[Ossian]

I have always carried a fob by habit, and ignored mobile and card-based options (for no good reason, really). The M60 fob is a chunk, and I really don't want to lug it when I'm cycling, etc. Do most of you pretty much use your phones exclusively now, or some combination of phone/card/fob? I'm curious if relying on your phone has ever resulted in a problem with current or previous BMW's? The latency on the app has always bothered me, but being able to add it to Apple Wallet and use NFC seems to eliminate my main objections.

[LVBMW]

Originally Posted by Ossian

I have always carried a fob by habit, and ignored mobile and card-based options (for no good reason, really). The M60 fob is a chunk, and I really don't want to lug it when I'm cycling, etc. Do most of you pretty much use your phones exclusively now, or some combination of phone/card/fob? I'm curious if relying on your phone has ever resulted in a problem with current or previous BMW's? The latency on the app has always bothered me, but being able to add it to Apple Wallet and use NFC seems to eliminate my main objections.

Digital key plus uses UWB and not NFC. Once the key is in the Apple wallet it is seamless (or has been in my experience). No need to take out the phone to access the car. I do carry the plastic key card (be sure to activate it) as a backup, but the digital key plus has never failed me.

[SkykingUSA]

I have had my car for exactly 2 months to the day now and have always used my phone (Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra) as the key. I had a problem a couple of times were the car did not react to the phone as I approached. Once I just opened the app and manually unlocked the car and that seemed to fix it. The other time, I just took my phone out of my pocket and by the time I got to the home screen, the car recognized it again. I think those times happened just after either the phone OS or the app was updated. It may take a little extra time after updates for it to connect again. However, in two months, it only happened twice, so I don't consider it a problem at all so far.

As a backup, I also keep the key card in my wallet. That way, if I lose my phone, or it falls over a cliff, I still have a backup key on me. I have not carried the fob once other than to test it out to make sure it works.

[RichardInCA]

I’m using my phone and always have the card in my wallet. I’ve had my car for 6 months now and switched over after about a month - never had my phone fail me.

Edit: one thing to note, the car will lock/unlock whenever you are close, and if you don’t open the door, it’ll go to sleep, resulting in you needing to grab the door handle to open it up. That happens somewhat often but I’ve never been locked out or needed to use the card.

[deutsch100]

I have used digital key and digital key plus for over 2 years now, and have never been locked out, or had any other kind of issue.

BUT, once in a while (no warning, fyi), your iPhone will make you enter your passcode to keep using Digital Key +. It is annoying, but luckily does not happen too often.

I have not carried a physical key fob since early 2022. LOVE Digital Key and Digital Key+.

[MikeElmendorf]

I’ve been using it exclusively since I got my M60 in December with zero issues. Pleased with it. The biggest issue I see is remembering to actually bring the key fob when you’re either going for Service or somewhere where the car will need to be valet parked.

[LVBMW]

Originally Posted by MikeElmendorf

I’ve been using it exclusively since I got my M60 in December with zero issues. Pleased with it. The biggest issue I see is remembering to actually bring the key fob when you’re either going for Service or somewhere where the car will need to be valet parked.

Carry the key card for valet parking. That’s what I do (and as a backup). Much easier to carry than a fob.

[dubb13]

I use my iPhone most of the time but I also use my Apple watch when I don't need my phone so pretty flexible

[Scrapula]

I only use my phone. I have no idea where the key card is, maybe in the glove compartment? I don’t use the key fob at all. No problems at all. I have an iPhone 14 Pro Max.

[LVBMW]

Originally Posted by Scrapula

I only use my phone. I have no idea where the key card is, maybe in the glove compartment? I don’t use the key fob at all. No problems at all. I have an iPhone 14 Pro Max.

Could be in the front pocket of the owner's manual. Place it on the WiFi charging pad to activate it.

[lilstevie]

Prior to my i5, I had a polestar 2 for 2 years, so I have been using phone keys exclusively for a while now, the i5 is much quicker to react than the polestar to the digital key, and have little issue trusting it. Have only had my i5 since the end of feb, but haven’t used the key fob since the day I picked the car up. I also have the keycard disabled just in case it accidentally ends up in the car

[Scrapula]

Originally Posted by LVBMW

Could be in the front pocket of the owner's manual. Place it on the WiFi charging pad to activate it.

I activated at the dealer when I picked up the car. It’s probably back in the owner’s manual in the glove compartment.

[RichardInCA]

Originally Posted by Scrapula

I activated at the dealer when I picked up the car. It’s probably back in the owner’s manual in the glove compartment.

Mine stayed there for a month or so - I didn’t like the idea that I’d accidentally left a key in the car all that time.

[DaveAMN]

Like others, I use the iPhone digital key exclusively and carry the key card in my wallet as backup but I have never needed it.

[deutsch100]

Originally Posted by DaveAMN

Like others, I use the iPhone digital key exclusively and carry the key card in my wallet as backup but I have never needed it.

EXACTLY what I do. Same for our XM. Having the key card in the wallet is awesome for the car wash, valet parking and if you need to drop the car off for service. No key fob needed!

[bmw_maniac]

I use my iPhone. No backup. Six months and no issues.

[desalvorw]

I use my phone with keycard in my wallet. I can’t have my phone in my office at work, so when it’s not too hot out I’ll leave it in the car and use my card to lock and then unlock when I’m ready to leave.

[PsychDoc]

The digital key can be a bit finicky, especially if you haven't used the car in a while. Just got back from a two week trip yesterday and the car did not "wake up" when I approached it. Got in with the wallet key and fiddled around a bit, scanning the QR code that came up on the screen and then rebooted my phone (Galaxy S21U) and finally got it working but, yes, it can be glitchy at times.

[LVBMW]

Originally Posted by PsychDoc

The digital key can be a bit finicky, especially if you haven't used the car in a while. Just got back from a two week trip yesterday and the car did not "wake up" when I approached it. Got in with the wallet key and fiddled around a bit, scanning the QR code that came up on the screen and then rebooted my phone (Galaxy S21U) and finally got it working but, yes, it can be glitchy at times.

In these cases it should wake up and work normally by grabbing the door handle.

[RichardInCA]

Originally Posted by LVBMW

In these cases it should wake up and work normally by grabbing the door handle.

This has been my experience. My phone has never failed me so far, even if the car did not wake up as I approach.

[LVBMW]

Originally Posted by RichardInCA

This has been my experience. My phone has never failed me so far, even if the car did not wake up as I approach.

Yes, it seems the passive entry function stops listening after a while. Grabbing the door handle should awaken the car, though, and the key card should be not required.

[aaexpert]

Originally Posted by RichardInCA

I’m using my phone and always have the card in my wallet. I’ve had my car for 6 months now and switched over after about a month - never had my phone fail me.

Edit: one thing to note, the car will lock/unlock whenever you are close, and if you don’t open the door, it’ll go to sleep, resulting in you needing to grab the door handle to open it up. That happens somewhat often but I’ve never been locked out or needed to use the card.

thankyou....i've had it a week and wondered why my android phone wasnt working. I had it set to lock when walking away and its been sitting in my garage but i turned this feature off. It would go to sleep (even tho i turned the sleep option off in the cars menu). I'll have to try it again as I thought the handles were not responding.