A number of updates and new services for BMW automobiles have just been published. BMW owners may now choose from a variety of other options in the ConnectedDrive Store to add to their vehicles in addition to the “Uneven Road Surface alert” feature. One of them allows you to remotely preheat the temperature of your BMW vehicle, and it is called “Remote Engine Start.” While Remote Engine Start has been a feature of BMW vehicles from MY 2019, it is now also available as a new “Function on Demand” that can be added to eligible cars that weren’t initially equipped with it. This functionality can be purchased through the ConnectedDrive Store.
Through Remote Software Upgrade, the new functionality can be downloaded and installed wirelessly. This is a fantastic feature for the sweltering summer and icy winter months. You can preheat the interior by turning on the heat or the air conditioning while starting the engine from inside your house or place of employment.
Simply tap a button in the My BMW app to turn on Remote Engine Start, and your BMW’s engine will start, allowing the cabin to reach the ideal temperature. A triple-click of the lock button on the BMW key fob will also activate Remote Engine Start.
In This Article...
How to operate a BMW phone remote starter
The My BMW app’s OEM BMW remote start feature is perhaps the most practical way to operate the remote capabilities. Simply open the app, choose “Climate now,” and confirm whether or not you want to start/stop your engine or schedule preconditioning. Furthermore, you can accomplish it without your car being in the area.
The BMW Connected App, which is accessible on Google Play and the Apple Store, enables you to remotely control the infotainment system, engine, and climate.
Can a BMW be started remotely using an app?
Using a compatible smartphone and the BMW Connected App, you can turn on BMW Remote Start, choose your favorite temperature, and start your engine all at once, even if you are far away from the vehicle.
What does the BMW app I have do?
Keep track of the status of the charging process, tire pressure, fuel, and battery levels, among other things. Using Remote Services, you may also lock, unlock, and locate your car.
My BMW App helps you find parking, discover POIs, send your destination directly to your BMW, and even check the range of your electrified vehicle.
Right from your phone, manage your BMW Financial Services account. Make payments, receive reminders to make payments, and more.
What distinguishes the BMW Connected app from the My BMW app?
Every each generation of BMW apps has injected more technology into the driving experience, further fusing your personal life with that of your car. This generation was no exception. Except that the most recent premiere was meant to be a wink to the drivers of electric cars.
My BMW remote app enhanced their overview and broadened their operational range while the BMW Connected app started to enable remote access to car statistics, executing upgrades to the on-board software, or controlling specific vehicle operations. It provides direct access to service facilities, significantly improves plug-in hybrid and all-electric model functions (displays electric range, charging status, tracking of charging history, programming of charging in a time slot, etc.), and provides more practical use of maps and navigation.
Can I use my phone to start my BMW?
With the BMW Display Key and the BMW Connected App, you may remotely start your car. After turning on automatic engine starting in your driver assistance settings, you can easily maintain the interior temperature of your BMW by pressing a button.
How can I get a BMW remote start?
- Press the “CAR” menu on the left side of the home screen.
- Choose “Settings”
- Select “Climate Control” by scrolling to the right.
- ‘Preconditioning/Ventilation’ should be chosen.
- Choose “Remote Engine Start.”
- Check the “Starting Engine for Climat” box.
Why don’t BMWs have remote starts?
Why wasn’t it included earlier? BMW has purposefully left the remote start out of their cars up until this moment. The inclusion of the remote start is prohibited under some legislation that are relevant to the German and European markets. To stop a car from idling for too long is the goal.
How does a BMW’s remote start function?
You can activate Remote Engine Start by pointing your BMW key fob at your car and pressing the lock button (the BMW Roundel) three times in a row.
Does every BMW have a remote start?
Only a small number of nations and not all BMWs come equipped with remote start as standard.
If your BMW isn’t equipped with remote start, adding it requires an extra step, but if your vehicle is compatible, it can now be downloaded quickly through the ConnectedDrive Store.
If your automobile is a 2018 model or newer and doesn’t already have remote start, you probably can add it. The software, however, is incompatible with a few earlier models (such the 1 and 2 Series).
Most pre-2018 models were not factory equipped with remote start, and it is not feasible to retrofit it to incompatible vehicles.
Which BMW models provide remote starting?
You want your car’s interior to be cool before you leave on a hot summer day. You want it to be warmed up when you get inside on a chilly winter day.
BMW is transitioning to a linked car, just like many other automakers, enabling you to start the engine remotely using your smartphone or the BMW key.
A number of models made between July and August 2020 will come standard with the feature, and several current models can have it added by downloading an over-the-air software upgrade.
Depending on the degree of the car’s equipment, you can also manage the seat-heating, seat-cooling, and steering-wheel heating, which will be available on the forthcoming 4 series and 5 series models.
