[Chick Webb]

Made the mistake of dropping by the dealer last month to check out a '21 X6 M50i that they had in stock. Made a bigger mistake by driving it, and within a week I'd swapped it for my '19 X5 40i. What a great ride!

That said, I was somewhat taken aback by the wireless charging delete, though it never really worked that great anyway. I wasn't going back to using a cable, though; way too inconvenient. After some research I found something that I thought would work, and to my delight it has. So, I thought I'd share in case anyone else is looking for a solution.

I got one each of these:

Charging pad - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08L3WM4PJ

Charger - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07RHSD9WM

The charging pad fits perfectly and by routing the short cable from the outside, then across the divide between the charging bay and the cup holder, then to the charger in the lighter socket, it's very clean. The hard plastic piece in the cable holds the PCB and a charge indicator light. A piece of double-sided tape on the bottom of it secures it to the console and acts as a bumper to prevent the phone from sliding off the tray under.... enthusiastic acceleration.

Added bonus is that the built-in USB-A port is still accessible, as is the USB-C port in the charger. No problem using the cup holders from either side, either. Only real downside is you can't close the compartment lid and of course the car doesn't know the phone is charging so that's not indicated on the display. Overall, though, an effective solution for this "problem".

[Rondi]

Great stuff, thanks. I’m waiting for my x6 40i and I will add this solution as well

[Twags]

Curious to know if you can still use the phone as a digital key with this setup, or is the phone not recognized?

[DrMilan]

i dont think Phone digital key would work, as the car no longer comes with the keycard either.
i did ask the dealer this question here in Australia, but they weren't too sure!

[nZtiZia]

Originally Posted by Twags

Curious to know if you can still use the phone as a digital key with this setup, or is the phone not recognized?

it likely still works as long as the wireless charger doesn't completely block or interfere with the high-frequency wavelengths between the two NFC devices. (NFC is short-range communication within a few centimeters to 4 inches.)

Originally Posted by DrMilan

[…]the car no longer comes with the keycard either.

this is a mixed bag. even with wireless charging no longer included, I've seen reports of MY22 X5 both including or not including Digital Key/digital key card capabilities. Not sure why some include while others don't (may be specific countries), though most have actually included the key card and therefore, Digital Key for a compatible iPhone.

the sure fire way to know is if the MyBMW App show Digital Key on the Home Screen

[Cross1681]

I have a 22 M50i and wireless charging is deleted. I did get a digital key which works and needs access to the pad. Same with my Apple car key.

[DrMilan]

what do you mean the digital key works? so is the pad separate to the wireless charging, i thought it was all 1 unit, excuse my ignorance.
i ordered a 40i and would be very happy if Apple Car Key still works with the exclusion of wireless charging

[nosnoop]

Originally Posted by DrMilan

what do you mean the digital key works? so is the pad separate to the wireless charging, i thought it was all 1 unit, excuse my ignorance.

There are two types of pad - one for wireless charging + key, and one for key only without wireless charging.
They look very similar and the card icon almost identical - except the one with wireless charging has a battery charging symbol in the middle.

[nZtiZia]

Originally Posted by DrMilan

what do you mean the digital key works? so is the pad separate to the wireless charging, i thought it was all 1 unit, excuse my ignorance.
i ordered a 40i and would be very happy if Apple Car Key still works with the exclusion of wireless charging

both the wireless charger and NFC are housed in the same tray and location (though icon may be different now), so the iPhone placement is the same even now that the wireless charging portion is no longer included.

[hiki08]

I came here thinking there was a solution to delete/turn off the wireless charging pad! Lol...

It did give me an idea of putting something in between the phone and charger that doesn't allow the wireless charging current to pass though!

[evodz]

I know the wireless charging is out for MY22, but does the car still alert you if the key is on the tray when you exit the car assuming you used your phone as a key and left it there?

[sweetpete74]

Originally Posted by hiki08

I came here thinking there was a solution to delete/turn off the wireless charging pad! Lol...

