BMW: A Final Voyage – Tech Weekly

To clarify, I’ve never truly viewed myself as a car enthusiast. My driving experience includes an old vintage Volvo with a rusty floor, along with more practical options like a VW Golf and a Mazda SUV, which has been reliable for over a decade. Eventually, I chose to lease a BMW i4 electric vehicle.

What drew me to the i4? Unlike many electric cars, BMWs exude a classic elegance rather than an exaggerated futuristic vibe; they’re beautifully designed automobiles that happen to be electric. Their distinctive presence among EVs in Northern California was also attractive. Furthermore, the i4 features a broader range of colors, such as “Brooklyn Gray,” which was far more appealing than Tesla’s limited selections. Despite knowing that early adopters encountered some software glitches, I set those concerns aside, enchanted by my new BMW. The initial drives were thrilling; the car was a masterpiece, the ride was smooth, and the entire experience was exhilarating.

Fast forward nearly two years, and I find myself in an unexpected predicament: I’m eagerly counting down the days until my lease on this luxury vehicle ends, largely due to software issues that make my old, rusty Volvo seem surprisingly dependable.

A love story turned sour

Let’s explore how this relationship soured, beginning with the simplest task: getting into my car. More often than not, I’ve found myself stuck in parking lots, unable to unlock the doors with my phone, despite the BMW Digital Key being designed for this purpose. While this may seem minor, it’s a considerable inconvenience, particularly when I’m balancing melting groceries while trying to get into my own car.

The ongoing digital key issues have become so common that BMW owners now share extensive, step-by-step workarounds resembling bomb disposal procedures: “1. Open the BMW app on your phone to unlock the door. 2. Log into your BMW ID in iDrive. 3. Place your iPhone in the charging tray. 4. Wait for the digital key to appear in the Wallet app. 5. Double-tap the side button, confirm with Face ID, and—finally—start the car.”

Another significant frustration is the user profile system. I’ve had difficulty creating guest profiles without losing my own settings. If someone else drives my car even once, it automatically syncs with their phone and playlists the moment they come within Bluetooth range. BMW has complicated the profile system to such an extent that specific linking steps are necessary when it should be a straightforward process.

The CarPlay integration is either lacking or genuinely problematic. Updates to the software frequently disrupt CarPlay functionality, often requiring a complete reboot of the iDrive system. The reverse camera issue is especially frustrating; when switching to reverse via CarPlay navigation and then back to drive, you’re taken to the home screen rather than continuing your navigation.

Moreover, the backup camera is nearly ineffective in low-light conditions, and the screen frequently becomes too hot to touch.

Let’s also address the lighting issues. If I forget to manually lock the car after exiting, I might return to find the exterior lights still on. Initially, I chalked this up to my forgetfulness, but after it happened three times, I learned it’s a “feature” where the i4 goes into a “pseudo-sleep mode,” keeping lights and other systems active indefinitely. Many owners have reported similar experiences: park the car, walk away, and come back to find it glowing like a lighthouse, draining the battery.

Beyond the sensation that the car has daily memory lapses, there are serious safety issues as well. The 2022 i4 experienced six recalls in its first year, including one for a fire hazard while parked, prompting BMW to advise owners to “stop driving immediately.” Following that, more recalls were issued for battery control units that could cause unexpected power failures.

While BMW does roll out software updates for the i4 every few months, the process is convoluted. Updates often disrupt connected services, resulting in lost traffic information, weather updates, remote parking features, and even connectivity through the MyBMW app.

The over-the-air update system itself is prone to unreliability, with reports of updates freezing at various percentages for days, frequently necessitating a trip to the dealership for manual installation.

What’s particularly frustrating is that BMW markets these vehicles as premium products. The i4 starts at over $50,000, with fully equipped models exceeding $70,000. In contrast, owners of more economical brands like Hyundais and Lexuses report strong connectivity and seamless user experiences.

I’m not implying that the company rushed these cars to market without adequately testing their digital systems, treating customers as beta testers with little regard for their concerns, but I’m also not ruling out that possibility.

I genuinely hoped this relationship would flourish. The i4 is stunning, drives beautifully, and encapsulates everything I initially sought in an electric vehicle. However, I can’t maintain a relationship where the fundamental functions—like unlocking doors, syncing my phone, and navigating—require incessant effort. (Regrettably, I lack that saintly patience.)

Even my tech-savvy husband, who usually attributes issues to user error, recently exited the vehicle after a particularly frustrating software glitch, stating he would “need to meditate for a bit.”

Owning a vehicle shouldn’t be a constant source of frustration. I should not have to keep a mental checklist of workarounds for features that should operate effortlessly. I shouldn’t dread software updates for fear they might impair something that was (mostly) working fine.

So, BMW, I’ve reached my breaking point. You designed a beautiful car, but marred it with software that is so flawed it borders on the ridiculous. I envisioned us riding off into the sunset together. Instead, I’m handing back my i4 to the dealership as my lease concludes, and surprisingly, I can’t wait.