BMW app for smart watch

[FastCarFan]

Hi guys,

I am not sure if this is the right place to post.
I am looking at perhaps getting a smart watch and found this video while doing research. Unfortunately its in German.
Does this work in SA? It looks very cool.
Has it been discussed before here? I searched, but I'm still new on the forum and could not find anything. The video is from last year already.

 

[dvst8]

Thats the iRemote. Only available for the i3 and i8.

I have the BMW Connected amd BMW Remote apps for my iphone but havent found them yet for the iWatch.

 

[FastCarFan]

Thanks.
So it won't work with any other BMW or on the Samsung watch?
The android app for the phone seems to work with many other models so I assumed it would be the same with the app on the Samsung watch.
I don't think my car supports this feature, but I thought that it would be cool to unlock and lock the car with the watch if I get one that can do that and I get a new car that supports the remote stuff.

 

[JG_RSA]

The BMW app is not officially available for the Samsung Gear S2 in our market or as far as I can tell anywhere outside of Germany. If I'm not mistaken, even that app is still a beta version. I've actually looked into it a while ago (purely out of boredom) and found very little on the, even on BMW's own blog (http://bmwiforum.bmwusa.com/thread/565/iremote-on-galaxy-gear-s2). I must state that I have no experience with or interest in the Apple Watch and app (availability / compatibility / functionality) so I can't comment on that version.

The Gear S2 has just received a firmware update a couple of days ago and there is no mention of the BMW app or sign of it on the Gear's app store that I could find (I've just checked quickly). Even if it was available, it only works with the i3 and i8 with no indication if it will ever be compatible with any other models in future. So unless you own an i3 or i8 or plan to in future, pursuing this or letting the availability / lack thereof of this app for the Gear S2 watch influence your decision to buy the watch or not is frankly pointless.

Keep in mind that the Gear S2 does not run standard Android or Android Wear, but Tizen which is Linux based. You therefore cannot assume that because there is an Android phone app for something that there will be a Tizen version available. You will end up being bitterly disappointed in what the watch can/cannot do if you buy it without understanding this.

Locking and unlocking the car with the watch would be cool, but IMHO impractical for replacing the key fob for regular use. It is a party trick (IMHO of course), which will be used a couple of times until the novelty wears off. To the best of my knowledge, locking the car with the app also does not activate the alarm system, so it's a bit of a security risk compared to locking it with the key fob. It is only useful if the key has been lost or somehow locked inside the vehicle (not possible if the car has comfort access) and the car be be unlocked via the app or if the owner has forgotten to lock the vehicle and want to do so remotely (not near the car to use the key fob). The car cannot be started without the key fob present.

The way the BMW Remote app on the phone works (not sure what your experience is with this, so my apologies if this is known information to you) is you:
1) open the app on the phone and enter the pass code (not required, but highly recommended)
2) go to the Remote tab
3) press and hold the desired action button (lock/unlock/headlight flash/etc.) for 2 seconds
4)the command is sent to BMW's secure servers/system
5)from there it is sent out to the vehicle
6)the vehicle "wakes up" and if all goes well, the command is executed
This action can take anything from several seconds to over a minute and is dependent on adequate cell service for both the device (phone/tablet) and the vehicle (with built in SIM and remote services option). I assume that it would work the same with the watch. Even if it is simplified and added as a widget without some form of pass code (the watch can be set to lock automatically if removed from your wrist, which could be a replacement for the app/widget pass code), it would by no means be near as instantaneous as using the key fob. Keep in mind that the key fob is still required to start the vehicle, as stated above.

The only way that it would be a decent replacement for locking/unlocking via the watch is if it could use the Gear S2's integrated NFC instead, which would require BMW to add a NFC chip in the door handles or at least the driver's door handle. I doubt that they would go this route. Comfort access works just fine without any additional non-OEM hardware - phone/watch/??? - and is a much simpler and tried and tested alternative to using the buttons on the key fob.

My thoughts on the matter for what it's worth.

Feel free to ask any other questions regarding the Gear S2 (if you are interested in this particular smart watch) that you might be unclear on and I will attempt to answer to the best of my abilities, keeping in mind that I'm by no means an expert on it. Probably best to do so via PM as this is way off of the forum's topic or general interest.

 

[FastCarFan]

Okay, thanks.
I thought the car would immediately lock and unlock, like with the key.

 

[JG_RSA]

Sorry for the thread hijack - I hope OP does not mind - but I have a somewhat related question and don't think it warrants a dedicated thread as it's quite off general forum topic or interest.

If I import a Gear S2 3G watch (3G version not available locally as far as I can tell), with integrated eSIM, would I be able to get it activated locally on Vodacom or any other network (Vodacom preferred)?
I've inquired at the local Vodashop but was, unsurprisingly, met with a blank stare. I've also asked via the live chat on Vodacom's website, but the guy also had no idea, but "will find out". I know what that means 9/10 times locally - I'll probably never hear from him again.

Does anyone have any experience with doing something similar?
The new BMWs all come with an activated integrated SIM (can't be removed and isn't fitted locally, so not a local SIM card, as far as I can tell), so this must be possible. No?

 

[FastCarFan]

Hi JG_RSA
I don't mind if you ask the question here.
I had a look at the watch at Incredible Connection but it is far too expensive for me at the moment. All of my money will go into the new house when we are moving at the nde of next month.

If you don't mind me asking why would you want to use the watch as a phone? I can't imagine that it would be a good replacement for a phone.

 

[JG_RSA]

:=):
The idea isn't that it should replace my phone, rather supplement it.
There are occasions where I wish that I could have a phone with me without having to carry my actual phone, like going to the gym, the beach, going for a run or when playing golf. I would either temporarily forward calls from my phone to the watch or, more likely, just give out the watch's phone number to those who need to reach me in an emergency or be able to make a call from it in case of emergency without having a phone present.

As for being expensive, they can be had for much cheaper on gumtree.

 

[JG_RSA]

Hi everyone,

Bit of a thread resurrection, but I thought I'd mention this here in case it's of interest to anyone. Not sure if OP has given up on the idea.

The BMW Connected app has been launched for the Gear S2/3 (not sure if / what other Android watches; haven't really checked) recently, or at least I've only recently discovered it on the app store. You need to have the BMW Connected app installed on the phone for the watch app to "work". The older "BMW Remote" app doesn't work with it.

It hasn't received great reviews on the app store and I can understand why. The phone app seems to work most of the time, but from the few times I've tested the watch app, the remote commands have been hit and miss, leaning more towards the miss side... Most of the time I just get the message "A request for updated information has been sent." and then nothing else happens.