[RG129]

Does anybody else have a smartwatch with UWB? I have a Pixel 9 Pro and a Pixel Watch 3. I turned the UWB setting on the watch to on, and everything looks like it transferred my key to my watch, but I was getting weird activation requests on the watch still. I was never prompted to enter the PIN, but when the activation prompts went away, it doesn't seem that my watch can consistently unlock my car when approaching. Even when I do manage to get into the car, my watch won't ever let me start the engine.

I do this all while keeping my phone away from the car. The phone key works perfectly. It will be very rare that I will need to get into and start my car without my phone on me, but I would still like to figure out this feature.

Any similar experiences with a smart watch or any ideas?

[Arjen]

I’ve got a BMW X1 M35i and I can use my Apple Watch as a key, no problem with or without my iPhone.

[BabyX6]

Don't you need to have the digital key sitting at the position of the wireless charger in order to start it? Are you doing that?

[Arjen]

The car unlock when I touch the door handle, just get in and start the car.

[Speedbird71]

Originally Posted by Arjen

The car unlock when I touch the door handle, just get in and start the car.

Same using Apple Watch. And the car locks when I walk away.

[RG129]

Originally Posted by Arjen

I’ve got a BMW X1 M35i and I can use my Apple Watch as a key, no problem with or without my iPhone.

What was the setup process like to share it with your Apple Watch? Did you have to enter a code, or place your watch on the charger to activate it? I played around a bit more and can lock/unlock if I hold the watch up to the door handle like regular Digital Key, but I thought with Digital Key Plus and my watch with UWB, it will unlock and start the car if it's just nearby.

[srbs73]

Originally Posted by RG129

What was the setup process like to share it with your Apple Watch? Did you have to enter a code, or place your watch on the charger to activate it? I played around a bit more and can lock/unlock if I hold the watch up to the door handle like regular Digital Key, but I thought with Digital Key Plus and my watch with UWB, it will unlock and start the car if it's just nearby.

You have to go into the Watch app on the iphone and then look at the settings for the BMW card in the Wallet section in settings. I think you need to turn on Passive Entry.

I disabled it as it goes a bit crazy if you have the physical key, iphone and watch all able to lock when you walk away!

Other thing you need to do is ensure your iphone and watch are both assigned to your drivers profile.

[FlashMonkey929]

Originally Posted by BabyX6

Don't you need to have the digital key sitting at the position of the wireless charger in order to start it? Are you doing that?

With the UWB feature, the car is able to detect that the key(your watch or phone) is inside the car and you are able to start it without holding it to the wireless charger area. With the physical digital key card, it only has NFC and not UWB since it is not a powered device and thus needs to be held to the wireless charger to activate.

[BabyX6]

Originally Posted by FlashMonkey929

With the UWB feature, the car is able to detect that the key(your watch or phone) is inside the car and you are able to start it without holding it to the wireless charger area. With the physical digital key card, it only has NFC and not UWB since it is not a powered device and thus needs to be held to the wireless charger to activate.

Thank you for the education! I totally did not know.

[Bredly81]

Guys, recently my android phone (Samsung S22) in the BMW app showed me a possibility to create a BMW Digital Key. I started the process but I wasn't successful. I think this option works only for Apple phones. Does anyone has any other experience with android phones? Thx

[osteidl]

Originally Posted by Bredly81

Guys, recently my android phone (Samsung S22) in the BMW app showed me a possibility to create a BMW Digital Key. I started the process but I wasn't successful. I think this option works only for Apple phones. Does anyone has any other experience with android phones? Thx

Hi, yes I know how to enable function - you have to download Samsung wallet from the Galaxy store and install it. During installation choose country - UK or DE for right function (CZ not supported). After that it is should work over My BMW app - you have to have both keys in the car for enable this function.

In case of question, you can send me private message

[Bredly81]

Originally Posted by osteidl

Hi, yes I know how to enable function - you have to download Samsung wallet from the Galaxy store and install it. During installation choose country - UK or DE for right function (CZ not supported). After that it is should work over My BMW app - you have to have both keys in the car for enable this function.

In case of question, you can send me private message

Ok, thx for the hint. I will try later on.

[Grandmaster T]

I use a Google Pixel 9 Pro as Digital Key Plus with my BMW iX1 and it works perfectly nice.

In addition I installed the digital key also on my Google Pixel 3 smartwatch with enabled UWB.
Obviously the key works only when holding the watch at the door handle and to start the car I have to put the watch into the phone charger. This behavior is known from the regular digital key (not plus), like the keycard which comes with the car.

Has someone the same devices and is able to use UWB with the watch? I don't know if this is a BMW issue or a Google problem...

[paulockenden]

It sounds as though your watch is only working in NFC mode, not UWB, when communicating with the car.

[RG129]

Originally Posted by Grandmaster T

I use a Google Pixel 9 Pro as Digital Key Plus with my BMW iX1 and it works perfectly nice.

In addition I installed the digital key also on my Google Pixel 3 smartwatch with enabled UWB.
Obviously the key works only when holding the watch at the door handle and to start the car I have to put the watch into the phone charger. This behavior is known from the regular digital key (not plus), like the keycard which comes with the car.

Has someone the same devices and is able to use UWB with the watch? I don't know if this is a BMW issue or a Google problem...

I researched this for a while after I got my X1 and concluded that the Pixel Watch UWB does not apply to BMW Digital Key Plus. The watch can use UWB to keep your phone unlocked, but cannot unlock or start my car within proximity. If I ever want to use my watch, I have to hold it to the door handle and then the wireless charger to use it (which is annoying...).

[madkiller]

For watches, it only works with an Apple Watch.

[paulockenden]

Originally Posted by madkiller

For watches, it only works with an Apple Watch.

And even then, only the full-fat version, not the SE watch.

[Grandmaster T]

For a few weeks the Pixel 3 watch suddenly works with UWB.
But today I had to reinstall the digital keys due to a reset of the car and after that the UWB feature sadly does not work anymore.

I have no clue what's wrong with the Pixel 3 watch using UWB.
But it is obvious that it can work in general as it did for me before resetting the car.

[spinball80]

How do you manage to get Pixel Watch 3 to work? I asked my local BMW service center and was told that only apple Watch is supported and not Pixel watch 3.

[ojt]

I may be wrong here but BMW saying only Apple Watch is supported may just be their way of avoiding support requests and hassle. Like, they are certain enough that Apple Watch will work but have too much uncertainty about Google / Android devices.

I think the digital key feature is afterall just a combination standards so Pixel Watch might even work. This wikipedia page does indeed say it should be supported. Didn’t check the sources though..

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List...mobile_wallets

[Gaffer_H]

Originally Posted by paulockenden

And even then, only the full-fat version, not the SE watch.

Correct, I know this as I bought an SE and sent it back as it would only unlock the car if you touched the watch on the door handle.

I wanted it to operate like my phone does, ie walk up to the car and it unlocks.