My understanding, which could easily be incorrect, is that the watch cannot be a key, only the phone. You can see the status (locked, battery level, etc), and on the third watch page you can lock/unlock (very handy), blow the horn, flash the lights, and start climate control (also very handy). So far, i think that is it.
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Apple Watch & iX
I have both and want to be able to use my watch as a key. However the only thing I can do with my watch presently is to start climatisation. What am I doing wrong... or what do I need to do?
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You can use the apple watch as a key. I don’t know how to set it up. The BMW dealership did this for me.
It’s definitely possible to only use the watch as the sole key. I do it all the time.
Edit: I use an Apple Watch from 2022.
It’s definitely possible to only use the watch as the sole key. I do it all the time.
Edit: I use an Apple Watch from 2022.
Hi,
I believe that the watch needs to be newer than a certain version to work as a key.
Older versions have limited functionality.
To the OP - how old is your Apple Watch?
Mine works fine as a key - when I look in the General section of watch settings, it says the following:-
Version 9.5 (20T562)
Model Number MG133AE/A
This is apparently a series 6 watch
Cheers
Steve
I believe that the watch needs to be newer than a certain version to work as a key.
Older versions have limited functionality.
To the OP - how old is your Apple Watch?
Mine works fine as a key - when I look in the General section of watch settings, it says the following:-
Version 9.5 (20T562)
Model Number MG133AE/A
This is apparently a series 6 watch
Cheers
Steve
I launch the bmw app on my watch and it does have a climatize button on the 3rd page (swiping to the last screen). I suppose you'd need to have a data plan for this to workI have both and want to be able to use my watch as a key. However the only thing I can do with my watch presently is to start climatisation. What am I doing wrong... or what do I need to do?
You don't have to use the BMW App. You have to add the key via Wallet on the Watch. Then you have it like every other Wallet credit card, aetc. But depending on the generation of the Watch you have to hold it ner the sensors to open and start or (on newer watches) you can only have to wear it near to the car (as in the newer iPhones).
Not different to the iPhone, where your key is in the wallet and not the BMW app. Why do you think, that it is different on the Watch?
Not different to the iPhone, where your key is in the wallet and not the BMW app. Why do you think, that it is different on the Watch?
Watch comfort access works great for me using the Wallet card, but locking / starting climate / opening trunk doesn't work from the watch when I try. Maybe I'm too far from it right now (about 40 ft - in my house). But my usecase is shopping or leaving the house where I'm farther away from the car - and for those the Wallet card doesn't work for me.You don't have to use the BMW App. You have to add the key via Wallet on the Watch. Then you have it like every other Wallet credit card, aetc. But depending on the generation of the Watch you have to hold it ner the sensors to open and start or (on newer watches) you can only have to wear it near to the car (as in the newer iPhones).
The app does work, however.
Open your wallet on your watch, click the BMW iX key and turn on passive entry. Get in the car, go to your profile and hit "scan for keys" and hold your watch near the steering column. It will then show as an additional key and just click the box on the drive.
Thanks all! I have a new series 8 and I'll try what jdp & others have mentioned tomorrow. Thanks again!
Why should it? Even without any BMW App neither on iPhone nor on Watch you are able to open and start with the BMW-Apple-Wallet Cards.Maybe you need that before you can unlock from your watch?
The BMW Apple-Wallet Cards are the key on Iphone and Watch, not the App(s).
Hi,Why should it? Even without any BMW App neither on iPhone nor on Watch you are able to open and start with the BMW-Wallet Cards.
The BMW Wallet Cards are the key, not the App(s).
The wallet cards can be activated & de-activated through the idrive menus.
BMW recommend you keep one de-activated in your glovebox and then activate it before giving it to a valet for parking, for instance.
I don’t do this (‘I think that’s actually a stupid idea!)
I keep my keycard activated and in my wallet - in case I lose my phone!
Once activated - the keycard allows you to unlock & drive the car.
Cheers
Steve
As you are quoting me. I'm speaking about the BMW-Apple-Wallet-Cards for iPhone and Watch, not the plastic one. Make it more clear above.The wallet cards can be activated & de-activated through the idrive menus.
BMW recommend you keep one de-activated in your glovebox and then activate it before giving it to a valet for parking, for instance.
You know what -this is part of the problem with the iX!As you are quoting me. I'm speaking about the BMW-Apple-Wallet-Cards for iPhone and Watch, not the plastic one. Make it more clear above.
We have a Tesla Model 3 Performance - we can open and drive that with either our phones or our plastic key cards.
The phone app is far better than the BMW one for our iX (and does not require the Tesla key to be put into the Apple Wallet)
With our iX - we have too many ways of opening & driving the car!
Two traditional key fobs
One plastic key card
Mine & my wifes iphones
My Apple Watch!
It took ages to figure out how to associate the above with our profiles (without having to login to our BMW account or put in our password in the car every time we got in or tried to swap profiles!)
We stopped allowing the car to open when the phones were in the vicintiy of the car - as it would open when the first phone got nearest - even if they were not going to be the driver that journey!
The BMW instructions in the manual on how to share the phone key with a secondary user are also wrong - I got the correct way (to use the “share” arrow) from the Apple website - even our BMW Genius thought that only the primary user could open & drive the car with the phone - until I showed him how to do it!
They sure don’t make it easy!!!
Cheers
Steve
@SteveiX40 Yes,but the BMW method of having a digital key in the apple wallet using UWB technology is far more secure (in terms of preventing thefts) than Tesla's Bluetooth phone as a key system.You know what -this is part of the problem with the iX!
