[deutsch100]

This happened to both our 2022 iX 50, both 2023 iX M60 and now very regularly to our 2023 XM and 2024 i5!

Walk up to unlock or lock car and nothing happens. If lucky, iPhone is in our hand, but sometimes in a gym bag, backpack or briefcase....and usually of course pouring rain.

This could be so dangerous in an emergency situation (attacker/robbery, etc.)

It happened 3x yesterday within a 15 min period for the i5.... Passcode required to continue using passive entry (Digital Key +).

How is Apple able to disable and override something as important as a car key?

[RichardInCA]

I’ve noticed that sometimes the car is more sensitive to the presence of my phone versus other times (lights come on when I approach, but it doesn’t unlock until I’m within a narrower radius, vs other times - nothing). Whenever I grab the door it unlocks however. Your situation sounds different, deutsch100.

[Scrapula]

If I open the wallet and double click while putting my phone to the door, it works. Then it will recognize me walking by for the rest of the day. By tomorrow, it won’t know who I am again. Also using an iPhone

[deutsch100]

Originally Posted by Scrapula

If I open the wallet and double click while putting my phone to the door, it works. Then it will recognize me walking by for the rest of the day. By tomorrow, it won’t know who I am again. Also using an iPhone

i5, iX and i7 are Digital Key Plus. Putting the iPhone to the door is Digital Key (but not plus).

[deutsch100]

Originally Posted by RichardInCA

I’ve noticed that sometimes the car is more sensitive to the presence of my phone versus other times (lights come on when I approach, but it doesn’t unlock until I’m within a narrower radius, vs other times - nothing). Whenever I grab the door it unlocks however. Your situation sounds different, deutsch100.

I don't have this issue, as you describe. Mine is the damn iPhone keeps saying iPhone passcode required to continue using passive entry (aka digital key plus). Until I re-enter my iPhone passcode...my i5 will not unlock, lock or start.

[SpaceSilver.X1]

since I took delivery of my '23 X1 last April, the passcode entry screen pops up on all three of my iphones(14PM, 13, 12 Mini) after every iOS update. In the beginning, it drove me nuts.

However, I eventually got around it by taking the phone to a spot as far away from the garage as possible and disable "passive entry" button.... then enabling it again... then repeat this 2 or 3 times. It always prevented the passcode entry screen from popping up... until iOS gets updated again.(most recently 17.3.1) So I repeated that again and stopped it.

Not really sure why it was doing that... but somehow my X1 and/or iPhones don't like it when iOS gets updated?

Since this is also happening on the new 5-series, I guess I'll see the same problem when my 530 arrives in a month or so... but at least I hope my workaround will also work.

[deutsch100]

Originally Posted by SpaceSilver.X1

since I took delivery of my '23 X1 last April, the passcode entry screen pops up on all three of my iphones(14PM, 13, 12 Mini) after every iOS update. In the beginning, it drove me nuts.

However, I eventually got around it by taking the phone to a spot as far away from the garage as possible and disable "passive entry" button.... then enabling it again... then repeat this 2 or 3 times. It always prevented the passcode entry screen from popping up... until iOS gets updated again.(most recently 17.3.1) So I repeated that again and stopped it.

Not really sure why it was doing that... but somehow my X1 and/or iPhones don't like it when iOS gets updated?

Since this is also happening on the new 5-series, I guess I'll see the same problem when my 530 arrives in a month or so... but at least I hope my workaround will also work.

THANK YOU. Trying this tonight. Fingers crossed this works for me, as it works for you!

[SpaceSilver.X1]

Originally Posted by deutsch100

THANK YOU. Trying this tonight. Fingers crossed this works for me, as it works for you!

good luck! I hope it works... like I said, I only have the '23 X1 right now. I sure hope other problems don't pop up once my 530i arrives and I have both cars in the same Wallet.

it wasn't really my idea... I read it somewhere on Bimmerpost last year. can't seem to remember which thread it was. (possibly i4 or iX forums?) At that point, it became quite frustrating, so I literally tried everything.


I now also carry the digital key card in my wallet, just in case. (not to mention that BMW has replaced both original key fobs a few months ago for an unrelated issue)

[Scrapula]

Originally Posted by deutsch100

i5, iX and i7 are Digital Key Plus. Putting the iPhone to the door is Digital Key (but not plus).

But I have plus. When it stops working every morning, I use digital key then plus works the rest of the day.

[dubb13]

interesting I don't get the passcode on the phone I have the digital key plus on Iphone 14 but if I go out with just my apple watch I have to unlock the watch first

[deutsch100]

Originally Posted by Scrapula

But I have plus. When it stops working every morning, I use digital key then plus works the rest of the day.

On your iPhone, Settings, Wallet & Apple Pay, BMW i5...do you have Passive Entry enabled (toggled on/green)?

Four iX and now my i5....and have never had to touch the phone to the door once, a la Digital Key.

I think you need to make a Service appt. Sorry!

