In addition to the numerous improvements it makes every year, BMW also gives its devoted customers the BMW Digital Key, a special bonus that meets their practical demands. It is nothing less than a vehicle key app for iPhones that enables convenient keyless entry and exit from your BMW as well as engine starting. You have the option to share your key access with up to 5 more individuals using the digital key, which is safely stored in your ConnectedDrive app, My BMW app, or Wallet app! Now, that’s not something you can accomplish with a regular key fob so easily;
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Smart technology, but BMW’s iPhone Digital Key Isn’t Really a Fob Replacement
You can use your iPhone or Apple Watch as a key thanks to CR-tested technology created by BMW and Apple.
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Today’s new cars typically come with a keyless fob that you may use to start your vehicle and unlock the doors without ever taking the fob out of your pocket. However, they can be heavy, they add to your load, and you run the risk of losing them. BMW has joined a small but increasing group of businesses that are providing a digital key that enables a motorist to use a smartphone to unlock the doors and start the car in order to address those difficulties.
The Comfort Access option, which is standard on some models and available as part of a costly options package on others, is a requirement for the BMW digital key. As long as the fob is present, users can start the engine inside the car and unlock doors when approaching it with it and an iPhone or Apple Watch. Despite the fact that the key functions, it takes some getting accustomed to, and this innovative addition doesn’t completely replace the fob.
According to Alex Knizek, an engineer at CR’s Auto Test Center, “there is an advantage to just being able to hop in your car when all you have is your smartphone, but the app doesn’t accomplish everything the fob does.” It’s convenient to have the option of using a phone, but he notes that the fob was easier to set up and use.
You may use the BMW Digital Key to convert your smartphone into a car key. With the key, you won’t need a physical key to lock or unlock your BMW or even start the engine. The BMW Connected App will securely store your digital key. You can share it with up to 5 other people if you choose the “Digital Key for 5” option. A key card with the same features as the one on your phone will be given to you.
We’ll demonstrate how to install the Digital Key, how it functions, and how to share it with your loved ones in this video.
Very amazing, yet it’s interesting to note that while a Samsung Galaxy phone running Android 8 is mentioned in the movie, BMW’s Android integration remains subpar overall.
I kind of agree with that. I’d be satisfied with a card that is no thicker and no bigger than two stacked credit cards if it could fit in my wallet.
That interior hue is brand-new to me. It appears to be blanketed in ash. If they decide to go with it, perhaps they can call it ash inside. The dash and steering wheel are still black, with wood, stainless steel, or alcantara trim, even in the crimson interior.
A great concept, but ultimately I find the standard key to be more practical because of the NFC’s range restrictions.
Although the practicality of the Digital Key is somewhat constrained, it is nevertheless quite helpful in situations where you forget your key and can drive that day rather than returning to acquire it.
Has anyone checked to see if it applies to automobiles that have already been purchased? My 2019 My 430 arrived last week. It would be disappointing to be a few weeks late.
It’s about time; carrying keys around should have been unnecessary for years. Wallets will become obsolete once mobile (NFC) payments are fully accepted in the US.
How does the BMW digital key function?
BMW DIGITAL KEY PLUS and BMW DIGITAL KEY. The key fob for your car can be replaced with an iPhone, Google Pixel, or Samsung Galaxy smartphone that is compatible. To lock and unlock, simply touch it to the driver-side door handle. To start the engine, place your device in the wireless charging tray.
How do I make my BMW digital key functional?
you use to make your primary key. Choose the “Digital Key” tile from the My BMW App’s menu. Choose “Set Up Digital Key” from the list of options at the bottom of the “Welcome to Digital Key” screen. Inside your BMW, turn both car keys to the “Continue” position.
What BMW models support a digital key?
The BMW Digital Key is compatible with the following vehicles manufactured in July 2020 or later: (not all models are available in all markets). In addition to the 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, X5, X6, X7, M5, M8, X5 M, X6 M, and Z4
Can you use a digital key to operate a BMW?
Compatible iPhone and Android Devices with the BMW Digital Key Numerous iPhones can be used with the BMW Digital Key as of this writing, but Android devices are not yet supported.
What does it signify when a BMW digital key is deleted?
