Remote app unlock range?

taylorloehr · 02-17-2018, 08:55 PM

Does anyone know if there is a maximum range that I can remotely unlock my car via bmw app? I am going on vacation out of state tonight and I need to be able to unlock it Monday morning for someone to access my car to have mods installed while I'm gone. Thanks!

stormlv · 02-17-2018, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by taylorloehr

Does anyone know if there is a maximum range that I can remotely unlock my car via bmw app? I am going on vacation out of state tonight and I need to be able to unlock it Monday morning for someone to access my car to have mods installed while I'm gone. Thanks!

There shouldn't be a max range, but to be honest I haven't tried.

Thescout13 · 02-17-2018, 10:01 PM

I believe you can not remotely unlock on the app. You have to call bmw connected and request them to do it and verify your ID. At least that is what I recall with our 2 series. Have never tried on our f80.

Edit: I think I might be wrong. However I do not know the range.

taylorloehr · 02-17-2018, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thescout13

I believe you can not remotely unlock on the app. You have to call bmw connected and request them to do it and verify your ID. At least that is what I recall with our 2 series. Have never tried on our f80.

You actually can unlock via the app (tried it today). Just not sure if there is a limitation. Guess I'll find out on Monday haha.

Nonopr01 · 02-19-2018, 06:49 AM

From what I remember it was 1 mile.

Aapparition90 · 02-19-2018, 07:48 AM

range should not be a limiting factor in the tech it uses. Cannot start the car though

2kaccordocoupe · 02-19-2018, 09:20 AM

For those that use the BMW Remote app, which applies to us Canadians. We don't have a max range. However you cannot actually unlock via the app as it asks you to call in for account verification. After you have been verified the car will be unlocked regardless of your range. I have tried this while I was in Europe and my car was in Canada.

I'm not sure how it works for you Americans that use the newer Connected Drive app.

backagain · 02-19-2018, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2kaccordocoupe

For those that use the BMW Remote app, which applies to us Canadians. We don't have a max range. However you cannot actually unlock via the app as it asks you to call in for account verification. After you have been verified the car will be unlocked regardless of your range. I have tried this while I was in Europe and my car was in Canada.

I'm not sure how it works for you Americans that use the newer Connected Drive app.

Here in US, we don't need authentication to lock/unlock remotely. There should not be a range limit as long as the vehicle is under cellular coverage.

2kaccordocoupe · 02-19-2018, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by backagain

Here in US, we don't need authentication to lock/unlock remotely. There should not be a range limit as long as the vehicle is under cellular coverage.

Ah ok, just un-locking requires a call for us.

Locking, Horn, Headlight Flash, Ventilation timers etc can all be executed via the app with no range limit.

hinckley · 02-19-2018, 07:38 PM

Technically, there's no range limit as long as the car has cellular connectivity. It's like your Nest thermostat that can be set from any anywhere in the world. However, BMW may have set a limit for some reason, so let us know how it works out for you.

SD ///M4 · 02-19-2018, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2kaccordocoupe

Ah ok, just un-locking requires a call for us.

Locking, Horn, Headlight Flash, Ventilation timers etc can all be executed via the app with no range limit.

The newest BMW Connected app doesn't require a phone call in the US. What BMW is now calling the "BMW Connected Classic" app did require a phone call. This is for the Android app. I think it was released some time last year and last updated in December.

When I first got my 2016 M4 in May 2016, the app was pretty much useless. Really pissed me off that it wouldn't work with a brand new $75K+ BMW. The new app fixed all that. I can now reliably lock, unlock, honk the horn, and flash the headlights, and it will locate the car. It also does the Climate Control, but I don't use that. Also the only way to send a destination to my car from my Samsung smartphone, AFAIK.

I also just found out that you can link your BMW Connected account to Google Home Assistant.

R-M4 · 02-19-2018, 09:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by backagain

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2kaccordocoupe

For those that use the BMW Remote app, which applies to us Canadians. We don't have a max range. However you cannot actually unlock via the app as it asks you to call in for account verification. After you have been verified the car will be unlocked regardless of your range. I have tried this while I was in Europe and my car was in Canada.

I'm not sure how it works for you Americans that use the newer Connected Drive app.

Here in US, we don't need authentication to lock/unlock remotely. There should not be a range limit as long as the vehicle is under cellular coverage.

It does ask for my pin when I try to unlock it. Not sure about the range though. I don't think there is one.

