Apple Watch & iX

SteveiX40

galore2112 said:
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.

For just one thing - the Tesla app is better than the iX app for me - the internal temperature of the car.
When I open the Tesla app I can check how hot it is inside the car - 10 minutes before I intend to get in the car and take a drive.
Bearing in mind that I live in a hot country - this is a priceless function for me.
The other day - I parked car for 20 minutes in middle of the day and it was outside in the sun.
Just before I left my meeting - I checked on the app and saw that the inside of my Tesla Model 3 was 62 degrees C (144 degrees F!)
10 minutes of pre-cooling before I got back to the car saved me from a sweaty journey back home!
I wish the iX showed me the inside cabin temperature on the app - hopefully this will come in future software updates.

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tuffcalc

· #22 · 7 d ago

02601_33859 said:
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?

Didn't read through the whole thread - but my watch works fine as a key. Can unlock and start the car, drive away, etc.

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galore2112

· #23 · 7 d ago

SteveiX40 said:
For just one thing - the Tesla app is better than the iX app for me - the internal temperature of the car.
When I open the Tesla app I can check how hot it is inside the car - 10 minutes before I intend to get in the car and take a drive.
Bearing in mind that I live in a hot country - this is a priceless function for me.
The other day - I parked car for 20 minutes in middle of the day and it was outside in the sun.
Just before I left my meeting - I checked on the app and saw that the inside of my Tesla Model 3 was 62 degrees C (144 degrees F!)
10 minutes of pre-cooling before I got back to the car saved me from a sweaty journey back home!
I wish the iX showed me the inside cabin temperature on the app - hopefully this will come in future software updates.

I live in a hot summer climate too (Dallas, TX). Less of an app feature but what I liked in my Tesla was the automatic cabin overheating prevention. The car never got unbearably hot (which also helps avoid degradation of interior materials) because the car automatically AC’d the cabin when parked. Yes, it ate range but I didn’t care.

About your use case (and what I do in the summer): Use the BMW app to start the AC. I know that it will be unbearably hot if it’s parked in the sun in the summer so the (missing) temperature info in the app is kinda redundant.

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Merlin

· #24 · 7 d ago

galore2112 said:
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.

Agree. From the functions side. Even better at BMW with the driving statistics, etc.

But the look and feel? O.k. this is personal opinion.

But the handling? Nested settings and pages and redundancies, etc. etc. is not good. Not only compared to Tesla, but compared to apps in general. Her a display of the settings, then there the settings to adjust then another menu and page and again the same settings and and and.

O.k. if you compare it to the UI in the car, it is the same crap and behavior there, settings splittend over dozens of apps and menus, referencing back and forth and redundancies. Just the same as in the app.

Seems that the BMW coder like confusion and making things look more complex than they are. Or take only what was there and add everywhere left and right and link from here to there and back without thinking if this is a good approach.

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02601_33859

Discussion Starter · #25 · 7 d ago

So... I do have the My BMW App on my watch. But its functionality is limited to "3 screens." 1st- "ALL GOOD" w/ pic of iX and lock symbol. 2nd- Current miles and charge available. 3rd- Climatize (this is the only screen with funcationality, if I press it climitization begins. That's it. Beyond this it says " PLEASE OPEN THE MY BMW APP ON YOUR iPHONE FOR MORE INFORMATION.

If I open the "wallet" on my iPhone the BMW app does not appear to add, only credit and transit cards are available.

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electric_journey

· #26 · 7 d ago

02601_33859 said:
So... I do have the My BMW App on my watch. But its functionality is limited to "3 screens." 1st- "ALL GOOD" w/ pic of iX and lock symbol. 2nd- Current miles and charge available. 3rd- Climatize (this is the only screen with funcationality, if I press it climitization begins. That's it. Beyond this it says " PLEASE OPEN THE MY BMW APP ON YOUR iPHONE FOR MORE INFORMATION.

If I open the "wallet" on my iPhone the BMW app does not appear to add, only credit and transit cards are available.

@02601_33859 Perhaps you should follow the instructions where it tells you to open the MYBMW app. It's not asking you to open the wallet is it?

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Merlin

· #27 · 7 d ago (Edited)

02601_33859 said:
So... I do have the My BMW App on my watch. But its functionality is limited to "3 screens." 1st- "ALL GOOD" w/ pic of iX and lock symbol. 2nd- Current miles and charge available. 3rd- Climatize (this is the only screen with funcationality, if I press it climitization begins. That's it. Beyond this it says " PLEASE OPEN THE MY BMW APP ON YOUR iPHONE FOR MORE INFORMATION.

If I open the "wallet" on my iPhone the BMW app does not appear to add, only credit and transit cards are available.

Again: The App on the Watch ist not the key.

Do you have the key card in your wallet on the iPhone and you can open the car with the keycard on the wallet on your iphone?

If no, add it there first.

If yes, got to the apple watch-app on your iphone and there to the watch wallet and there you will find the key from the iphone listed as addable to the watch as well.

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ghjg654

· #28 · 7 d ago

02601_33859 said:
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?

To use your Apple Watch as a key for your BMW iX, you need to ensure that you have set up the necessary features and have the compatible versions of software/firmware on both your watch and car. Here are the steps you can follow:

Update Software: Make sure your Apple Watch is running the latest version of watchOS and your BMW iX has the latest software updates installed. Keeping both devices up to date ensures compatibility and access to the latest features.
Set up Apple Car Keys: On your iPhone, open the BMW Connected app (or the BMW ConnectedDrive app) and navigate to the Digital Key section. Follow the instructions to set up the Apple Car Key feature for your BMW iX. This typically involves verifying your identity, adding the key to your Apple Wallet, and activating it for your car.
Pair Apple Watch: On your iPhone, open the Apple Watch app and go to the My Watch tab. Scroll down and select "Passcode." Make sure that Wrist Detection is turned on. This is required for Apple Car Keys to work with your watch.
Add Car Key to Apple Watch: Open the Wallet app on your iPhone and locate the digital car key for your BMW iX. Tap the "..." button in the top-right corner of the card and select "Add to Apple Watch." Follow the on-screen instructions to add the key to your watch.
Authenticate with Apple Watch: With the digital car key added to your watch, approach your BMW iX and unlock the car using the physical key or the BMW app. Once inside, activate the car's Bluetooth system, raise your wrist, and bring your Apple Watch close to the door handle. The car should detect your watch and automatically unlock the doors.

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JohnTX

· #29 · 6 d ago

5

Here's the MyBMW App on my watch. You'll have all remote controls that work from any range.

Font Screenshot Electric blue Circle Number

Here's the BMW Digital Key in the Apple Wallet.
Functions are here too, but only work when you're close to the vehicle.
This also gives you comfort access on newer Apple Watches so you can approach the vehicle and it unlocks (if you have it in Express mode anyway).

Communication Device Gadget Gesture Portable communications device Font

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storm3163

· #30 · 5 d ago

My watch and phone work flawlessly since day 1 of ownership (Nov 2022). The new functions on the watch also worked with no issues. I never carry the key fob except for long road trips thing the vehicle in for service.

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Ac2ary

· #31 · 5 d ago

Not a problem at all for us. I rarely take the fob with me and just rely on the iPhone or iWatch. Same with the wife. We've set it so you have to touch the door to open and automatically lock when you walk away. Never have to get into the app or get the phone out of the pocket. Only problem is that the first person to touch the door starts the driver settings. Sometimes means racing to the car!

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