BMW Digital Key Plus Compatible Cars (With Setup Guide)

Well if you just got to know about the Digital Key Plus feature and wondering if your BMW model is compatible with it or not.

As you may know, the Digital Key Plus is the upgraded version of Digital Key, where you can turn your smartphone into a key fob.

Which allows you to perform all the functions you could with your keyfob, and much more. The “Digital Key” was only available to iOS systems, however, the “Digital Key Plus” also supports Android systems.

So, let’s get right into it and learn about the compatible cars, the digital key plus features & its setup guide.

Table of Contents

What is Digital Key Plus?

The Digital Key Plus is built upon the standard “Digital Key” foundations which allows you to lock, unlock, and start the vehicle using your smartphone.

However, this is the next generation of “Digital Key” and it has some additional features along with the previous features.

And, now it’s also available on both Android and iOS devices.

Additional Features Of BMW Digital Key Plus

With all the features of “Digital Key”, the upgraded “Digital Key Plus” comes with some additional & better features.

So, let’s discuss those additional features:

Ultra-wideband (UWB) technology, is a high-precision technology that can detect the owner’s smartphone precisely & securely. And much more.
The BMW automatically unlocks on your approach, and you don’t need to take the smartphone out of your pocket.
You can also start your engine without putting the device down.
Ans you can simply lock the vehicle by removing the device from the vehicle.
This generation also provides very seamless communication between the vehicle and device precisely & securely.
Parking your BMW with your smartphone.
Automatic exterior & interior welcome

Also as with “Digital Key” you also get the sharing feature in the “Digital Key Plus”.

As you now know the digital key plus is very good, and you will understand better when you actually try.

BMW Digital Key Plus Compatible Cars

Now you probably want to know about the cars that are compatible with BMW Digital Key Plus.

So, you could use this feature right, so let’s look at the compatible BMW models.

BMW Digital Key Plus Models (With Apple & Android Devices)

BMW 2 Series Coupe: (2023-Onward)
BMW 3 Series: (2023-Onward)
BMW 4 Series: (2024-Onward)
BMW 5 Series: (2024-Onward)
BMW 7 Series: (2023-Onward)
BMW 8 Series: (2024-Onward)
BMW X1: (2023-Onward)
BMW X3: (2024-Onward)
BMW X4: (2024-Onward)
BMW X5: (2024-Onward)
BMW X6: (2024-Onward)
BMW X7: (2023-Onward)
BMW XM: (2023-Onward)
BMW i4: (2022-Onward)
BMW i5: (2024-Onward)
BMW i7: (2023-Onward)
BMW iX: (2022-Onward)
BMW Z4: (2024-Onward)

Here’s a side note for you, all the 2024 BMW models with iDrive 8 operating system will be compatible with the digital key plus.

Now you know about the BMW models which are compatible with the digital key plus. And now let’s see a quick setup guide for digital key plus.

Also Read: BMW Digital Key Compatible Cars: With Their Setup Guide

How To Set Up Bmw Digital Key

Now let’s follow along this step by step setup guide on your smartphone.

Here we’ll discuss setting up your device on both iPhone & Android.

Setting up Digital Key Plus On Your iPhone

Let’s start.

First, download the “My BMW App” from the Apple store & log in with your BMW ID. Create one if not created before.
Find the “Digital Key Plus” section and select that.
Then you’ll see a “Welcome to Digital Key Plus” page, at the bottom tap “Setup Digital Key“.
Now have both your BMW keys inside your BMW and press “Continue“.
Then tap “Start Pairing” and then follow the given instructions.
You’ll now get a “Car keys in wallet” page and below a “Continue” button tap on that.
And now the activation process should start automatically, and you’ll be able to see the ongoing process on your dashboard also.
After it’s activated, you’ll get a notification on your smartphone that your digital key has been activated successfully.

Now once it’s paired your digital key will be uploaded to the Apple wallet, and you can share this key and also add it to your Apple Watch.

Setting up Digital Key Plus On Your Android

Here, the method is the same for Samsung Galaxy and Google smartphones.

First, download the “My BMW App” and log in with your BMW ID(create if you don’t have one).
Now open the app and find “BMW Digital Key” then tap “Setup Digital Key“.
Then have both your BMW keys inside and tap the “Continue” option.
Now click the “Start Pairing” and follow the instructions.
It will ask you to put your smartphone on the “Smartphone Tray” until the pairing is done.
The activation process will start and you can see the progress on your BMW dashboard.
After the digital key has been activated successfully, you’ll get a notification on your smartphone as well as in your BMW dashboard.

Conclusion

The Digital Key Plus is the next generation of the BMW Digital Key, which is the beginning of advanced automotive technology.

The Digital Key was only available on iPhone devices, but now the next-gen Digital Key Plus is available on iPhone & Android also.

Which has created a significant demand for this technology.

So, I hope now you know about the compatible cars and are ready to take advantage of the Digital Key Plus feature.

FAQ

Which vehicle functions can be restricted when sharing?

When sharing the key, some features are restricted, such as the acceleration is reduced, the top is limited to only about 90 mph, also the maximum volume is reduced to about 65%, and the DSC & DTC cannot be deactivated by the driver, they become mandatory.

What happens to the digitally created keys when I sell my vehicle?

Before selling the vehicle you should delete all your digital keys from your BMW ID. And use the physical key to operate.

What devices are compatible with BMW Digital Key Plus?

With the iPhone devices various Android devices are also compatible such as Samsung Galaxy S23+ / S23 Ultra, S22+ / S22 Ultra, S21+ / S21 Ultra, Z Fold4, Z Fold3, Z Fold2, Note20 Ultra with Android 13.1 or newer, and Google Pixel 6 Pro, 7 Pro with Android 13.1 or newer.

Which BMW comes with a display key?

The BMW display key was introduced primarily for the G11 7 Series, however now the OEM version is available for almost all the G-series models.

How do I know if my BMW has a digital key plus?

Login to your BMW App, with your BMW ID and add your vehicle, and if you see a “Digital Key” box with a ticked box, it means your bmw is compatible. However, you could also check the compatibility by contacting your dealership or searching online.

What is the difference between the BMW Digital Key and Digital Key Plus?

The major difference is the Digital Key uses “Near Field Communication” (NFC) to transfer the data, whereas the Digital Key Plus uses “ultra-wideband” (UWB) and Bluetooth®, which is much more precise & secure. Also to lock or unlock your BMW with the digital key you have to hold your device on the door, however with digital key plus, everything is done without taking out your device from your pocket, and it automatically does it for you.

Can I lock my BMW from my phone?

Yes, absolutely you could lock, unlock, start the engine, and manage everything from anywhere with your Digital Key.

Can BMW unlock my car remotely?

Yes, you can lock, unlock, and locate your vehicle, and much more with the BMW remote service with a Digital Key (Plus).

Image Credit: BMW Youtube, BMW of Fremont

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