We have a Tesla Model 3 Performance - we can open and drive that with either our phones or our plastic key cards.
The phone app is far better than the BMW one for our iX (and does not require the Tesla key to be put into the Apple Wallet)
With our iX - we have too many ways of opening & driving the car!
Two traditional key fobs
One plastic key card
Mine & my wifes iphones
My Apple Watch!
It took ages to figure out how to associate the above with our profiles (without having to login to our BMW account or put in our password in the car every time we got in or tried to swap profiles!)
We stopped allowing the car to open when the phones were in the vicintiy of the car - as it would open when the first phone got nearest - even if they were not going to be the driver that journey!
The BMW instructions in the manual on how to share the phone key with a secondary user are also wrong - I got the correct way (to use the “share” arrow) from the Apple website - even our BMW Genius thought that only the primary user could open & drive the car with the phone - until I showed him how to do it!
They sure don’t make it easy!!!
Cheers
Steve
Fortunately- we don’t live in a country where cars get stolen!@SteveiX40 Yes,but the BMW method of having a digital key in the apple wallet using UWB technology is far more secure (in terms of preventing thefts) than Tesla's Bluetooth phone as a key system.
I have seen people leave a Ferrari running outside a shop here - with keys in the ignition, whilst they nip in to buy something!
So - both our cars are secure enough for me!
You also don’t hear of many Teslas being stolen - as the owner can remotely track & limit the speed of a Tesla, if somebody ever did steal it.
Here I'm 90% with you.You know what -this is part of the problem with the iX!
90% yes: Too complicated implemented and described. And the App is too redundant. And yes, how to add the second iphone-BMW-Wallet-key to the second user (after sharing it and that the profile is automaticlly loaded with the phone as for the key fobs) is more hidden than hell. A coder who had the idea to show only a green checkmark in the menu, but hides another menu behind it which appears if you click the checkmark ... needs to get fired directly.
10% no: The way with the NFC/UWB IPhones and the Apple wallet is (form my feeling) better than the bluetooth key from Tesla (had one before as well and comparing often). Because the app don't have to run all the time and in background and the key is for some time still working, even with the phone shuts down because of empty battery.
My setup is now: no key fobs, key card only on very long trips. Only iphone with direct access activated and Watch only as backup without easy access, so I really have to activate the wallet card and hold it against the door.
A related question on this
I usually go for a swim to a lake, with no key fobs or cards, just my iphone and leave my phone unsecured in a backpack. It's a very safe lake so I think chances of phone and backpack being stolen is extremely low (people leave their bikes unlocked). But if that's the case, in theory someone can grab the bag, walk towards the parking lot and although they wouldn't know the phone is connected to a car, they can see IX suddenly being unlocked, get in and start the car
Being extra cautious, I turn off passive entry when I leave my phone in the bag. Then I turn it back on when I'm back. So even if the phone / bag is stolen, the car must be secure
Is this basically the easiest way to "secure" the car with phone / bag unattended? Or is there an easier way?
I usually go for a swim to a lake, with no key fobs or cards, just my iphone and leave my phone unsecured in a backpack. It's a very safe lake so I think chances of phone and backpack being stolen is extremely low (people leave their bikes unlocked). But if that's the case, in theory someone can grab the bag, walk towards the parking lot and although they wouldn't know the phone is connected to a car, they can see IX suddenly being unlocked, get in and start the car
Being extra cautious, I turn off passive entry when I leave my phone in the bag. Then I turn it back on when I'm back. So even if the phone / bag is stolen, the car must be secure
Is this basically the easiest way to "secure" the car with phone / bag unattended? Or is there an easier way?
For your question: I don't know a better way.
Regarding:
At home, if I have my phone in my pocket and run around in the house and the car is standing in front of the home it is opening and closing at least 20-30 times a day, stops and starts loading then every time, ...
Regarding:
I don't like it at all. I like the models and cars, where the car recognizes me but only open, when I open the door or beeing nearer to the care more than this feature or how it is implemented in the iX.and although they wouldn't know the phone is connected to a car, they can see IX suddenly being unlocked
At home, if I have my phone in my pocket and run around in the house and the car is standing in front of the home it is opening and closing at least 20-30 times a day, stops and starts loading then every time, ...
Having owned a Tesla Model 3 for four years, the keyless phone entry system is glitchier than the iX’s.
It happened at least once a month that the phone key didn’t work as intended and I had to open the app to get the car to detect the phone. Not a big deal but not as seamless as alleged. Go to the car, try to open, doors stay locked, get my phone out, unlock my phone, swipe several times to get to the Tesla app, launch Tesla app, try to open Door again. Annoying.
The iX so far always unlocks when my phone or watch is close. So that’s a usability plus point over the glitchy Tesla system.
And the Tesla also got confused which user profile to load when my spouse was with me.
About the app itself: People often claim that the Tesla app is somehow superior. Why? I rarely used the app for anything other than check on the car’s status and maybe remotely lock/unlock. The BMW app does that just as well.
It happened at least once a month that the phone key didn’t work as intended and I had to open the app to get the car to detect the phone. Not a big deal but not as seamless as alleged. Go to the car, try to open, doors stay locked, get my phone out, unlock my phone, swipe several times to get to the Tesla app, launch Tesla app, try to open Door again. Annoying.
The iX so far always unlocks when my phone or watch is close. So that’s a usability plus point over the glitchy Tesla system.
And the Tesla also got confused which user profile to load when my spouse was with me.
About the app itself: People often claim that the Tesla app is somehow superior. Why? I rarely used the app for anything other than check on the car’s status and maybe remotely lock/unlock. The BMW app does that just as well.
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