[thisisfaz]

Originally Posted by TSMC55

It needs the dealer to activate it. It is done through their service dept. They will ask you for a four digit pin as well if you are using key for5. Once the dealer activates you need to install on your phone (that is the next option on the app) and then activate it on your car. That took about 12 attempts for me. I had to reposition the phone in the wireless charging tray until it finally recognised it. Once activated it works flawlessly and no need to muck around with phone position in the tray.

But I've done the dealer and pin part, but my phone still says register af dealer, it won't go to next step of install. I've logged out and even reinstalled the connected app and tried again with no success going to install step. I also have a non Verizon Samsung s10+phone. Any insight?

[mattsrs]

It baffles me how people just say dealer need to activate without reading the thread we have done everything and still no luck

[Dex05]

Originally Posted by ThreeBimm

This is how I'm using it too, except it doesn't make much sense to me to have to unlock the car with the connected app. I want to use the card when I don't have my fob or phone but I can't do that. The card will not unlock the car.

FWIW, first delivery Nov 2018 - no digital key. They never even told me about it. Took second delivery last week and it has a card.

Same here, My key card was activated but wont unlock the doors.

[TSMC55]

Originally Posted by mattsrs

It baffles me how people just say dealer need to activate without reading the thread we have done everything and still no luck

I am asaying it because the issue that is being reported is that the dealer needs to register it at his/her end. Despite what the dealer is saying, it does not appear to be registered, hence the message in the app.

Uninstalling the app also wipes any registration the dealer has done, so you need to get it re-registered.

I had endless problems with this myself, and am reporting back on my own experience.

[thisisfaz]

Originally Posted by TSMC55

I am asaying it because the issue that is being reported is that the dealer needs to register it at his/her end. Despite what the dealer is saying, it does not appear to be registered, hence the message in the app.

Uninstalling the app also wipes any registration the dealer has done, so you need to get it re-registered.

I had endless problems with this myself, and am reporting back on my own experience.

I've tried multiple phones now and reinstalling app - it's strange you say uninstalling app deletes registration as I checked and confirmed looking at their system at dealer that my digital key was activated and they even deleted and reset pin with no success on app on phone. This is so frustrating to say least.

[midwestbmwguy]

Originally Posted by TSMC55

I am asaying it because the issue that is being reported is that the dealer needs to register it at his/her end. Despite what the dealer is saying, it does not appear to be registered, hence the message in the app.

Uninstalling the app also wipes any registration the dealer has done, so you need to get it re-registered.

I had endless problems with this myself, and am reporting back on my own experience.

You would think that the dealer would have more training on this item since it’s going to be a feature and most new vehicles a BMW sells. Again that is very shortsighted on their part not to provide the training so that the dealer can give a quality experience to the buyer

[GTF]

I am one of the lucky ones...ordered 5/2, dealer slotted a scheduled X5 with my specs, was built 5/15, and delivered 5/22. EVERYTHING worked perfectly....with 3 minor comments. (1)The fan for the ventilated seats must be about the same size as the cooling fan on my laptop. Weak, but so was my Porsche. (2)The recharging pad was SLOW to charge my iPhone. (3) I didn't get a digital key card.
Until today...the card was sitting on the charging pad unnoticed. Now my phone charges nicely, without heating up.
And I now have a key card.

(For those commenting on hot phones, it might be the case....has to be "thin" & approved for charging).

[thisisfaz]

Originally Posted by GTF

I am one of the lucky ones...ordered 5/2, dealer slotted a scheduled X5 with my specs, was built 5/15, and delivered 5/22. EVERYTHING worked perfectly....with 3 minor comments. (1)The fan for the ventilated seats must be about the same size as the cooling fan on my laptop. Weak, but so was my Porsche. (2)The recharging pad was SLOW to charge my iPhone. (3) I didn't get a digital key card.
Until today...the card was sitting on the charging pad unnoticed. Now my phone charges nicely, without heating up.
And I now have a key card.

(For those commenting on hot phones, it might be the case....has to be "thin" & approved for charging).

Yeah but did you get your connectedapp setup? And the digital key for the phone thru connectedapp?

[TurtleBoy]

Originally Posted by thisisfaz

And the digital key for the phone thru connectedapp?

He has an iPhone so there is no digital key functionality available yet.

[ThreeBimm]

Originally Posted by imdexter

Same here, My key card was activated but wont unlock the doors.

Mine was user error. Even after watching the genius videos I didn't realize you have to swipe from one end of the door handle to the other (left to right). I didn't catch that from the video but mine is now working when I do that.

[BMW lifer]

in UK I've found that using the Key Card takes patience - you have to find exactly the right bit of the handle to rest it on, and then you have to wait a few seconds. It also seems to activate lock and unlock from different parts of the handle.

All this means it hasn't given me enough confidence to use it in place of an actual key.

[natahoa]

Originally Posted by ThreeBimm

Mine was user error. Even after watching the genius videos I didn't realize you have to swipe from one end of the door handle to the other (left to right). I didn't catch that from the video but mine is now working when I do that.

I tried mine for the first time yesterday. Didn’t have to swipe it, just rest it against the door handle. But I think only one side works, and you take to take it out of the plastic cover.

[Dex05]

Originally Posted by ThreeBimm

Mine was user error. Even after watching the genius videos I didn't realize you have to swipe from one end of the door handle to the other (left to right). I didn't catch that from the video but mine is now working when I do that.

