Opening/Closing Windows from Remote

I know this has been talked about many times before but there seems to be some contradicting information and no clear answer. (Yes, SF, I've searched. Yes, GB, I've read my owners manual.) Can US cars be programmed by the dealer to open and close the windows with the remote? This TSB appears to say how but I'm not sure if it is for the US The Cayman Club - Downloads - Unintentional Activations of Comfort Functions Was there a change at some point and earlier US cars do not support it? Maybe that is why there is some confusion. The obvious follow up question is why are RemoteKeys selling so well and being pushed so hard here? The other features (some of which are also dealer programmable now) don't seem worth the cost or complexity.

I purchased a RemoteKey module in the first GB primarily to get the audible lock/unlock feature after having walked back to my car innumerable times to make sure it was locked. It was well worth the cost to avoid that pita. Since then, a bit to my surprise, I'm using and enjoying the remote window roll-down on hot days, the dipping passenger mirror to prevent wheel rash, auto door unlocking and the delayed trunk opening; none of which were present on my car. Although I had my dealer program auto lock, the auto unlocking when the key is removed is also a very nice convenience feature avoiding the double pull on the handle to exit. Plus, I like having those programmable features within my control. I installed a RemoteKey for myself & helped 2 others with the install. It's not very difficult for a minimally skilled DIYer. I think it's a great addition of features that perhaps should have been standard, but if you don't see value the solution is quite simple. Don't buy it. :cheers:

While you can get that window comfort feature if your car supports it (some Caymans do not for some unknown reason), the Mods4Cars RemoteKey has lots of features each of which you can control individually to your liking and which don't require you to gain access to a PIWIS machine or pay a dealer to do programming for you (some charge some don't) As STLPCA said, if you don't want the Remote Key then don't buy it, but most owners seem to like it once they get it. If all you want is window comfort feature then sure have your dealership try to program your car for it and see if it works on your car. If it does you are set.

The answer to your question is not simple. Technically, yes it is possible. Practically speaking, most dealers will not enable these features, for whatever reason. The smart tops product adds many enhancements for its price. Check it out.

My questions about remote key are an afterthought. I'm not planning on buying one. It just seems to be marketed with the major function of opening your windows (that's the only feature listed in the ad). I do feel bad for people on this forum led to believe that is the easiest way to accomplish that feature. If you enjoy the other small features, that's great. Now that some of you have confirmed it is possible to program through PIWIS , I'm still left with the question of what's different? How come some cars can and some can't? I don't enjoy going to the dealer and it never fits well into my schedule. I would rather not go if it's not going to work.

I "think" it is a saftey issue in the US cars. I've not heard of any being programmed here? Anyone?

Mods Law: V = W - X - Y - Z Where: V = What ends up being changed W = What you want X = What the car will allow (This is dependent on the year of manufacture and it's original and other added options, and to some extent the country) Y = What the version of the PIWIS coding software will allow (Some previously available options disappear whilst some appear through updates) Z = The ability of the dealership PIWIS operator to use the PIWIS Z is the killer, and be aware that it may not be in the dealers interest to code you a 'free' option when they could sell you an aftermarket product at a premium!

Agreed... and the same may be true of web forums and vendors.

I thought it was that EU cars had that feature while US cars did not. I have not seen a single US car that has this capability. Scott from Softronic would be a great person to answer the question since he is very familiar with PIWIS .

It sounds like this is a misconception caused by bad instructions or bad PIWI.S operators. The latest word is that it can be done.

I for one know it's the programmer because when I first got the PCM, Sport Chrono worked out of the box as did the convenience functions! They made it worse, lol.

2 questions... (Zwie fraga) If the window roll-down IS progammed in, how does it work? Hold a button down longer? Which one? (Dang, I guess that's more than 2 already!!!) Is there NO way to get the alarm set "chirp" without the "RemoteKey" install?

Hope that helps...

Nick, Once you get everything figured out you should consider travelling to other zones to work your magic. I'm in Zone 2, not too far. I'd much rather pay you to do it while hanging out at a zone meeting than roll the dice with the dealer.

