My car can go for long periods without use, so I have en externally accessible cable for checking the battery voltage and connecting a smart charger every 2 weeks to give it a top up charge.

So for the first time in 6 weeks I had to use it, early start as I have two colleagues waiting to be picked up on the way to a business meeting hundreds of miles away.
Key fob failed to open car.
Trudged back indoors, got spare which also failed to open car.
Trudged back indoors, got multi-meter, checked battery which was 12.55v, so fine.
Trudged back indoors, refreshed memory on getting in to car with key from handbook pdf. Gained entry into car and both key fobs now working fine.

Got in this evening and searched the board for anyone else having this problem and this does indeed seems to be a design feature of the car, that after 4 weeks it can't be opened electronically via the fobs but must be opened manually via the key. Its been speculated that this is meant to be a battery saving feature, the cars goes into a 'deep sleep' to avoid draining the battery after a long period of time.

If this is the case it does seem to be a bit of a naff feature to save the battery without taking into account the actual state of the battery, just assuming after a set amount of time its going to need saving. 
Hung like Einstein, smart as a horse.

Happened to me after 5 weeks in Oz, got in using the emergency key and setting the alarm off in the process but I knew it would happen before I went away. FL2 SD4 Metropolis Auto Santorini Black / ivory completely stock.

It's true that light travels faster than sound, some people look quite intelligent until you hear them speak.


Stop global winging.

Same here after 5 weeks parked on my drive.

Yes I believe it's normal. There was a thread here a while back after someone left the car in his garage and couldn't access the passenger door to open the car up. Never did find out what he did! Ex AA Series III LWB Safari - Gone
300TDi Disco (bought new - terrible car) sent back after 18 months
Freelander 1 Estate - leased, given back at end of lease
200TDi Disco (bought from a mate with 100,000 on the clock) - Gone
Disco 2 TD5 - sold and exported to France
FR2 TD4 GS - Gone
FR2 SD4 HSE - Now changed for a DS
New model ex-demo Evoque S 180 in white
Unable to order a new DS, so gave up. Now have a Volvo S90 Recharge.