My BMW "Remote" iPhone App working in USA (sort of)

[M3M3CAR]

For those of you who don't know what "My BMW Remote" is ..
you first need to READ this .. http://www.bmwblog.com/2010/09/28/ip...my-bmw-remote/

I found some very limited instructions on getting the "My BMW Remote" iphone app to work in the USA but since all the brains and most passionate people in the BMW community are in the 3 series and M forums I thought having a newer, more updated thread here would help further the research and development in this area and later I'll build an improved a single wiki documentation source on the process. At the moment I've only installed the app, my 2011.5 M3 doesn't arrive until 2nd week of Jan 2011 so it will take some time for me to make updates.. however let me know if any of you guys make any progress with this.. as I'm hearing it will works quite well for a few models..

Most of you would see and say that the iphone app is not available to the US market. But, here are the steps that you can take and start using it right here in the US.

1. Create an itunes account in the UK (you may provide a random address). You can do that even if you live here in the US. The only constraint is you can't purchase apps that are not free. But "My BMW Remote" iphone app is for free. So, you can download it without a problem on your PC/Mac. Go here for apples instructions http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2534

2. Transfer the app to your iphone.

3. You will get two options - demo mode or actual registration. Click on the latter.

4. Enter your BMW Assist account user name (This is the email you provided BMW the day you bought the car. It gets active right away. You should be able to use the app a few hours after getting activated for the car).

5. Enter the password that you provided your dealer when setting up the BMW Assist account.

6. You get a new screen asking for a password again. It is the same password.

7. You will see a screen that shows exactly your car's model and color. Click on it (not on the arrow). Here you may set up pin code for privacy.

8. Now you can start using all functions of My BMW Remore iphone app: a) remote open and lock the car; b) find the location of your car; c) sound the horn; d) flash the headlights. All of these are working great, and yes, here in the US.

Depending on which BMW you have remote climate contol and the ability to send google addresses right from within the app might or might not work.

I hope this will help us to start using this great app. It works but with about a 10 - 30 second delay.

Now before all the negative "this is a useless app" talk starts, first understand BMW has gone through great lengths to make sure that this does not or will never work in the U.S. so let us take it for what it is and let us all talk and discuss how we are getting it to work and how we can make it better.

I've also been doing some some research on this in Russian BMW forums, and from what I'm hearing (unconfirmed as I'm not fluent in Russian).. but If BMW remote assist is able to remote start your car, than there might already be a Russian hack of to the software that allows for you to add remote start feature on your existing car AS IS!!... however the first thing you would need to do before looking into this is 1. Find out if your car can be remotely started by BMW assist and 2. You will surely need a Jailbroken iphone and know how to install iphone app deb files on it..

By the way if you are able to get any or even limited parts it to work, please list your model, year and week build of the car. As I think there could be much to learn from the info, patterns and the reason behind the varying experiences.

[audioMeth]

subscribed

[M3M3CAR]

I've got the app on my phone.. Just need my damn car to get off the boat already..

[Jaypod]

Downloaded the app, but when I enter my email and password I get "No vehicles saved your account" and I have two cars with BMW Assist.

[eisenb11]

subscribed

[DICKER 1]

Subscribed

[Chowster]

Count me in too.

[geneatals]

here's the actual 5series.net thread...just for discussion purposes..

http://forums.5series.net/topic/1059...1#entry1262861

[mpardun]

I followed your directions, and after some BMW Assist password drama, it's working.

The application is however a tad underwhelming, unless you are looking to follow your wife/kids, the GPS tracking is quite amazing (down to 30 feet).

And remote lock/unlock is novel as well.

Now add remote start, ac/heat turn on you have an app!

[NYCMCBM3]

why do you need a uk itunes account and how do u go about opening one

[Chowster]

Originally Posted by NycE93M3

why do you need a uk itunes account and how do u go about opening one

The App is only available in the UK apparently. Here's how to open a UK account without a valid UK credit card:

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht2534

[mpardun]

Door lock/unlock does not function.

Remote light flash & horn are not options in my app (1.01/1.91) downloaded this afternoon from UK iTunes site.

Any ideas?

[PKL]

Subscribed!

[NYCMCBM3]

there is no none options when opening the account

[radiantm3]

Originally Posted by NycE93M3

there is no none options when opening the account

You have to "buy" a free app in the uk app store. Then when the sign in dialog pops up, choose to create an account.

I got the app running, but it seems sort of useless so far. Can't send google map locations to the car and I don't see the horn feature.

[kmarei]

i have a 08 M3, built in 05/08
i got remote unlock to work, but not remote lock
still i just used this yesterday, this app will come in handy
i don't have idrive so i can't do the maps etc
according to the app, it should not work with cars built before 2010
but the unlock worked fine with my 08

[NYCMCBM3]

how do i get a username and password?

[NYCMCBM3]

my login isnt working , i keep getting a error

[M3Pilot09]

I was able to download the app on my iphone but unable to log in using the email and password on my bmw assist account. It keeps giving me an error message.

[NYCMCBM3]

^same thing here

i called 2 times and confirmed everything it good on there end, it just wont log in now

[radiantm3]

Originally Posted by M3M3CAR

c) sound the horn; d) flash the headlights. All of these are working great, and yes, here in the US.

I don't see these 2 options anywhere in the app. I'm assuming this is for the 5 series only.

It wouldn't find my car nor unlock the car either. Not sure if it's a GPS issue or what, but both of those gave me an error as well.

However, I did notice this car icon in my display after trying the app:



Not sure what it's supposed to mean.

[NYCMCBM3]

useless app -.-