[soupbone]

Looking to purchase a used i3. I've watched videos for the app and this looks like a great feature. The app is free but what else is needed? How does the app communicate with the car? Is a subscrition needed or is this a totally free service?

[damageprone]

I just recently convinced a relative to purchase a used i3 and she's having trouble activating the app as well. Apparently the VIN is still linked to the old owner and they can't take it off until she shows proof of ownership (i.e. registration) to BMW NA. She's still currently waiting for it to come in the mail.

[afadeev]

Originally Posted by soupbone

Looking to purchase a used i3. I've watched videos for the app and this looks like a great feature. The app is free but what else is needed? How does the app communicate with the car? Is a subscrition needed or is this a totally free service?

I've gone through installing and using 3 or 4 BMW apps over the past few years. They keep changing the app vendors, and functionality gets shifted from one app to the other.
All are tied to your BMW connect account's email.
https://www.bmw-connecteddrive.my/ap...x.html#/portal

Some of the features are free, some have long multi-year "demo" periods, some require annual payments.
None of those seams worth the $$ to me.

App "talks" to the car by sending IP messages to the BMW Connect back-end server, which then forwards them to the car via SMS. So if your car is parked in a dead spot for AT&T service (most underground garages), nothing will work.
On a good day, the turn-around time is north of 30-40 seconds.

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