&a/c doctor
Vag models are the only ones I’ve encountered that double lock on one press .,
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Sun 20 Apr 2025 22:22
Thinking of buying car which had the keyless optio - Big John
Vag models are the only ones I’ve encountered that double lock on one press .,

Thanks, I've clearly had a sheltered life over the past few decades mainly owning VAG cars. I have a few friends with Toyota hybrid cars who weren't aware they had to double press.

Edited by Big John on 20/04/2025 at 22:24

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Sun 20 Apr 2025 22:33
Thinking of buying car which had the keyless optio - elekie&a/c doctor
Interestingly, MB models with keyless entry , double pressing the lock button, disables the keyless entry mode until you re enter the car . So the key cannot be scanned.
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Mon 21 Apr 2025 09:26
Thinking of buying car which had the keyless optio - John F

Could this car be easily driven away by some smack-head etc.

No.

I'm sure the more experienced, steal to order could steal the car but as its almost 10 years old and I doubt they'd want to......

....10yrs and well into a six figure mileage is not an attractive combination for most people, thieves included. I wouldn't worry.

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Mon 21 Apr 2025 09:35
Thinking of buying car which had the keyless option - Orb>>.

Why nick it (unless for parts? One big fault and repair more than the value of the car.

(with Apologies)

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Mon 21 Apr 2025 11:32
Thinking of buying car which had the keyless option - Falkirk Bairn

GLE in the UK is £75K- £150K car

A 10 year old diesel with 160K on the clock might be £15K BUT will have repair & labour costs set by the manufacturer reflecting the cost of 10 years ago+ inflation.

There are unlikely to be cheaper pattern parts available from 3rd party manufacturers as the production volumes would be extremely low unlike pattern parts for a Ford Fiesta.

An alternative buy might be the likes of a Lexus RX - again an expensive car when new BUT built to a higher standard.

RX say 7/8 years old and mileage under say 75K it would still have Lexus Limited Warranty on major parts for 2 or 3 year if Serviced by Lexus outlet and mileage under 100K. Might be over your budget however.

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Mon 21 Apr 2025 21:24
Thinking of buying car which had the keyless option - Big John

An alternative buy might be the likes of a Lexus RX - again an expensive car when new BUT built to a higher standard.

RX say 7/8 years old and mileage under say 75K it would still have Lexus Limited Warranty on major parts for 2 or 3 year if Serviced by Lexus outlet and mileage under 100K. Might be over your budget however.

A Lexus of that age might have the CAN bus injection security issue which was generally on higher model cars that have the CAN bus available behind headlight units and it's linked to vehicle thefts especially Lexus and Toyota rav4 cars.

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Tue 22 Apr 2025 07:50
Thinking of buying car which had the keyless option - Falkirk Bairn

Buy a steering lock - one off expense.

If somebody knows the technicalities of how to take an RX off a driveway why would they steal a 7/8+ year old RX??

Lots of much newer / more valuable RXs are around.

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Tue 22 Apr 2025 08:19
Thinking of buying car which had the keyless option - Orb>>.

Hopefully the OP has been reading the replies.

But if they are aware of the pitfalls of buying an expensive at new car and the costs relative to keeping it going, and POSSIBLY having a good indie available, then I would say if they can afford a couple of expensive repairs then that is their choice.

I could not put my hands up and say all of my choices were logical in the past.

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Thu 24 Apr 2025 12:29
Thinking of buying car which had the keyless optio - Simoncelli58

Keyless option usually means the key has no blade, there is a starter button, but the key fob does not have to be pressed to open the door.

Keyless option means the door will open when you are close to/ or touch the door handle.

Non keyless option means you press the keyfob button to open the doors

You don't get a different steering colum and ignition switch, if you decline the Keyless option!

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