I added an Activity Key today using the GAP IID tool and it behaves differently than my Keyfobs.
- Approach unlock/lock doesn't work (I have approach unlock/lock activated via GAP IID and enabled in the UI)
- I can unlock the car using the button on the door handle, but I cant lock it that way

I'm curious, if anyone here has an Activity Key and Approach Unlock activated, does yours behave the same?

 

I just got the Activity Key for my 110. It behaves exactly like my standard key. I can either use the buttons on the Activity Key screen to lock and unlock, or I can just walk up, press the button on the door handle to lock and unlock. Mine was programmed by my local dealer. I do not have the GAP IID tool.

 

Thanks for the feedback. It's odd that mine will not lock via the button on the door handles.

 

Does the activity key do anything that is not available on the key fob or phone app? I did not get my activity key yet but I finally got the second fob. Wondering if I’m missing any functionality.

 

Physically, it doesn’t do anything more than the standard key fob, so no functionality gained or lost. The benefit is for people that are active in outdoor activities such as running, cycling, swimming etc. It’s much more convenient not to worry about your key falling out of your pocket on a trail while running or mountain biking, getting wet, damaged etc. It’s a very light weight, miniature water proof and shock resistant key fob. I wear my Garmin on my left wrist and the activity key on the right. I highly recommend it for anyone that’s active outdoors. I actually use it for day to day use on occasion because sometimes it’s nice not having a chunky key fob in my pocket.

 

The dealer has my Activity Key, but wanted to charge me $180 to program it. Seems pretty unreasonable after waiting 10 months to get it. Who buys a key at point of sale and expects that the cost won't include the necessary steps for it to even work? So tired of these kind of nickel and diming scams.

Long story short, I'm open to just selling it here once they mail it to my house. I'm not sure I really want it anymore at this point.

 

I would be frustrated too in your situation. I noticed you can order it as part of a build for 2024 as a $450 option. I bought my Activity Key after taking delivery so I had to pay to have it programed. I don't remember how much my dealer charged for the programing part but I payed $500 for the key with programing. So $50 more than if I were able to order it with the vehicle (I thought that was reasonable). Hope you decide to keep it, it's quite handy to have IMO.

 

I went the same route as BC. The odd thing is , I had one for the RR and never used it. I ordered a key the same day I picked up the vehicle, and it ran 275 for programming. They should have programmed it for free, but I didn't expect it from the dealership I purchased the vehicle from. I have a much more service-friendly dealer near me for any future dealer needs.

A defender will be used much differently than a RR. I have spare keys planted on my jeep and truck so I don't carry anything when I'm out and away from those vehicles. A three day loop on a trail is no place for a key fob. I haven't seen a cut key option for a spare for the defender, though I'd go that route too, for a cut key in a surf leash. I might look into it. Taking the dogs out in the wild is my main scenario for not wanting to lose a key fob in the bush. Cell phones are nice, but don't want to see the situation after a long day, of wanting to trade my kingdom for a charged phone to get into the defender.

It just depends what could go badly in your own circumstances if an activity key is worth it. I'm just glad the 23.5 was wired for it. When I picked up the vehicle no one believed me. Given that, I figured schooling the dealership with that knowledge alone was worth a complementary programming job on a just-purchased 100K vehicle.

 

Yeah I certainly understand that case. This one was on my build sheet since day 1, so technically "ordered" 1.5 years ago

When you spend $100k, you figure the least they could do is include the 20 minutes it takes to make it a functional item rather than a several hundred dollar brick.

 

I use mine all the time - I am very happy that I ordered it as part of the build. Like someone mentioned upthread, I think it was $400 or $450 on the original build spec.

It's way better than carrying (or realistically hiding) a key when you are kayaking, surfing, swimming, etc.

My one annoyance with it is that it doesn't keep time as well as I would like - it gains about 4 or 5 minutes a month and I have to reset the time which is a PITA.

Also, my understanding is that when you use the activity key to lock the Defender it deactivates any keys in the vehicle. So even if someone breaks a window and finds the key they can't use that to start the vehicle. I don't believe the phone /watch app does that