[nkborsick]

So I purchased this about 3 days ago and still nothing on the app or car. when i go to remote software upgrade in the car, it has said "preparing to activate your function" since i bought it. anyone else experience this/know a fix??

[Littlecoupe]

When I took delivery of my car, I think a bunch of things were hung up and not working in iDrive including remote start, surround view, etc. I did a reset by holding the volume button down for ~20 seconds, and the updates started. I left the car alone, the things updated, and all was well the next day.

May or may not fix your issue.

[itguy61]

Originally Posted by nkborsick

So I purchased this about 3 days ago and still nothing on the app or car. when i go to remote software upgrade in the car, it has said "preparing to activate your function" since i bought it. anyone else experience this/know a fix??

I was about to purchase this but have seen a couple of posts like this and it is giving me pause. Can you let us know how this turns out for you?

Thanks!

[thetryal]

I did the remote start upgrade via the app. I also called bmw 800 and they were pretty helpful. Don't hesitate. I love having the remote start!

[WilcoJunoHotel]

Not sure about the remote start upgrade but for regular updates to happen there is a very specific procedure to follow and if not followed the screen will show "preparing to update....." until all the boxes are ticked and then the upgrade will automatically happen. For instance, the one that got me confused in the beginning was that the headlights have to be turned off on the dash - not just off at the time I was trying to do the update.

[deanatl]

For reference, I had remote start as an option on my new 2025 m240ix. Couldn't get it to work with the key fob (clicking lock button 3x), so watched some YouTube videos and discovered that I needed to enable it by going into the Climate Control settings to activate the remote start functionality. Works great now with both the key fob and MyBMW app, and love having it on these cold winter mornings!

[WilcoJunoHotel]

Originally Posted by deanatl

For reference, I had remote start as an option on my new 2025 m240ix. Couldn't get it to work with the key fob (clicking lock button 3x), so watched some YouTube videos and discovered that I needed to enable it by going into the Climate Control settings to activate the remote start functionality. Works great now with both the key fob and MyBMW app, and love having it on these cold winter mornings!

Not sure about ID8.5 but every time the ID8 software is updated, it will revert back to off and we have to go back and turn it on again.

[ifound2pac]

So is it a subscription after the first two years when it's free? Isn't it like $15/mo?

Because in that case fuuuck that. I just spent the $150 permanently unlocking the Drive Recorder feature as I do not have a dashcam and don't plan to get one right now, but that feature will at least maybe save me from liability in an accident

[itguy61]

Originally Posted by ifound2pac

So is it a subscription after the first two years when it's free? Isn't it like $15/mo?

Because in that case fuuuck that. I just spent the $150 permanently unlocking the Drive Recorder feature as I do not have a dashcam and don't plan to get one right now, but that feature will at least maybe save me from liability in an accident

The remote start option shows to be functional as long as technically possible when it is purchased. I don't see anything about additional charges after it is purchased.

[ifound2pac]

Originally Posted by itguy61

The remote start option shows to be functional as long as technically possible when it is purchased. I don't see anything about additional charges after it is purchased.

How much was it?

[angermgmt20]

Originally Posted by ifound2pac

How much was it?

$300 on my M240i

[ifound2pac]

Originally Posted by angermgmt20

$300 on my M240i

FML bimmer really out here taking scalps for hardware we already have

[angermgmt20]

Originally Posted by deanatl

For reference, I had remote start as an option on my new 2025 m240ix. Couldn't get it to work with the key fob (clicking lock button 3x), so watched some YouTube videos and discovered that I needed to enable it by going into the Climate Control settings to activate the remote start functionality. Works great now with both the key fob and MyBMW app, and love having it on these cold winter mornings!

Thanks for that info. That's weird that you would have to enable it. One of the first things I'll be doing when I hopefully pick mine up this weekend.

[WilcoJunoHotel]

Originally Posted by angermgmt20

That's weird that you would have to enable it.

Agree. It is like a computer where you have to customize it to your liking.

I have had remote start on at least 5 cars/suvs/trucks and this is the first one where it had to be activated and then reactivated after any sort of software update.

And mine was ordered with remote start on the build sheet.

Not a huge thing for me since I don't drive the car much but if it was my daily driver I might get POed if it wouldn't work one cold morning.........First world problem though.