Before I go get new longer and wider feet grafted onto my legs (which is what the BMW dealer is likely to suggest as a solution), I wanted to hear from you.
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01-05-2026LAST POST
Before I go get new longer and wider feet grafted onto my legs (which is what the BMW dealer is likely to suggest as a solution), I wanted to hear from you.
Yobyot wroteThe sensitivity is much better for me with the recent update. Previous to that, it was so hit or miss, that I almost wonder what the point of this feature was. Now, it's super convenient when I have my hands full and need to open or close. I'd say it's triggering at greater than 80% now.Even after the November 2025 OTA update, whose release notes said that kick sensitivity had been improved, I’m guessing it works for me about 10-20% of the time.
Before I go get new longer and wider feet grafted onto my legs (which is what the BMW dealer is likely to suggest as a solution), I wanted to hear from you.
Here's what I found after a Google search:
"The primary reason for perceived poor performance is often the specific technique required to activate the sensor, which many users find counter-intuitive at first."
"Incorrect Foot Motion: Many people kick multiple times or wave their foot side-to-side, which can confuse or reset the sensor. The correct method is a single, swift, straight in-and-out motion directly under the center of the rear bumper, as if kicking an imaginary ball. The pulling back of the foot is what triggers the action, and you must pause briefly afterward for the system to process the command."
Sidenote:
Picked the littleone from kindergarden just this afternoon, having her in one hand and bag full of her stuff in the other the kick is very useful feature no matter man or woman. Glad to have that option.
Like mentioned before waiting a second after approaching the car helps and doeing a straight kick at medium speed in the middle below the rear light gets you a very good chance of success.
My X3 G01 kick to open wasn't much better tbh it sometimes had lower percentage of success.
But what worries me more is that the touch panel with the buttons under the display works very poorly. I can afford to tap the heated windows buttons five times, but the hazard lights button is often needed immediately in an emergency situation and should be reliable, for example when approaching traffic congestion after an accident on the highway. Here, I have to press it 3–4 times before it activates. In my opinion, this is a SCANDAL — that button should be physical, or it should work perfectly.
kimona wroteI’d also found this on Google.Haha. My wife uses the kick to open feature with 100% accuracy. On the other hand, I am seldom successful.
Here's what I found after a Google search:
"The primary reason for perceived poor performance is often the specific technique required to activate the sensor, which many users find counter-intuitive at first."
"Incorrect Foot Motion: Many people kick multiple times or wave their foot side-to-side, which can confuse or reset the sensor. The correct method is a single, swift, straight in-and-out motion directly under the center of the rear bumper, as if kicking an imaginary ball. The pulling back of the foot is what triggers the action, and you must pause briefly afterward for the system to process the command."
Following this advice hasn’t improved the trigger rate for me.
I owned two G01s, a 30i and an M40i, both built in 2018. The former never really worked well. The latter worked perfectly. Both cars were at the same integration level.
You could park the two cars next to each other and the only difference would be the cars and the disparity persisted.
I’ll just don’t understand why BMW can’t get this right.
JozefJozef wroteI just think that the strong independent AWFL's in Los Angeles who inspired this feature should have to pay for it as an extra, with the trailer hitch being the standard equipment.1 in 4 or 5 it’s not working for me prior the 11/2025 update and sadly also after. Previously I had much lower success rate because I was too fast, I noticed it works more reliably if I came to the rear of the car and wait a second or two to give the car a chance to properly detect key in my pocket.
Sidenote:
Picked the littleone from kindergarden just this afternoon, having her in one hand and bag full of her stuff in the other the kick is very useful feature no matter man or woman. Glad to have that option.
minus.spire wroteIt’s extremely helpful if your hands are full of grocery bags or your kids hockey equipment. I used it with a 99% success rate for 7 years in my X7 but there is something going on with the G45 that puts the success rate in the 65% zone. Same foot, same kicking motion, very different results.I don't use the feature at all, it's like a senseless woman-focus-group thing so I just ignore it. But man do I wish that the trailer hitch was standard fare instead...
I don’t use the physical key, I use my iPhone as the digital key. Not sure if that is a contributing factor.
toddwalton wroteThat's it
I don’t use the physical key, I use my iPhone as the digital key. Not sure if that is a contributing factor.
With the key FOB it transmits a signal all the time, so the car knows you are approaching and wakes up before you even get to it.
So the kick function and door handle unlock function will work instantly.
The phone system is more of a passive system, so the car does not always know you are approaching and doesnt wake up before you get to it.
You may have noticed the door unlock function sometimes takes a few seconds to work with the phone aswell, unlike the instant FOB.
You can test this by waking the car by pressing the trunk unlock button once just before trying the kick method.
Its should work instantly then.
For constant instant working you need to carry the key FOB
F80Fleet wroteUnderstood, but the 65% hit rate I am referring to happens after I have approached the rear of the car and hear the car unlock (I have the settings to lock/unlock the car automatically by proximity).That's it
With the key FOB it transmits a signal all the time, so the car knows you are approaching and wakes up before you even get to it.
So the kick function and door handle unlock function will work instantly.
The phone system is more of a passive system, so the car does not always know you are approaching and doesnt wake up before you get to it.
You may have noticed the door unlock function sometimes takes a few seconds to work with the phone aswell, unlike the instant FOB.
You can test this by waking the car by pressing the trunk unlock button once just before trying the kick method.
Its should work instantly then.
For constant instant working you need to carry the key FOB
So it is passively recognizing that I am at the liftgate, I even pause a tick just to be sure, and then I use the same foot motion I used for the past 7 years successfully on my X7 and it’s very inconsistent.
FrozenGT wroteThat's the situation in the US. In Europe you can have both options. My M50 got the factory installed retractable tow hitch and the kick to open.Also, just as an FYI, it doesn’t work if you have the tow hitch installed from factory.
Ravenous666 wroteThat’s very interesting. I don’t understand that. I wonder if it can be coded out with Bimmer.That's the situation in the US. In Europe you can have both options. My M50 got the factory installed retractable tow hitch and the kick to open.
FrozenGT wroteIn Europe, a completely different type of tow hitch construction is installed than in the USA. The hitch extends and retracts automatically under the bumper at the press of a button in the trunk.That’s very interesting. I don’t understand that. I wonder if it can be coded out with Bimmer.
toddwalton wroteWould be interesting if for a little while you could test carrying the FOB and see if it changes the success rateUnderstood, but the 65% hit rate I am referring to happens after I have approached the rear of the car and hear the car unlock (I have the settings to lock/unlock the car automatically by proximity).
So it is passively recognizing that I am at the liftgate, I even pause a tick just to be sure, and then I use the same foot motion I used for the past 7 years successfully on my X7 and it’s very inconsistent.
