Amount of information stored on your key

[Julietbravo]

So, I took my 2016 Mini into the dealer today for a minor warranty issue. The first thing he did was took the key, and stuck it into a docking station. His monitor then showed a picture of the car - correct spec with the right colour wheels and wing mirrors (taken from the chassis number I guess). It also gave him a ton of information - the time since last service, time to next service, brake pads and what looked like oil levels - in red, amber and green to indicate status. It even showed when the car was built, and put into hibernation for shipping as well as the PDI and delivery date. All this information was stored in the key.

I guess in this day and age I shouldn't be surprised that all this is available, but I was surprised it was on the key. I assumed the key was one-way data. It also made me think. He said that when the car starts indicating the service is due, the green icons go yellow, then red after a couple of months. At that point, he cautioned that warranty items would not be honoured as it would be outside the service schedule, which makes sense, but there is no 'just went over the mileage yesterday mate' anymore. It's all recorded electronically. It also reminded me about the thread recently with the guy who modified his Audi and the dealer wobbled on the warranty when the gearbox failed. There's no hiding any modifications anymore - unless you are competent with electronics and programming.

[smarty156]

My 2004 5 series BMW had all the info on the car. The remote battery in the key was also charged while it was in the ignition.
Not that much tech is particularly new these days.

[Julietbravo]

I had no idea. For a service, I normally just hand the keys over and come back in an hour, but because this was warranty I had to show and tell, and saw him interrogate the key. Surprised me.

[V8A*ndy]

Just give them the spare that's being lying in a drawer unused for years.

That confuses them.

[Crafty_]

Probably have fault codes on the key too "Oh I see you've had an air mass meter failure sir, we'll get that sorted for you". Car booked in for the right time slot, parts ordered etc.

[Truckosaurus]

It won't be long (probably already happens for some models) before the car automatically updates the dealer over a wireless data connection of its service status, so you'll get a call from the service advisor before the 'service due' light comes on.

[Davo456gt]

with the recent EU directive stating that all cars from 2018, should have the ability to dial the emergency services, and my Land Rover Disco Sport already having that built in, its already here I think.
Its quite amazing what you can do with the App on your phone, logging every journey etc - great for your expense reports etc.

[Crafty_]

Truckosaurus said:

It won't be long (probably already happens for some models) before the car automatically updates the dealer over a wireless data connection of its service status, so you'll get a call from the service advisor before the 'service due' light comes on.

As above, cars need to be able to call emergency services soon, this means every car has a sim card in it. I'd be quite surprised if manufacturers aren't already recording data in cars and sending it back to a collection centre. Not to spy, but simply to get data on how the vehicles are operated, in what conditions etc. Think of it as a (very) primitive data recorder like planes use.

[BlueMR2]

I have wondered about data protection and also if they have to ask permission to have, store, get etc the data.

I could understand it being in the small print for a new vehicle buyer.

However as soon as the 2nd owner on etc gets it?

Could a large manufacturer end up getting sued for data they don't have permission to hold?

[broncoupe]

I think too much info is on the key theses days
Took my car for a service recently, a couple of days later a chap turned up at the door
and told my wife she needed a service
got to luv Lexus

[giantdefy]

Is there any actual info on the key other than the chassis number which is then used to provide the unique identifier to access data held on the manufactures databases?

Don't know, just asking.