[Cerealkiller]

Does the app tell you if the car is running or anything else? Am I missing something? The only indicators I can see are the doors / windows.

I ran into the store with the car running and checked the app but I didn’t see anything that indicated that it was on.

[PP3121]

Only indication noticed so far is when the car is "preconditioning." The fan turns in the app to show it is running. After preconditioning, fan stops spinning.

[KJ10]

If you use remote start from the app it will also change the way the car is displayed if it is running. It will be turned to a side profile with "air" moving over the profile of the car like a wind tunnel of sorts.

[PP3121]

Do you mean how it is displayed on the "My Car Widget?" I start the car remotely daily (set to precondition at a set time daily). I have not noticed that feature. I usually see a screen to push "OK" to get started, then I turn on completely. I will take a look at the widget before turning on completely.

[KJ10]

This is what my app looks like when I remote start my car from the app.
The red is an animation that flows through the car. You don't see this in your app?

[XC3LLR8]

Originally Posted by KJ10

This is what my app looks like when I remote start my car from the app.
The red is an animation that flows through the car. You don't see this in your app?

Mine is like yours, but with a blue flow animation (maybe mine was running the A/C and yours the heater).

However, it takes about 15-20 seconds after it starts for the car profile and animation to start.

[KJ10]

Originally Posted by XC3LLR8

Mine is like yours, but with a blue flow animation (maybe mine was running the A/C and yours the heater).

However, it takes about 15-20 seconds after it starts for the car profile and animation to start.

I'm sure that is what the colors indicate, my brain should have picked up on that lol. Good call.

[PP3121]

Have not noticed this feature. I was thinking it was in the car's widget. I have a time set to remotely start so I am not looking at the app at the time it is on. I will check this tomorrow and see what it shows.

Pretty cool!

[PP3121]

It really does show the conditioning status! Thanks for pointing this out.

[Cerealkiller]

Originally Posted by KJ10

This is what my app looks like when I remote start my car from the app.
The red is an animation that flows through the car. You don't see this in your app?

Ahh cool. Never noticed. Thanks.

[PP3121]

Interestingly, looked at the app this morning after the pre-conditioning started, and I did not see the animation. Hhmm? Only shows under certain conditions?

[KJ10]

Originally Posted by PP3121

Interestingly, looked at the app this morning after the pre-conditioning started, and I did not see the animation. Hhmm? Only shows under certain conditions?

The only thing I can think of is when you set up your pre-condition keep in mind the time on the pre-condition is your departure time meaning the car will start and run before that time. So if yours is set to depart at 7:00am the car will start I believe ten minutes previous to that. So if you check at 7 the car will not be running anymore. If you already knew this, apologies for the rant lol. Personally my pre-conditioning always shows the car running.

[PP3121]

Yes, I am aware of the time designations for pre-conditioning. Thank you for mentioning just in case.

The car starts automatically M-F; however, only noticed the one time I checked on the 6th (posted above). Maybe when you remote start as opposed to using a time start there is a difference in how it is displayed. I noticed in our screen shots the vehicle is pictured sideways. Mine is usually at an angle without the waves.

Will need to be more observant when I use the remote start vs. the set time pre-conditioning.

[KJ10]

Originally Posted by PP3121

Yes, I am aware of the time designations for pre-conditioning. Thank you for mentioning just in case.

The car starts automatically M-F; however, only noticed the one time I checked on the 6th (posted above). Maybe when you remote start as opposed to using a time start there is a difference in how it is displayed. I noticed in our screen shots the vehicle is pictured sideways. Mine is usually at an angle without the waves.

Will need to be more observant when I use the remote start vs. the set time pre-conditioning.

I have mine set M-F as well. I will use remote start this weekend and look for any differences.

[XC3LLR8]

Originally Posted by PP3121

Yes, I am aware of the time designations for pre-conditioning. Thank you for mentioning just in case.

The car starts automatically M-F; however, only noticed the one time I checked on the 6th (posted above). Maybe when you remote start as opposed to using a time start there is a difference in how it is displayed. I noticed in our screen shots the vehicle is pictured sideways. Mine is usually at an angle without the waves.

Will need to be more observant when I use the remote start vs. the set time pre-conditioning.

I noticed the app doesn't change the graphic immediately. Maybe you can pull-down to refresh after about a minute??

[M240SLC]

Do you have to go through the hassle of setting the pre-conditioning time in order to start your car via the app? My wife's Lexus app just has a giant icon that looks like the start button in the car to start it. A bit ridiculous if it couldn't be that simple for BMW.

[KJ10]

Originally Posted by M240SLC

Do you have to go through the hassle of setting the pre-conditioning time in order to start your car via the app? My wife's Lexus app just has a giant icon that looks like the start button in the car to start it. A bit ridiculous if it couldn't be that simple for BMW.

No. You can just use the remote start icon and it works just fine. If anyone has any issues with it not working you usually just need to lock the car via the app and then use the start feature. It does not matter if the car is already locked you still need to lock it again. I have had this issue on a few previous cars and it always resolves it.

[XC3LLR8]

Originally Posted by M240SLC

Do you have to go through the hassle of setting the pre-conditioning time in order to start your car via the app? My wife's Lexus app just has a giant icon that looks like the start button in the car to start it. A bit ridiculous if it couldn't be that simple for BMW.

You can also talk/text Alexa...

"Alexa, ask BMW to start my car."

"I am now starting the engine in your 2 series."

[PP3121]

Originally Posted by M240SLC

Do you have to go through the hassle of setting the pre-conditioning time in order to start your car via the app? My wife's Lexus app just has a giant icon that looks like the start button in the car to start it. A bit ridiculous if it couldn't be that simple for BMW.

I set the time as a matter of convenience. I have overridden the time start and started earlier with the fob and app. No problems. With the app, the start command usually fails the first time and starts the second time.

[M240SLC]

Originally Posted by XC3LLR8

You can also talk/text Alexa...

"Alexa, ask BMW to start my car."

"I am now starting the engine in your 2 series."

I remember seeing this mentioned before. I might give it a shot, even though I'm not a huge fan of Alexa or Siri.

I haven't even setup the digital key crap yet. I'm honestly more "analog" when it comes to cars. The question regarding the remote start was to get my wife off my back about why it seems so stupid compared to her RX. I wish there was a "wife" feature, like the "valet" feature, so I can restrict certain driving habits she has. (i.e. telling her to keep it below 4k RPM until 1200 miles are on the clock. Fell on deaf ears I'm sure.)

[XC3LLR8]

Originally Posted by M240SLC

I remember seeing this mentioned before. I might give it a shot, even though I'm not a huge fan of Alexa or Siri.

I haven't even setup the digital key crap yet. I'm honestly more "analog" when it comes to cars. The question regarding the remote start was to get my wife off my back about why it seems so stupid compared to her RX. I wish there was a "wife" feature, like the "valet" feature, so I can restrict certain driving habits she has. (i.e. telling her to keep it below 4k RPM until 1200 miles are on the clock. Fell on deaf ears I'm sure.)

I'm pretty sure I've mentioned it a few times in various threads, maybe even here as I didn't go back and re-read.

Now that I know I can start it with the app from pressing the fan button, and not set a time, I will usually use the app.

I find it odd that if I remote start the car, get in and turn the a/c off before pressing the 'start' button, it kills the car. Strange how the auto start is so tied-in to the ventilation.