Nick, I think you should bring your PIWIS to Croctoberfest this year

Only pleased to help if I can. You are right (depending on where you are in PA) you aren't that far away. My good lady wife once said to me "You need a button on here (CC), with 'Buy Nick a beer' written on it" ps I like beer way too much to do that, I think my 'Z' (See mod law above) is inversely proportional to the amount of beer I would end up drinking and before you know it your car would be coded as a "Insert least favourite crappy car here" :beer:

Thanks Ken and Gaitor for chipping in here. Firstly to add to Ken's post, there are many variations in build even within specific model years and indeed the same is true of the cars control units. So what works for one car may not work for another. However, that said I am in the process of confirming what is available now. I am not hiding information but I would not want to post the wrong information either with the CC members then wasting there time and probally money at a dealership. The window functions seem to work across MY 2007 and 2008 but I still need to try this on a MY2006. Even from a late 2007 to an early 2008 there are differences. With regards to enabling 'cost options' there are couple of limitations here, Porsche lock these features down, a dealer for example can enable extended Navigation, however they first have to request a code from Porsche , this code is then sent to the dealership, the dealership then enter the code in the PIWIS and then enable the option the second is option hardware has to be in the car ie switches, control units etc I am NOT going entertain requests for work arounds for 'cost option' re-coding as there are companies trying to make a living by providing this service including Porsche who have invested time and money into producing a 'value for money' product. SportsChrono button addition would be an example here. Don't expect your dealer to disable safety/DOT related functions either, by this I would mean the seatbelt chime etc, yes it can be done but I think there dealer wouldn't do this. I am not sure at this stage if I will provide this service, however, if I do there will certainly be a 'waiver' related document in use. I will tell you what I can, but not by robbing food out of other peoples hands etc Secondly, thanks Gaitor for the offer of a beer, I must be careful though as the more help I provide the more beer that I would drink and I don't think my memory of PIWIS functionality will be helped by this in the long run. To add to the key and remote drop coding, there are 7 places this has to be done 3 in one unit and 2 in each of the doors, and if you want the hatch to drop the windows by an inch there are 2 more. So to get the windows behaving in an acceptable manner for a cayman requires 9 coding settings.... yes ouch!!! I will say the PIWIS software isn't exactly helpful either, very limited 'help' functions and to make matters worse the 'German' to 'English' translations are 'interesting' to be polite. Anyhow my day job is calling and I think for now this is enough. Thanks again Ken and Mike

Oh yeah, some of those German to English translations are quite amusing. Let me know if you ever figure out what 'Rattle control' does. That might be a secret field that mechanics enable when they encounter an annoying customer. They apparently can enable and disable rattles....

Yes 'Rattle Control' hmmmmm..... I think this maybe a Boxster related function again connected to the windows, at the opening of the door as the doors drop buy about 5mm when the door handle is pulled to prevent it getting stuck in the soft top roof. If it doesn't drop it 'rattles' as it becomes free from the top. I maybe guessing here, but I will try coding it either way on my car. The other possibility is that the function is associated with the Targa 997, when you shut the rear hatch the last 1/2 inch or so of closing is done electrically so disabling this would leave the door slightly open and 'rattle'. Again theories, but when Porsche translated the function from German to English the result wasn't English at all!! We will see in time what this really does but for now the 'rattle function' is one of life's little mysteries

No item #2 means home light with the key fob, Nick you really need to get a RemoteKey and check it out first hand. Nick, to your last sentence, what am I "almost" correct about? What do I need to fix/change/etc? BTW Nick is correct he did approach me before going public to see what I thought and I told him as long as the information was accurate with what he published I had no problem with it and I didn't think it would harm Mods4Cars at all since their product does things PIWIS doesn't do, but I had seen some members jump or knee-jerk without reading or understanding everything so he should be careful to make sure he has all the facts straight, ducks in a row, etc. before announcing items publicly.