[LVBMW]

Originally Posted by Scrapula

But I have plus. When it stops working every morning, I use digital key then plus works the rest of the day.

I have a somewhat similar issue when parking at home. The car will beep and lock and unlock when I walk by the garage inside the house. Eventually it stops the lock/unlock cycles, and when I go to the garage the following morning I have to actually press the door handle to unlock as it does not unlock when I approach. Then it unlocks within a few seconds, and the passive entry works normally the rest of the day. I have never had to touch the phone to the door, though. I wonder if the car stops "listening" for the passive entry after a few lock/unlock cycles and then requires actually touching the door handle to unlock (just with your hand not the phone - the digital key plus is still working just the passive entry stops temporarily).

[Scrapula]

Definitely having some sort of issue. I can normally look at my charging history and it shows that unavailable now.

[LVBMW]

Originally Posted by Scrapula

Definitely having some sort of issue. I can normally look at my charging history and it shows that unavailable now.

I get the "not available" on the Apple digital key often as well. I think it's normal for it to display this when the phone is physically out of UWB range of the vehicle. The missing charging history is weird. Unsure if that's related to the digital key plus or not.

[Scrapula]

Originally Posted by LVBMW

I get the "not available" on the Apple digital key often as well. I think it's normal for it to display this when the phone is physically out of UWB range of the vehicle. The missing charging history is weird. Unsure if that's related to the digital key plus or not.

My cellular service sucks but have WiFi in my home. The digital key should be blue tooth. Yesterday, I tried to unlock the car with MyBMW and it couldn’t contact the vehicle. I might have to start carrying a key, just to be on the safe side. I might call the genius line but I would hate to reset everything and set all my preferences again.

[LVBMW]

Originally Posted by Scrapula

My cellular service sucks but have WiFi in my home. The digital key should be blue tooth. Yesterday, I tried to unlock the car with MyBMW and it couldn’t contact the vehicle. I might have to start carrying a key, just to be on the safe side. I might call the genius line but I would hate to reset everything and set all my preferences again.

Digital key plus uses UWB technology as far as I know vs bluetooth. If I am home and nearby the car, but the car has stopped "listening" for the passive entry it will show "not available" on my Apple digital key. I believe the status in the Apple key relies on direct contact with the car vs through the BMW servers as in the myBMW app. I get failed remote commands occasionally on the app as well, but usually the issue resolves itself within a few hours or a day. I always carry the keycard with me just in case.

[MikeElmendorf]

LVBMW - Same thing you described happens to me randomly. It seems not to notice sometimes until I touch the door.

[LVBMW]

Originally Posted by MikeElmendorf

LVBMW - Same thing you described happens to me randomly. It seems not to notice sometimes until I touch the door.

Thanks. Is it only at home? That's the only place it happens for me. I just wonder if this is some sort of intended function - after locking and unlocking several times without being opened, the passive entry "stops listening" until you open the car again.

[bmw_maniac]

Originally Posted by deutsch100

This happened to both our 2022 iX 50, both 2023 iX M60 and now very regularly to our 2023 XM and 2024 i5!

Walk up to unlock or lock car and nothing happens. If lucky, iPhone is in our hand, but sometimes in a gym bag, backpack or briefcase....and usually of course pouring rain.

This could be so dangerous in an emergency situation (attacker/robbery, etc.)

It happened 3x yesterday within a 15 min period for the i5.... Passcode required to continue using passive entry (Digital Key +).

How is Apple able to disable and override something as important as a car key?

This issue happens to me at somewhat irregular intervals, maybe around once a week. I have not been able to identify a pattern. i5 with Digital Key Plus with iPhone 14 Pro.

[MikeElmendorf]

LVBMW - You know, I’m not sure. I’ll monitor that and report back. Definitely seems to happen at home more, but I’ll pay closer attention. What you described would make sense.

[RichardInCA]

Originally Posted by MikeElmendorf

LVBMW - You know, I’m not sure. I’ll monitor that and report back. Definitely seems to happen at home more, but I’ll pay closer attention. What you described would make sense.

I think you’re both describing the same thing I’ve observed. I’ll notice that my car will respond to the presence of my iPhone (13Pro) and turn it’s lights on, but not unlock when I’m in my kitchen which shares a wall next to where my i5 is parked. At some point the car decides “well, screw this, I’m not bothering any more” and it just stays silent. To be honest, I prefer that as sometimes I walk past my car with my phone in my pocket and I don’t want it to just lock and unlock constantly.

I’ve never been in a situation where I was unable to unlock the car however, it just seems to require hand on the door handle to initiate the unlock.

[Scrapula]

I went to my car and nothing. I opened my wallet app and it just sat there and couldn’t see my car. After standing there about 20 seconds later, my car flashed its lights and turned on. Maybe it conserves energy. It is always fine the rest of the day. I heard that Tesla’s sentry mode was initially a battery drain. Maybe it’s something like that.