It did give me an idea of putting something in between the phone and charger that doesn't allow the wireless charging current to pass though!

There is an option in the settings to turn off wireless charging. No need to put something in between.

[YuicyYumboYack]

Originally Posted by sweetpete74

There is an option in the settings to turn off wireless charging. No need to put something in between.

Are you sure? There was a whole thread about this and the conclusion was there is no way to turn off wireless charging.

[nZtiZia]

Originally Posted by sweetpete74

There is an option in the settings to turn off wireless charging. No need to put something in between.

this is not correct. The only thing in iDrive is to enable/disable the phone reminder in the tray but as evodz asked, we're wondering if the reminder is still there now that wireless charging in no longer included but the iPhone Digital Key or key card is being used.

[sweetpete74]

Originally Posted by YuicyYumboYack

Are you sure? There was a whole thread about this and the conclusion was there is no way to turn off wireless charging.

Weird - I could have sworn I saw an option for it, but I just went to check in the car. The only option is for the phone reminder. Maybe I thought there was one seeing that listed. Sorry.

[YuicyYumboYack]

Originally Posted by sweetpete74

Weird - I could have sworn I saw an option for it, but I just went to check in the car. The only option is for the phone reminder. Maybe I thought there was one seeing that listed. Sorry.

I made the same mistake haha. Yeah unfortunately there's no way to turn it off.

[JimVR4]

Originally Posted by YuicyYumboYack

I made the same mistake haha. Yeah unfortunately there's no way to turn it off.

If you really want to, you can tear down the console and unplug it but you will also lose the NFC with keycard and iPhone starting

[Chick Webb]

Originally Posted by Cross1681

I have a 22 M50i and wireless charging is deleted. I did get a digital key which works and needs access to the pad. Same with my Apple car key.

Not an Apple fan-boy, so I can't comment on the iPhone key. But, on my '21 G06 w/wireless deleted I can use the digital key card that I received at delivery, even with the charging pad that I got from Amazon in place.

[hiki08]

Originally Posted by sweetpete74

Weird - I could have sworn I saw an option for it, but I just went to check in the car. The only option is for the phone reminder. Maybe I thought there was one seeing that listed. Sorry.

Yea as others pointed out there was a whole thread about it, and in that thread I thought you could turn it off too. Couldn't find it in the car or manual afterwards.

Originally Posted by JimVR4

If you really want to, you can tear down the console and unplug it but you will also lose the NFC with keycard and iPhone starting

Wouldn't be a problem for me since we have neither of those in my local market. But the trouble of tearing it down won't be worth it. If only it worked more consistently.

[Twags]

I have a 22 45e and installed the OP’s solution. Works fine with the iPhone’s digital key, but I haven’t seen any reminders to take my phone. Haven’t seen any reference to that feature in the manual, either.

[nZtiZia]

Originally Posted by Twags

I have a 22 45e and installed the OP's solution. Works fine with the iPhone's digital key, but I haven't seen any reminders to take my phone. Haven't seen any reference to that feature in the manual, either.

the reminder of leaving the iPhone in the tray is part of the wireless charging component, not the NFC component, so for newer vehicles without wireless charging, there is no longer a reminder.

for older vehicles equipped with wireless charging, leaving it in the tray after turning off the vehicle prompts a warning because by placing it the tray in the first place, you're asking the vehicle to perform a function (charge it), but you've just turned off the vehicle, so it's like, "uh, you want me to charge your phone, but you turned me off and about to exit. **REMINDER CHIME** don't forget to take your phone since i can't charge it anymore."

for newer vehicles with NFC only, there's no need for a reminder to take the phone after using the iPhone as a Digital Key to start the vehicle. it's done what you asked it to do (verify it as a legit Digital Key to start the vehicle) so leaving it in the tray after turning off the vehicle isn't asking the vehicle to do anything any more with the iPhone sitting there.

[dynamic]

I'll take the 2 seconds it takes to plug in for a phone charge in the not so often instance that I need to car charge. Never been comfortable with the degree of heat that is produced with this wireless charging business.