Unlocking and driving with Apple Watch or phone.

[Keeff]

Hi All
I have a raval v1 running 6.0.1 now and would like to upgrade my iPhone 17E or Apple Watch 5 as they can only open and drive by touching door handle and putting in cradle.
I have tested with a iPhone 16 and it open as I approach the car so all good but do not have a new Apple Watch to test.Has anyone used a Apple Watch to open and drive on approach if so I would rather upgrade watch as its getting old now.
I understand they need a UWB transmitter built and unfortunately the 17E does not just my luck.
I didn’t have the option of second key as it was a stock vehicle.
Thanks.

 

[jezyg]

To open as you approach device requires UWB if you have that the device will unlock it. My Samsung S25 does not have UWB, I have a Galaxy Watch 8 though but have not tried that yet but sure that does not have UWB either. However, I did not think you could use a watch to unlock the car due to security concerns?

 

[RPGWiZaRD]

I wonder if the NFC opening option would be possible with smart watch without UWB support, would be quite handy and avoids the "opens when just walking by the car in the garage issue" with UWB. I'm not holding my breath it's supported on Wear OS though eventhough there's the wallet app / payment support there too.

 

[Keeff]

I can confirm you can open and drive with an Apple Watch Series 5 using the NFC option if you add it to your wallet.
Just hold the face against the drives door handle but getting the watch on your wrist into the phone charger slot is the hard part. You need to slide it off keeping two fingers on the back then lay it face down until car powers up.
The phone work the same way just lay it in the holder.
I have ordered a refurbished series 10 so hoping it works like the phone with UWB just walk up get in and drive.
I have set it up a iPhone 15 and that also has buttons under the card in wallet you can use.
Dealers are estimating £450 for spare key and company I have phone on line cannot make a spare yet as to new.
My watch is getting old so thought I would update that first .
Will report back when I get it set up.

 

[James_R]

I wouldn't risk attempting to code anything but a genuine key sourced through a dealer or TPS.

 

[East Yorkshire Retrofits]

I can confirm you can open and drive with an Apple Watch Series 5 using the NFC option if you add it to your wallet.
Just hold the face against the drives door handle but getting the watch on your wrist into the phone charger slot is the hard part. You need to slide it off keeping two fingers on the back then lay it face down until car powers up.
The phone work the same way just lay it in the holder.
I have ordered a refurbished series 10 so hoping it works like the phone with UWB just walk up get in and drive.
I have set it up a iPhone 15 and that also has buttons under the card in wallet you can use.
Dealers are estimating £450 for spare key and company I have phone on line cannot make a spare yet as to new.
My watch is getting old so thought I would update that first .
Will report back when I get it set up.

It's unlikely you'll see anybody offering third party keys for 5+ years, if not considerably longer

£450 is cheaper than losing all of your keys and having to fork out for a new BCM + a pair of keys

 

[Tell]

Cost benefit analysis comes in here I reckon with a planning horizon of how long you are going to keep the devices and car. My analysis would be buy a spare key for my parameters.

 

[Keeff]

Just an update now have Apple Watch series 10 all working .
It works really well and opens the charger flap unlike using the phone against the door handle.
Didn’t really want to buy a second key as I only drive it now and then mainly when we go away in it so she will have the key in her handbag .
Went out today in it and didn’t take phone so still works without phone .
Anyone got a Vehicle to load adapter yet and had that working ? Would be very handy in a power cut.

 

[Tell]

Just an update now have Apple Watch series 10 all working .
It works really well and opens the charger flap unlike using the phone against the door handle.
Didn’t really want to buy a second key as I only drive it now and then mainly when we go away in it so she will have the key in her handbag .
Went out today in it and didn’t take phone so still works without phone .
Anyone got a Vehicle to load adapteyet and had that working ? Would be very handy in a power cut.

Good, good. Yes I'm interested in user experience of the Vehicle to load adapter.