A modern BMW is more than just a car - it’s an intelligent, connected companion designed to enhance everyday journeys. With advanced technology, Over-the-Air Updates, and smart driver assistance systems, your BMW adapts and refines its capabilities in real time. Whether it’s your daily commute or errands around town, the iconic BMW iDrive and My BMW App ensure cutting-edge safety, convenience, and entertainment are always at your fingertips.
Mornings can feel like a race against the clock, with most drivers juggling keys, starting the car, and setting climate controls before even heading out. The My BMW App brings seamless, intelligent connectivity to this routine, transforming how drivers engage with their BMW from the moment they wake. With the app, users can remotely start climate control, monitor charge levels, and check the vehicle’s location and surroundings - ensuring it is ready to go.
For those eager to save every moment, the app allows drivers to send a navigation destination directly to their BMW, while the vehicle’s intelligence also proactively suggests anticipated destinations based on location and time. By the time they arrive, the car is pre-conditioned for comfort and the day’s first destination is already queued, allowing for a prompt departure. This intelligent synchronisation redefines convenience and efficiency, creating a smooth, stress-free start to the day.
The BMW Digital Key Plus enhances the experience further, allowing drivers to unlock and start the car effortlessly and keyless, with no need to even handle the smartphone. Drivers can simply leave their phone in a pocket or bag, and the vehicle detects it automatically.
From sudden traffic jams to locating nearby charging points, urban driving can be challenging. BMW Maps equips drivers to handle this seamlessly, featuring real-time traffic updates and dynamic rerouting to keep drivers continuously informed of changing road conditions and ensure they take the quickest and most efficient route to their destination.
For electric vehicle drivers, the Connected Charging feature within BMW Maps takes this one step further, offering guidance to optimal charging locations along the route. BMW Maps integrates smoothly with the vehicle’s head-up display, keeping essential information in view and the driver’s attention firmly on the road ahead. This intuitive technology creates a smoother, more predictable journey - fewer surprises, less time spent waiting, and greater driving confidence.
In busy city centres, stops at parking garages and charging stations often involve manual transactions and payment barriers that slow down even a quick errand. Multi-storey car parks can make even the simplest stop feel like a hassle. The integrated parking and payment assistance features from BMW take the stress out of these stops.
With the function Automate My Habits, drivers can programme their BMW to automatically open windows at selected GPS points. The BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant (➜ Read also: Hi, I’m Dee) enhances this by recognising locations where the driver frequently rolls down the windows, proactively suggesting saving these spots for future convenience. As the car pulls up to a parking structure next time, for instance, the window opens, allowing seamless access to ticket dispensers or entry systems without manual intervention. This small but powerful automation brings greater ease to navigating urban entry points.
In tight spaces, BMW Parking Assistant features add another layer of convenience. Reverse Driving Assistant can retrace the last 200 metres of a drive in reverse, ideal for backing out of narrow alleys or reversing in complex parking structures. Parking Assistant and Parking Assistant Plus assist with parallel and perpendicular parking by scanning for suitable spaces and managing steering, acceleration, braking, and gear shifting. For even greater ease, Remote Control Parking allows the driver to manoeuvre the car remotely using the My BMW App, making it easier to park in and out of especially tight spaces.
As the driver leaves the parking garage, barriers lift automatically, while the function Park Payments manages fees directly through the vehicle’s system. With automated payments, drivers can continue their journey smoothly, turning essential stops into quick, hassle-free moments.
Driving moods vary - sometimes it’s about energy and focus, other times it’s about unwinding. Adjusting multiple settings, though, can feel like a chore. My Modes enables drivers to create the perfect setting for any journey. Sport mode, for example, brings a dynamic feel to the drive, while Relax mode transforms the car into a calming oasis with ambient lighting and gentle sounds (➜ Read also: A century of interior innovation).
For added convenience, the Intelligent Personal Assistant can activate these features along with many others through simple voice commands, while also making smart suggestions based on the driver’s preferences and routines. With a single tap or spoken command, BMW drivers can tailor each journey precisely to their mood, setting the perfect tone for each trip. This personal touch brings an extra dimension of comfort and enjoyment to the experience.
Long commutes, heavy traffic, and the demands of highway driving can easily lead to fatigue. Constant attention to speed, lane changes, and positioning can make daily travel a tiring task.
Driving Assistant Professional offers valuable support for these common challenges by taking over routine tasks on the motorway, such as adjusting speed, keeping distance, and assisting with lane changes. The innovative Active Lane Change Assistant with gaze confirmation makes lane changes more intuitive than ever: drivers simply tap the turn signal and glance at the side mirror in the intended direction, while integrated cameras track their eye movement to confirm the manoeuvre. Once confirmed, the vehicle safely executes the lane change autonomously, keeping drivers engaged while reducing manual effort.
The result? A smoother, more comfortable journey where drivers feel like they’re sharing the workload with a capable Driving Assistant.
A Companion That Grows with You
The goal at BMW has never been just to build a car – it’s about creating a true driving companion. This companion learns, adapts, and anticipates your needs through smart assistance systems, transforming every journey. And when the road opens up, it delivers the unmistakable driving pleasure expected from a BMW (➜ Read also: When you can’t stop sheer driving pleasure), bringing pure joy whenever you’re ready to experience the drive.
Disclaimer: Vehicles and equipment shown may differ from current product portfolio. Availability of vehicles and equipment, in particular, depends on vehicle model, year of build and the respective market.
Authors: Tassilo Hager, David Barnwell; Art Direction: Verena Aichinger, Madita O’Sullivan; Photos: BMW; Videos: BMW; Collages: Max-o-matic
