How to Use the BMW Remote Start App
The My BMW App allows you to remote start your vehicle—as long as your BMW is remote-start capable. Here are the details.
Written by Brittni Brinn
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
You can start your BMW remotely by selecting the “Start Climatization” icon or the fan icon on your My BMW App. First, you’ll have to set up your BMW’s iDrive system to accept remote start by making sure “starting engine for climate control” is checked.
Whether it’s a chilly day or you want an excuse to leave the work party early, having remote start is a handy feature—and the good news is that most modern BMWs come with remote start as an option.
If you don’t feel like clicking your key fob and hoping it works, you can confirm that your BMW is warming up by using the My BMW App to activate remote start. Here with the details is the trusted
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broker app, Jerry
. We’ll break down the steps for setting up remote start and end off with a way to help you save on your BMW insurance costs
!How to start your BMW remotely through the My BMW app
For newer BMWs equipped with remote start, you can start your vehicle through the My BMW app (formerly the ConnectedDrive app). The app is free and available to download onto your smartphone from the AppStore or GooglePlay.
If you don’t have a pre-existing account through the BMW Connected App, the ConnectedDrive website, or the My BMW Website, you’ll have to create a new login to connect the app to your vehicle using a valid e-mail address. To add your vehicle, simply tap “Add Vehicle” and follow the in-app prompts.
Once your My BMW app is in place, you’ll need to make sure your BMW’s iDrive system is set up to receive the remote start command. If your BMW is equipped with remote start, follow these steps on your BMW’s in-car screen:
- Tap the “Car” option
- Go to “Settings”
- Enter the “Climate Comfort” option
- Select “Preconditioning/ventilation”
- Find the “Remote engine start” option
- Make sure the “Starting the engine for climate control” box is checked
Once all of that is in place, remote starting your BMW is easy! Just open the My BMW app and click the icon of a fan (“Start Climatization”). A disclaimer will come up—tap the “Confirm and Start” button underneath to accept. Once the remote start command has been sent, you should see a “Successfully sent to vehicle” confirmation at the bottom of the My BMW screen.
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How to turn your BMW off remotely
Life happens—and sometimes, that means canceling your BMW’s remote start. There are a few ways that your BMW can be turned off remotely:
- Let the remote start time out: Your remote-started BMW will turn off automatically after 15 minutes.
- Cancel remote start using the My BMW app: You should be able to turn off your BMW using the same method that you used to remote start it.
- Use your BMW key fob: You can cancel the remote start by quickly pressing the lock button three times.
Just remember that you can only use the remote start feature twice in a row before you’ll have to go out and manually start the vehicle.
Other My BMW app features
The My BMW app has a lot of features for Bimmer drivers! Here’s a quick overview of everything you can do on the app:
- Set the climate control
- Lock or unlock doors
- Set your phone as a car key
- Check your BMW’s battery charge and/or fuel status
- Plan your route
- Find your vehicle
- Track driving efficiency
- Locate nearby parking spots
- Access traffic updates
- Download software upgrades
- Access to roadside assistance
- Schedule service appointments
- Find nearby BMW dealers
- Use Alexa connectivity
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Compare insurance quotes from 50+ insurance companies with Jerry in under 45 seconds
4.7/5 rating on the App Store | Trusted by 5+ million customers and 7 million cars4.7/5 app rating | Trusted by 5M+ driversIs BMW’s remote start app free?
Yes, the My BMW app is free to download. As it’s connected to your vehicle, it provides all the information and features that apply to your particular model.
If you have an older BMW, it may not have remote start as an option. In that case, you’ll have to pay for a remote start upgrade, which could involve paying for the in-car software or additional parts.
But as far as the app goes, you won’t have to pay anything to use it.
MORE: Are BMWs expensive to maintain?
Which BMW vehicles have remote start?
Remote start is currently available for most BMW models made after 2019. Your BMW must also have an iDrive system 7.0, an automatic transmission, a four- or six-cylinder internal combustion engine, and a connected BMW account. Here’s a list of some BMWs that can support remote start:
Model | Available on (model years) | 2022 trim levels with standard remote start |
|---|---|---|
2019 and newer | All | |
2019 and newer | All | |
2019 and newer | All | |
2019 and newer | All |
If you have a 2012 BMW or newer that doesn’t have remote start factory-installed, you may have the option to retrofit it with a remote start system. But it will depend on the model and what electronic module it uses.
Key Takeaway If your BMW is from the model year 2019 or newer, there’s a good chance that remote start comes standard, but check at the dealership to make sure.
How to save on BMW insurance costs
The My BMW app can make remote starting your car a snap. But what if we told you that there’s an app that can do the same when it comes to shopping for car insurance?
The
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pulls custom quotes from over 55 insurance companies nationwide to save you money and time. On average, our users save $800+ per year on car insurance! Download the free Jerry app, answer a couple of set-up questions, and sit back and relax as Jerry gets to work. Using your existing insurance policy information, Jerry will pull quotes for the coverage you want—all in under a minute!
Here’s a customer review of Jerry’s insurance shopping service:
“Jerryblew my mind, honestly. From start to finish, using the app took me 10 minutes and I ended up with $100 of savings a month. Best of all, customer service answered all my questions about rental car reimbursement and roadside assistance.” —Savanna R.
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