iDrive 8 logs in as"Guest" instead of my BWM ID occasionally

Greg Staten · 11-06-2022, 08:26 PM

Featured on BIMMERPOST.com

Over the past week on a few different occasions when I walked up to my iX it unlocked as usual, but instead of seeing my BWM ID logged into the car, it instead showed "Guest." Which meant my settings, such as what music I was listening to and my seat/steering wheel position didn't load, but were in what I'm guessing is a "default user" configuration. For example, Sirius XM Channel 1 is playing - which is a station I have never intentionally listened to.

I've found the only fix is to exit the car, use the MyBWM app to lock the car, then approach the car again and let it unlock and get in. After doing this the car was properly logged into.

I've been trying to determine if there's anything I'm specifically doing prior to the time it "Guests" me, but the only thing I can determine is that it never happens at home and only when I'm in a different location, such as a friend's house, the parking lot at the grocery, etc.

Have any of you all seen this happen? Note that I'm using Digital Key Plus on an iPhone 12 Pro and have both the phone and my Apple Watch on when I drive the car.

Admittedly this is a small nit, but it is also a software bug and since I'm an engineer by profession I can't help but want to dig into it!

mcl · 11-06-2022, 09:17 PM

Never happened for me, but my wife says it happens for her occasionally. I don't believe she's done any sort of debugging on when it happens vs. when it doesn't though; I'm the engineer in the family, not her

I'm guessing that you could just tap the profile icon and load another ID instead of exiting the car, locking it, and unlocking it again.

JonoNZ · 11-07-2022, 01:37 AM

Assuming you are using Apple devices and maybe have an Apple Watch too - check that your Apple Watch Digital Key is linked to your profile like your iPhone. Depending on how UWB picks up your devices it may find one before the other.

This was the exact issue my partner had.

BeeBop · 11-07-2022, 03:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JonoNZ

Assuming you are using Apple devices and maybe have an Apple Watch too - check that your Apple Watch Digital Key is paired to your profile like your iPhone. Depending on how UWB picks up your devices it may find one before the other.

This was the exact issue my partner had.

+1 for this. I found that one of my keys wasn't paired to my ID and it caused the same problem.

I only have Apple Watch series 4 and it won't let me have the key on the watch... says it doesn't support that function... one reason to upgrade I suppose

Greg Staten · 11-07-2022, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JonoNZ

Assuming you are using Apple devices and maybe have an Apple Watch too - check that your Apple Watch Digital Key is paired to your profile like your iPhone. Depending on how UWB picks up your devices it may find one before the other.

This was the exact issue my partner had.

Yes. I'm using Apple Watch (series 7) and iPhone 12 Pro. I just tested by walking to my car with just my watch and, sure enough, that's what's causing it!

So... how does one fix this? I don't see any option in the Apple Watch app or the MyBMW app on my watch. Digging around Google doesn't seem to bring anything up. I have the Digital Key Plus in both my phone and watch wallets.

Thanks!

JonoNZ · 11-07-2022, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greg Staten

Yes. I'm using Apple Watch (series 7) and iPhone 12 Pro. I just tested by walking to my car with just my watch and, sure enough, that's what's causing it!

So... how does one fix this? I don't see any option in the Apple Watch app or the MyBMW app on my watch. Digging around Google doesn't seem to bring anything up. I have the Digital Key Plus in both my phone and watch wallets.

Thanks!

From memory... it's in iDrive 8 in the vehicle, go to your profile, select keys or something similar, it has a slightly confusing UI as I think it shows a check mark next to it in the UI, tap that again and it will show a list of digital keys, one will be unchecked and needs checking. Sorry for the vague instructions but I'm not near my iX at the moment.

Greg Staten · 11-07-2022, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JonoNZ

From memory... it's in iDrive 8 in the vehicle, go to your profile, select keys or something similar, it has a slightly confusing UI as I think it shows a check mark next to it in the UI, tap that again and it will show a list of digital keys, one will be unchecked and needs checking. Sorry for the vague instructions but I'm not near my iX at the moment.

Your memory was quite accurate! The watch digital key was unchecked. Now it is checked and no more Guest!

Thanks!

freshxdough · 11-11-2022, 09:37 PM

Make sure you don't have you key and your phone next to each other or in the same pocket when getting in the vehicle.

11-06-2022, 08:26 PM	#1
Greg Staten Private 71 Rep 97 Posts Drives: ix xDrive50 Join Date: Jun 2022 Location: Houston area iTrader: (0)	iDrive 8 logs in as"Guest" instead of my BWM ID occasionally Featured on BIMMERPOST.com Over the past week on a few different occasions when I walked up to my iX it unlocked as usual, but instead of seeing my BWM ID logged into the car, it instead showed "Guest." Which meant my settings, such as what music I was listening to and my seat/steering wheel position didn't load, but were in what I'm guessing is a "default user" configuration. For example, Sirius XM Channel 1 is playing - which is a station I have never intentionally listened to. I've found the only fix is to exit the car, use the MyBWM app to lock the car, then approach the car again and let it unlock and get in. After doing this the car was properly logged into. I've been trying to determine if there's anything I'm specifically doing prior to the time it "Guests" me, but the only thing I can determine is that it never happens at home and only when I'm in a different location, such as a friend's house, the parking lot at the grocery, etc. Have any of you all seen this happen? Note that I'm using Digital Key Plus on an iPhone 12 Pro and have both the phone and my Apple Watch on when I drive the car. Admittedly this is a small nit, but it is also a software bug and since I'm an engineer by profession I can't help but want to dig into it!
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11-06-2022, 09:17 PM	#2
mcl Private 117 Rep 86 Posts Drives: 2015 i3, 2022 iX50 Join Date: May 2022 Location: Seattle, WA iTrader: (0)	Never happened for me, but my wife says it happens for her occasionally. I don't believe she's done any sort of debugging on when it happens vs. when it doesn't though; I'm the engineer in the family, not her I'm guessing that you could just tap the profile icon and load another ID instead of exiting the car, locking it, and unlocking it again. __________________ 2003 325xi (totaled), 2004 M3 (sold, sadly), 2015 i3, 2022 iX50
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11-07-2022, 01:37 AM	#3
JonoNZ Captain 677 Rep 745 Posts Drives: BMW iX M60, Macan Turbo Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Auckland, New Zealand iTrader: (0)	Assuming you are using Apple devices and maybe have an Apple Watch too - check that your Apple Watch Digital Key is linked to your profile like your iPhone. Depending on how UWB picks up your devices it may find one before the other. This was the exact issue my partner had. __________________ BMW iX M60, Storm Bay with XPEL Stealth PPF, Exterior Line Titan Bronze, 1EW 22" 1023 Wheels, Amido Leather, Comfort Package, Interior Camera, Clear&Bold, Sun Protection Glazing, B&W Diamond Sound, Folding Towbar, Rear Axle Steering. Last edited by JonoNZ; 11-07-2022 at 12:23 PM..
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11-11-2022, 09:37 PM	#8
freshxdough BMW Elite Master Tech \| HV Gen 5 \| HV Specialist 3509 Rep 4,206 Posts Drives: 2024 iX 50 \| 2020 X3 M40i Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Orange County iTrader: (0)	Make sure you don't have you key and your phone next to each other or in the same pocket when getting in the vehicle.
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