Will test it today after work.

[Tenac]

My card is still not working.... according to the video's you do not need a cell phone for the card to work. Kinda at a stand still until I get time to chase this with the dealer support.

[eagle_bmw]

Originally Posted by natahoa

I tried mine for the first time yesterday. Didn’t have to swipe it, just rest it against the door handle. But I think only one side works, and you take to take it out of the plastic cover.

Mine was working best at the middle of the handle. I tried "walking" the card from right to left with small increments and then do the opposite and it always started working close to the middle.

[Dex05]

Originally Posted by ThreeBimm

Mine was user error. Even after watching the genius videos I didn't realize you have to swipe from one end of the door handle to the other (left to right). I didn't catch that from the video but mine is now working when I do that.

Thanks for your hint. Slow swipe from left to right worked like a charm.

[russelldav]

Originally Posted by imdexter

Thanks for your hint. Slow swipe from left to right worked like a charm.

I find the dead centre / middle of the handle works reliably.

[doctorttt]

All, is it true that the digital key only works on the latest Samsung phones and not Apple? Weird if that is true because iDrive only supports Apple CarPlay and not Andriod? lol

Sorry, I don't want to start a new thread.

[TurtleBoy]

Originally Posted by doctorttt

All, is it true that the digital key only works on the latest Samsung phones and not Apple? Weird if that is true because iDrive only supports Apple CarPlay and not Andriod? lol

Sorry, I don't want to start a new thread.

It is an issue with Apple’s implementation of NFC. They announced Passkit the other month which should open things up so hopefully by next year iPhones will be able to be used as a digital key.

[midwestbmwguy]

Originally Posted by russelldav

I find the dead centre / middle of the handle works reliably.

best video explaining how to use digital key card.

I watched this video and now I understand. User error....

[LexxM3]

Originally Posted by midwestbmwguy

User error....

What was the error? Interested for UX design academic reasons, not trying to imply anything else (I am of the opinion that there is generally no such thing as "user error" for consumer products, just bad or unclear user experience design).

[flyinglarry]

Originally Posted by ddelX52019G05

I also have a November build with comfort access, my X5 was delivered without a key card. I've spoken with BMW National Genius support, local genius and my local service manager; there is supposed to be a program in place "soon" that will provide a complimentary key cards to those early build vehicles delivered w/o out it.

In the meantime it's my understanding that digital keys can be installed in some Samsung phones but not on those on Verizon. For some reason Verizon is blocking NFC (Near Field Communications). I purchased an "unlocked" Samsung Galaxy S9+ directly from Samsung and then installed a Verizon SIM; I was curious if I could get it to work as it was not a totally Verizon version. My results are a little mixed, in that I can start the car but not unlock the doors using phone, however I can still use the app to unlock the doors but that a bit slow, and potentially a bit risky as I'd be counting on BMW's connected services to be working - so far I always still carry my keys.


*** Update 4/29/2019 *** I traded in the Samsung S9+ for an S10+ purchasing an unlocked phone direct from Samsung and then added a Verizon SIM card; I am now able to open the doors and start the car using the NFC capabilities of the Digital key installed in the phone

It's worth noting that BMW is selling this capability as a "subscription service" complimentary for the first twelve months but at a cost after your one year delivery anniversary. Sure would hate to get locked out of my car with an expired subscription, it will be interesting to see how this works.

Your dealerships service department will need to help with the initial steps, my local dealer was not familiar with the process but I had these instructions and a service advisor completed the steps detailed below:

The customer will need the following to accomplish this:
Regular Key
Driver’s License
Samsung Smart Phone
Turn on NFC on Phone
Connected Drive Account
Connected Drive App on their Phone
Sometime after the customer has bought the car (probably during Encore would be best) they need to make an appointment with your Service Department.
Part 1
The Service Department can Scan their regular key and look at the customers Drivers License to prove that they really own the car and they are who they say they are.
The Service Department will then open up ConnectedDrive Service Cockpit and verify all the information is correct and have the customer set up a Pin. This Pin will be use to set up their Smart Phone Digital Key or if they would like to add other Smart Phone Digital Keys.
Part 2
After completing Part 1 have the customer log into their Connected Drive App on their phone and select the Activate Smart Phone or it might say Add Digital Key. You may need to logout of app and then log back in.
It will open up and the customer will enter the Pin they set up with Service.
The customer will then be prompted to download a file that will allow their phone to be used as a Digital Key.
Part 3
After Part 1 & 2 have been completed you will place the customers Samsung Smart Phone onto the wireless charge Tray in the car. Make sure you have one of the Activated Keys to the Car in the car when you do this (a regular key works best).
Next go to car (left side of I Drive Screen), then settings, and then Door Access
Next select the BMW Digital Key (at top of list) Then select Add new digital Key (I had to reboot my phone and then attempt the process a couple of times)
Congratulations you have now activated your Samsung Phone as a Digital Key. Your Phone will now function just like the Credit Card Key.

Nov 2018 build as well. Didn't get the keycard when it was delivered by BMW genius, and I asked, he claimed it was optional and have to pay for it. After asking a few questions, I felt the genius knew less about car than I did.

Still having an issue to pair up my Samsung Note 9 with X5 as the key. It just showed me "data transfer error" when I tired it.