I will have to post slowly and loudly in future perhaps

I have been following this all day but work has not given me a chance to write a decent response. I am not faulting Nick in any way. It is his information and he can do what he wants with it and release it when he wants to. Similarly, this is Ken's forum and he can control what information gets put on it. I was not on a mission to bash remote key. If that was my goal I would have asked in the thread dedicated to it. I simply wanted to get a straight answer to whether the windows could be remotely opened. I am aware of all of the functions remote key comes with but opening the windows is still the primary one (based on their advertising) that I'm sure makes a lot of the sales. I suspect that more than one person will regret their purchase and tapping into their wiring once Nick's information is officially announced. Many others will still appreciate all the secondary features. Sorry for questioning anyone's motives. I will go back in my hole now. Nick, you seem like a great guy and I still look forward to meeting you.

Did I mention that Nick was abe to active my factory LSD with the PIWIS ?

I seem to recall that was after the 20 beers that I drank :beer: Isn't that like the 'one that got away' story ?

Can you show me their advertising that shows the comfort window feature as the PRIMARY feature? I've never seen such advertising from them. TIA. Here is a link to their product description on their site: https://www.wilhelmy-it.de/sms/shop/index.php?mode=view&idlistpos=1 and while I see the comfort window feature listed it is simply one of many listed. I think you are "guessing" if you think the auto window up/down gets them the most sales, from replies from past buyers I would say it is either the trunk release or the alarm chirp that most buyers are after. Why would someone regret their purchase when right now they can easily read that YOU CAN PROGRAM COMFORT WINDOWS WITH PIWIS ON SOME CAYMANS ? No one is hiding that fact, no one is trying to "dupe" anyone. If someone only wants the comfort windows then they have a choice: A) Buy the RemoteKey from Mods4Cars B) Find someone to program their car via a PIWIS if their car will accept the programming. For arguments sakes let's say that you don't choose option A but instead go to a local dealer and ask them to do it. Let's also assume they agree to try at a labor rate of $150/hour. They spend 90 minutes on your car and tell you "sorry we just can't get it to work, that will be $225 please". Hmmm now you have no comfort windows and are out $225 THAT sounds like a decision that someone would REGRET. Now clearly the dealer may not charge if not successful or may charge only a reduced rate, or the dealer may not be willing to program it at all. Assuming you get a dealer to do it, if they charge you I bet it would easily be 50% or more of the cost of the RemoteKey product and you'd have only 1 feature and you couldn't change that feature without going back to the dealer. Buy your own PIWIS? Ask Nick how much that costs. What I dislike about your posts has been: 1) An assumption that the website's management (myself included) have been doing something wrong or not disclosing information, etc. 2) An assumption that you know the marketing ins and outs and functionality ins and outs of a product you don't own made by a company you don't own or work for. 3) Probably other things but I'm too tired of typing and doubt I'll ever see the apology anyway...

I think this video says it all: The Cayman Club - Downloads - Remote Key by Stefan The Mods4Cars product is unique and it provides some nice benefits for it's price. I personally like: Right mirror drop on reverse, even if you DON'T have memory seats The headlight control The confirmation chirps The ability to reconfigure the product and it's features

Why is the remoteKEY so popular? Actually the remoteKEY's functions are all superior to the ones possible to program with the PIWIS. Raise and lower the windows with the remote using *ONE-TOUCH* is the point here. There might be a super complicated way to enable the factory feature with the Piwis, you still have to HOLD the button DOWN the entire time. In short, the remotekey is a collection of useful features at a very reasonable price, that allows individual programming by each owner themselves with no need to go to a dealer everytime you want one of the features enabled/disabled. The remoteKEY module is so popular here (and is being pushed) because it is a very good product, people here like it and recommend it to everyone who hasn't heard of it yet, because they think that it's a great add-on to the cayman. The definite answer is: Yes, the remoteKEY *IS* the easiest and best way to add one-touch remote window up/down feature to your cayman. it still to this day is the *only* way to give you one-touch, no need to hold down the remote button