Connected Drive by BMW. There, you can erase certain BMW Digital Keys or all of them. After that, using a deleted BMW Digital Key to unlock or lock your BMW or to start the engine is no longer possible.
Does the iPhone support the BMW digital key?
The 2023 X1 and a whole new electric SUV called the iX1 are two new vehicles that BMW introduced this week that would utilize its Digital Key Plus technology.
Without a physical key, eligible BMW automobiles can now be locked, unlocked, or started using an iPhone or Apple Watch thanks to Digital Key Plus. However, Digital Key Plus makes use of Ultra Wideband technology to detect when you are near the vehicle, allowing you to keep your iPhone in your pocket. The regular NFC version of the function requires the iPhone or Apple Watch to be held near the driver-side door in order to open the vehicle.
Additionally, Digital Key Plus enhances security by preventing relay attacks, in which a third party jams or intercepts the radio signal between the iPhone and the vehicle, thanks to Ultra Wideband’s precise location awareness.
With the digital keys stored in Apple’s built-in Wallet app, Digital Key Plus requires an iPhone 11 or newer, or an Apple Watch Series 6 or newer. More BMW vehicles are gradually receiving the function, including the 2022 iX and the present 2023 X1 and iX1. A complete list of BMW vehicles that use the standard NFC-based Digital Key function is accessible on Apple’s website for models manufactured in 2021 and later.
The My BMW app can be used to set up Digital Key Plus, and up to five additional users may share digital keys. The functionality continues to function for up to five hours even if your iPhone’s battery goes out thanks to a Power Reserve mode.
How trustworthy is the BMW digital key?
How dependable is this feature, I wondered? What would happen if you left your keys at home for whatever reason, leaving you stranded?
When I was too lazy to walk back inside and get my key, I used my phone to drive about and do other things. The worst part was having to use the outdated bmw app to unlock the car. The new one is slightly quicker.
I only had my automobile for three days, but I made myself use my phone or watch as a key to test its dependability. So far, 100%. The only complaint is that it occasionally takes 5-7 seconds to unlock.
One thing I’ve observed is that even though my driver profile is linked to my digital key, I had to go back and accept the terms again in order to re-enable the drive recorder app and remote 3D view. Worth checking to make sure everything is working properly before trying to wow people with your 3D vision.
After using mine for a few months, I’ve discovered that the watch unlocks more quickly than the phone. Takes longer for the phone to get in the appropriate location.
If you use your watch to unlock, however, the guest profile is assigned. The phone will be on guest even after you plug it in and turn it on. The watch is really just another key. It’s okay if you set up your guest profile the same way you put up your primary key. Or if you change your profile before you leave. I was initially unaware that the watch does not function as a key extender for the phone.
I did discover a significant problem, though, which makes me hesitant to use it to travel far from home. I won’t get into all the specifics because I already wrote a topic about it, but I have encountered problems using remote services. I eventually received an email informing me that my digital key had been erased, followed shortly after by another email inviting me to set up a digital key. I would have needed my wife to bring me a key if I had been away from home and had only my phone in order to unlock and restart the car.
How much is a digital key for a BMW?
BMW Digital Key: Is it free? Yes, the first year of use is cost-free. If you want to continue using the Digital Key For5 option after the first year, you will be billed $88 per year.
How do digital keys function?
Using the smartphone app connected to your automobile, you program a digital key for a vehicle. After that job is finished, you can open the car door by holding your smartphone next to or on the handle. Push the engine start button after entering, charging your phone wirelessly. You can now start driving.
Digital key technology communicates with the vehicle via low-energy Bluetooth and Near Field Communication for security. Depending on the OEM, digital key may still function even if you lose service or your phone’s battery dies. Additionally, you’re screwed if you misplace your phone, just like you would be if you misplaced the car’s key fob. However, you can keep a credit card-style backup in your wallet or purse because both BMW and Hyundai provide these.
The method used by Lincoln Phone as a Key is different. To open the door or start the car, you don’t need to take the phone out. Additionally, Lincoln lets owners establish a backup ignition passcode through the infotainment system in case their phone’s battery runs out or they misplace it. Owners of the Aviator and Corsair SUVs can start the engine by separately entering the backup ignition passcode after entering the code they selected for the digital keypad on the exterior of the vehicle to gain entry.
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.
Using my BMW app, can you start the car?
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.