[fchen0125]

Hi, Has anyone be able to use iPhone 11 Pro (has NFC) as digital key to drive the car ??? When I try to active digital key, I kept getting "Error During Data Transfer". I am able to remote start, unlock and etc .. via BMW Connected App but can't drive the car off with just my phone.

[ericjmcalvin]

I believe that it only supports Samsung phones for the digital key/NFC.

[Specularius]

And not all Samsung phones are compatible. I have a Note 9 that is unlocked (no carrier branding) on at&t and it is not compatible. Is anyone else able to use an unbranded Note 9?

[kdesign7]

Only android right now.

Android for NFC.
Apple for CarPlay.

[Wild Blue]

I'm sure you Android owners are happy that Android Auto is coming to BMW this upcoming year.

[unfoundnemo]

Originally Posted by Specularius

And not all Samsung phones are compatible. I have a Note 9 that is unlocked (no carrier branding) on at&t and it is not compatible. Is anyone else able to use an unbranded Note 9?

BMW specifically says "The BMW Digital Key is compatible for all NFC-capable Samsung Galaxy smartphones running Android 8.0 and above. Compatibility is limited to select carriers."

I'm running Android 9 on a Galaxy S9 through Verizon and it is not compatible. I would have assumed a Note 9 on At&t would be. Anyone actually have a phone this works for?

[Ken750iX7]

Originally Posted by Specularius

And not all Samsung phones are compatible. I have a Note 9 that is unlocked (no carrier branding) on at&t and it is not compatible. Is anyone else able to use an unbranded Note 9?

I have the same problem with my Note 9 Unlocked on AT&T as well, BMW Genius not be able to activate Digital Key.

[Waise]

Originally Posted by Specularius

And not all Samsung phones are compatible. I have a Note 9 that is unlocked (no carrier branding) on at&t and it is not compatible. Is anyone else able to use an unbranded Note 9?

It doesn't support android Samsung S10+ on Verizon either...

[sliu070]

Originally Posted by Waise

It doesn't support android Samsung S10+ on Verizon either...

Seems like there's VERY limited support. I had a s10+ on Rogers which didn't work. Just tried a Note10+ on Telus which also didn't work.

[mitch57]

Another promised failure...

Someone's going to really get pissed about all these advertised features, like over the air updates, etc, that don't work and never have worked and file a Class Action Lawsuit. I can't wait!

[homerrr]

Originally Posted by mitch57

Another promised failure...

Someone's going to really get pissed about all these advertised features, like over the air updates, etc, that don't work and never have worked and file a Class Action Lawsuit. I can't wait!

"Someone's going to really get pissed" is an understatement....

[Paultattoo]

I have not taken delivery of mine yet. But I am counting on this feature working. Has anybody tried having the dealer make it work for them?

[kdesign7]

I have an iPhone, but I knew before I bought it that it wasn't going to work. (yet). But This blog post says...

"Samsung Galaxy phones starting with the S7 model or newer, running the Android Oreo 8.1 OS"

https://www.bmwblog.com/2018/06/18/v...-bmw-8-series/

You also have to have the dealership set it up for you.

I'm not sure how this is better than just turning on the Auto Unlock when you walk up to the car? I absolutely love this feature. I do wish it worked when you walked up to the truck though to put stuff in the back after shopping. I guess you don't have to have your key, which would be nice. You can also use the digital card key that comes with them. Put it in your wallet and unlock it just the same way. Thats is what my husband does.


Also, Apple did open up NFC in iOS 13. It now up to BMW to update their app for Apple devices to do this.

[iconoclast]

Mine never worked and was told it is not supported despite videos and literature stating otherwise. I believe that if I were on At&T it would work.

[jmciver]

Interesting and "cool" tech, but seems more inconvenient if you need to pull out your phone every time to use it. The slightly older comfort access tech where all you need to do is touch the door handle (as long as your key is in your pocket/purse) or the newer tech that auto unlocks/locks as you approach/walk away from the car seems better.

Does this tech with your phone as your key offer better security from would-be thieves stealing the RFID signal from your key fob?

[jcarlilesiu]

Originally Posted by unfoundnemo

BMW specifically says "The BMW Digital Key is compatible for all NFC-capable Samsung Galaxy smartphones running Android 8.0 and above. Compatibility is limited to select carriers."

I'm running Android 9 on a Galaxy S9 through Verizon and it is not compatible. I would have assumed a Note 9 on At&t would be. Anyone actually have a phone this works for?

Just so you know, it's a Verizon issue.

I chased down BMW and they admitted they didn't know why it wouldn't work. Then I went to the top at Verizon. Finally they admitted that BMW didn't submit their app to have them unlock the NFC function.

I explained to Verizon that I paid for the NFC in my device, not Verizon, so them locking down the BMW app from utilizing the phone's NFC is BS, which I am sure is about money.

That was the straw... I dumped Verizon after that. Now happily on Tmobile, app worked as it should, and Tmobile gave me crazy incentives to move over. I moved my company and currently am sitting on a -$1,600 bill with Tmobile.

[kdesign7]

I know it would be nice to just walk up to your car without a key and just your phone and hit the side.

But the app does unlock and lock your car. It certainly takes longer but it does work. And in my testing it doesn't take nearly as long as the app makes it seem like it takes. Same goes for climatizing. The car turns on in half the time it takes for my phone to say successful. Most of the time.

So you can still use any phone that has the bmw app to lock/unlock your car.

I think the issue really is that you have to have your key fob or the key card to be able to start the car and drive away. So no matter what you have to have more than just your phone with you.

[jcarlilesiu]

Originally Posted by kdesign7

I know it would be nice to just walk up to your car without a key and just your phone and hit the side.

But the app does unlock and lock your car. It certainly takes longer but it does work. And in my testing it doesn't take nearly as long as the app makes it seem like it takes. Same goes for climatizing. The car turns on in half the time it takes for my phone to say successful. Most of the time.

So you can still use any phone that has the bmw app to lock/unlock your car.

I think the issue really is that you have to have your key fob or the key card to be able to start the car and drive away. So no matter what you have to have more than just your phone with you.

That isnt true.

You can start the car and drive using just your phone with the digital key. I don't carry a fob anymore.

[DenverMisanthrope]

Originally Posted by jcarlilesiu

That isnt true. You can start the car and drive using just your phone with the digital key. I don't carry a fob anymore.

I think kdesign7 was talking about just using the app (i.e. when you have a phone that doesn't support the digital key thing you're talking about — like an iPhone).

[mitch57]

So, what happens if I'm sitting in a restaurant finishing up dinner and use the app to "Climatize" the car which starts it and set's the temperature. If it unlocks the vehicle and someone who doesn't have my key or phone hops in the car while it's running can they just drive off? Or does it still require a key fob or digital key in order drive off?

[alpha265]

Originally Posted by mitch57

So, what happens if I'm sitting in a restaurant finishing up dinner and use the app to "Climatize" the car which starts it and set's the temperature. If it unlocks the vehicle and someone who doesn't have my key or phone hops in the car while it's running can they just drive off? Or does it still require a key fob or digital key in order drive off?

Just like any remote start, you still need your key fob or digital key to drive your vehicle.

[jcarlilesiu]

Originally Posted by mitch57

So, what happens if I'm sitting in a restaurant finishing up dinner and use the app to "Climatize" the car which starts it and set's the temperature. If it unlocks the vehicle and someone who doesn't have my key or phone hops in the car while it's running can they just drive off? Or does it still require a key fob or digital key in order drive off?

In order to "start" the car, the digital key must be in the charging tray.

Remember, even after climatizing, you still have to push start engine when you hey in the car to get it into drive