MRV99 · 02-19-2018, 11:17 PM

The app is not like a remote. There is no signal going from your phone to the car. The signal is coming from BMW on the cellular network the car is on. As long as your app is connected to the internet, the lock/unlock request will be sent from your app to BMW network to your car.

02-17-2018, 08:55 PM	#1
taylorloehr Enlisted Member 43 Rep 30 Posts Drives: 2018 F80 ZCP (on order) Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Michigan iTrader: (0)	Remote app unlock range? Does anyone know if there is a maximum range that I can remotely unlock my car via bmw app? I am going on vacation out of state tonight and I need to be able to unlock it Monday morning for someone to access my car to have mods installed while I'm gone. Thanks!
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02-17-2018, 10:01 PM	#3
Thescout13 Brigadier General 4947 Rep 4,976 Posts Drives: '20 F80 M3CS, %E2%80%9818 GT3 Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: California iTrader: (0)	I believe you can not remotely unlock on the app. You have to call bmw connected and request them to do it and verify your ID. At least that is what I recall with our 2 series. Have never tried on our f80. Edit: I think I might be wrong. However I do not know the range. __________________ Wife's Car: 2020 X4M Competition, Alpine White on Black Alcantara and Biege Current Car: 2018 F80 M3CS, SMB, DCT, ZEC, MPE Recently Departed: 2020 F87 M2C, LBB, ZEC, 6MT (Euro Delivery Aug. 29, 2019, totaled by an idiot in a Camry who then ran from the scene) Wife's Prior Car: 2018 F80 M3, Yas Marina Blue, DCT, Black 19s, Carbon Structure Anthracite Cloth/Leather Combination, Driving Assistance Package (Euro Delivery Oct. 9, 2017)
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02-19-2018, 06:49 AM	#5
Nonopr01 Lieutenant 122 Rep 595 Posts Drives: 2017 BMW M3 Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: San Juan, PR iTrader: (0)	From what I remember it was 1 mile.
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02-19-2018, 07:48 AM	#6
Aapparition90 Captain 193 Rep 806 Posts Drives: 2016 lci m3 mw Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: sydney iTrader: (0) Garage List 2014 bmw 328i [0.00] 2012 bmw 328i [0.00]	range should not be a limiting factor in the tech it uses. Cannot start the car though __________________ f80 m3 lci mw
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02-19-2018, 09:20 AM	#7
2kaccordocoupe Brigadier General 1275 Rep 4,703 Posts Drives: Former ///M Driver Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: The 6ix iTrader: (2)	For those that use the BMW Remote app, which applies to us Canadians. We don't have a max range. However you cannot actually unlock via the app as it asks you to call in for account verification. After you have been verified the car will be unlocked regardless of your range. I have tried this while I was in Europe and my car was in Canada. I'm not sure how it works for you Americans that use the newer Connected Drive app.
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02-19-2018, 07:38 PM	#10
hinckley Brigadier General 3493 Rep 3,214 Posts Drives: '24 M4C Conv Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: South Florida iTrader: (1)	Technically, there's no range limit as long as the car has cellular connectivity. It's like your Nest thermostat that can be set from any anywhere in the world. However, BMW may have set a limit for some reason, so let us know how it works out for you. __________________ CURRENT: '24 M4C Conv RETIRED : '23 M8C Conv \| '20 X4 M40i \| '18 M4 6MT \| '13 M5 6MT \| '08 550i 6MT \| '04 545i 6MT \| '98 540i 6MT \| '94 530i 5MT \| '84 528e 5MT Other retirees from Chevrolet, Buick, Subaru, Honda, Acura, Merkur(!), Volvo, Saab, Audi and Porsche
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02-19-2018, 11:17 PM	#13
MRV99 Major 254 Rep 1,067 Posts Drives: 2017 M3 ZCP / 2017 RRS SC Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Naperville iTrader: (1) Garage List 2017 BMW M3 ZCP [0.00]	The app is not like a remote. There is no signal going from your phone to the car. The signal is coming from BMW on the cellular network the car is on. As long as your app is connected to the internet, the lock/unlock request will be sent from your app to BMW network to your car. __________________ 17 M3 ZCP -- 2017 Range Rover Sport SC --RIP-- 12 X5 50i Sport -- 11 M3 DCT -- 2011 X5 50i(Lemon) -- 2008 550 Msport -- 2007 x5 4.8 sport -- 2004 545 sport -- 2002 x5 4.4 sport -- 2001 540i Msport 2000 SL500 -- 1997 SL500
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