The feature will be available starting in July 2020 on the 3 Series Sedan range, 4 Series Coupe range, 520i, 530i, M550i, M5 Competition, as well as the Z4 Roadster range.
Additionally, starting with the August 2020 manufacturing month, on the X5 xDrive40i, X5 M50i, and X5M Competition as well as the X6 xDrive40i, X6 M50i, and X6M Competition.
The BMW Connected Drive Store may offer an upgrade for models that are already available or on sale.
These include models made starting in July 2019: 320i, 330i, M340i, 740i, 740Li, 840i, Z4 sDrive20i, Z4 sDrive30i, and Z4 M40i.
Additionally, the BMW 4 Series coupe, 520i, and 530i, starting in July 2020, as well as the X5 xDrive40i and X6 xDrive40i from August 2019.
By the fourth quarter of this year, BMW anticipates adding the feature to more vehicles.
If my BMW has remote start, how do I know?
Look up the “Remote engine start” option in your Premium Package or in the settings of your iDrive sub-menu to see if your car has BMW remote start. It might be present if your BMW has an iDrive 7.0 (also known as the Live Cockpit) and a digital gauge cluster.
The digital gauge cluster and the iDrive system 7.0 (Live Cockpit) appear like this.
Has my BMW been serviced remotely?
Digital Services is divided into four categories and provides assistance both before and during journeys.
With the help of a live person, you can use “My Assistant” to navigate Concierge Services, Intelligent Personal Assistant, Remote 3D View, and Remote Services.
‘My Journey’ is designed to expedite your arrival at your destination and ease the driver’s burden. This eliminates the need to make phone calls because you can obtain real-time traffic information and share your location with someone else so they can see whether you’re likely to be late.
Just as it sounds, “My Automobile” provides more details about your car, such as servicing information, the opportunity to upgrade the software remotely, details about your driving habits, and access to your Wi-Fi hotspot.
Finally, “My Life” has the ability to play your own music from your smartphone via Apple CarPlay as well as to stream music from Deezer or Napster.
Can I remotely heat my BMW?
People will be looking for ways to warm up their cars before getting inside as winter approaches quickly. Consequently, whether we’re talking about internal combustion engines or electric automobiles, the BMW Remote Engine Start feature will be quite useful. The latter scenario gives them the advantage because you can heat up your car while it is charging, which prevents pollution and noise while heating up the interior.
That’s also crucial to note because it’s against the law in several nations to leave your automobile running, even in your driveway. To ensure you don’t break any laws, you might wish to check your local laws before utilizing the system. If everything is in order, you may watch a little video below from BMW that demonstrates several ways to use the Remote Engine Start technology.
You must first enable the feature from the car’s iDrive system submenu before taking any action. Choose Preconditioning/ventilation from the submenu under Car – Settings – Climate Comfort. You must select the Remote engine start option that will appear. After that, you can heat up the interior of your car in one of three ways: using the key fob, the BMW Display key, or the BMW ConnectedDrive app.
By touching a few clicks on the app, you can start the car’s engine from the farthest distance. By pushing the lock button three times while using the BMW key fob, you can turn on the heater; however, the Display Key has a preconditioning sub-menu that lets you start the engine remotely. If you get in the car before the engine shuts off automatically after 15 minutes, you can turn it off manually. By swiftly pushing the lock button three more times, you can turn off the engine if you’re using a conventional key fob. Hope this makes the winter go by a little bit easier for you!
BMW WiFi is it free?
permanent WiFi integration in the vehicle Your car should already have WiFi built in permanently. Similar to all new BMW vehicles, a built-in SIM card is essential to the establishment of a WiFi connection.
Has my vehicle a remote start?
You must first check at your key fob to see if you have the remote start option. The remote starter button has an arrow-like form.
If your key fob has this button, your car has remote starting capability. Press the button that locks the car once to try remote starting. Your engine will start when you press and hold the remote-start button for at least four seconds.
The climate control and parking lights will turn on as soon as the engine begins. Additionally, the heated/ventilated seats and the rear window defroster may turn on. You must only move out of park after pressing the start button on the dashboard since this function starts the engine but does not switch on the ignition.
Press and hold the button with the curved arrow on it to turn the engine off if you change your mind. Parking lot lights will go out.
Is it possible to steal a BMW without a key?
Yes, keyless autos are frequently more difficult to steal. Having said that, it also relies on the situation and the specific model. Some versions include keyless entry, which opens the doors when the key is nearby, but they still require a traditional key to start the vehicle. Keyless entry and keyless start vehicles are the most susceptible to relay theft.
Relay theft is also not a recent occurrence, therefore manufacturers have been working on solutions to stop it for some time. As a result, some more sophisticated vehicles include features built to prevent keyless auto theft.