Connecting Your Vehicle to Your World
Story by Tamsen Butler // Photography Provided
When ONYX BMW Genius Manager Robert Gibson and his wife return from thawing out in Florida during the winter months, they have a habit of using the My BMW app to remotely start their parked BMW the second they step off the plane. This gets their car warmed up so it’s a comfortable ride home despite the cold temperatures outside. If baggage claim takes too long, the car will shut itself off, so it doesn’t run indefinitely. And if they can’t remember where they parked their car in the garage, they have a few options available to them through the app to help them locate the vehicle. They can honk the horn, flash the lights, or they can have a look at what their vehicle can “see.” The app will help them locate their vehicle, giving them step-by-step directions to the car.
After they find their parked BMW, they can use their app’s remote fob to open the doors and drive away without needing to fumble through their bags to find a key. And if they drive to a restaurant after their flight instead of going straight home, they can use the app to help them find an open parking spot.
“The app gives a level of excitement that most people aren’t ready for,” said Gibson.
“It’s just another way to interact with your vehicle,” added Ewa Guminska, BMW Product Specialist. It’s Guminska’s job to show new BMW owners how to use the My BMW app, and it’s a role she enjoys since so many clients get visibly excited once they realize all the fun things they can do with it. From checking the app to make sure the car’s windows aren’t down when rain starts falling to using the app to find the closest, most powerful charging station that is compatible with their vehicle (or the least expensive gas station nearby), BMW owners quickly learn to enjoy the interactive experience this helpful app provides.
When Guminska isn’t available to demonstrate the app to buyers, the sales staff eagerly steps in to show off all the helpful features the interactive technology provides. Everyone at the dealership is proud of the app and enjoys the opportunity to show it off.
Of course, plenty of car makers release apps to accompany their vehicles, but the My BMW app takes things to the next level with its slew of helpful features and intuitive format. The app makes the relationship between a driver and their vehicle more interactive—and enjoyable.
The MY BMW app comes standard with all new BMW models and is free for four years. After that, it becomes a subscription service that costs $129 annually. The remote start, remote lock and unlock features, real-time directions, ability to schedule service, and make BMW Financial payments through the app are so convenient that it’s no surprise many drivers keep the app after the four years have passed.
Professionals who are on-the-go will enjoy the app’s ability to log trips taken in the car, including the mileage. This feature simplifies expense reports that require mileage details for reimbursement by uploading information automatically. Busy parents can build their own “virtual garage” within the app to keep track of all their BMW vehicles. This allows parents to know where their young drivers are at any time. The feature also has safety precautions to ensure only people who have the legal right to monitor someone’s whereabouts have access to the location information.
Guminska added that the app can be used to learn about the new BMW models that are coming out soon and that the app is great for drivers to get a “quick status” on their vehicles. Gibson pulled up a 3D view of his vehicle to demonstrate how the app provides a quick glimpse as to where the car is parked, along with its surroundings at that moment.
“There are some benefits that are specific to certain models,” explained Guminska, adding that anyone can download the My BMW app on an Apple device or compatible Android and play around with the features, even if they don’t yet own a BMW. It’s a fun way to preview what can be in store for future owners.
Visit bmwusa.com/my-bmw-app for more information.
