BMW, It’s Time for Us to Say Goodbye

Let me clarify: I’ve never viewed myself as a car enthusiast. My driving history includes a hand-me-down Volvo with a hole in the floor and a series of sensible vehicles, like a VW Golf and a Mazda SUV that served my family for 12 years. Ultimately, I decided to lease a BMW i4 electric car.

What drew me to the i4? Unlike many electric vehicles, BMWs don’t have that futuristic look; they’re simply elegant cars that happen to be electric. I liked that they’re significantly rarer than other EVs in Northern California. Furthermore, the i4 comes in about a dozen colors, including “Brooklyn Gray,” which—though it sounds trivial—made me happier than Tesla’s limited options ever could. Even though I read about early adopters encountering software issues, I set those concerns aside, smitten with my new BMW. Those first drives were thrilling; the car was gorgeous, the ride smooth, and the experience exhilarating.

Now, nearly two years later, I find myself in a situation I never anticipated: eagerly awaiting the end of my lease on this luxury vehicle due to software problems that make my old, rusty Volvo feel incredibly dependable.

A romance turned sour

Let’s explore how this relationship has deteriorated, starting with the simplest action: getting into my own car. Time and again, I’ve found myself in parking lots unable to unlock the doors with my phone, despite the BMW Digital Key being designed for this purpose. It may seem minor, but it’s quite another thing when you’re holding groceries that are melting while appearing to be trying to steal your vehicle.

The issues with the digital key have become so frequent that BMW owners now share elaborate multi-step workarounds resembling bomb disposal instructions: “1. Open the BMW app on your phone to unlock the door. 2. Log in with 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-click the side button, verify with Face ID, and—finally—start the car.”

The user profile system is another significant frustration. I’ve had a tough time creating guest profiles without being demoted in the user hierarchy. What this means in practical terms is that if anyone else drives my car even once, it immediately connects to their phone and playlists as soon as they’re within Bluetooth range. BMW has convoluted their profile system to the point where explicit linking steps are needed, whereas this should be automatic.

CarPlay integration ranges from inadequate to genuinely dangerous. Software updates often disrupt CarPlay functionality, meaning complete reboots of the iDrive system are necessary. The reverse camera issue is particularly annoying; when you shift into reverse while using CarPlay navigation, shifting back into drive dumps you back to the home screen instead of resuming directions.

Additionally, the backup camera is nearly useless in low light, and the screen frequently becomes uncomfortably hot to touch.

Then there’s the issue with the lights. If I forget to manually lock the car after getting out, I might find the exterior lights still on when I return home. Initially, I chalked it up to human error, but after the third occurrence, I realized it’s a “feature” where the i4 enters a “pseudo-sleep mode,” keeping the lights and other systems running indefinitely. Many owners have shared similar experiences: park the car, walk away, and return to find it shining like a lighthouse, draining the battery.

In addition to feeling like the car suffers from memory loss almost daily, there are significant safety concerns. The 2022 i4 had six recalls in its first year, including a severe one where BMW warned owners that their cars posed fire risks when parked and advised them to “stop driving immediately.” After that, there were further recalls concerning battery control units that could cause sudden power loss.

BMW rolls out software updates for the i4 every couple of months, but the process is fraught with issues. Updates often disrupt connected services, leading to lost traffic information, weather updates, remote parking features, and even connectivity through the MyBMW app.

The over-the-air update system is itself unreliable, with reports of updates getting stuck at various percentages for days, requiring trips to dealers for manual installation.

What’s particularly aggravating is that BMW promotes these vehicles as premium products. If you choose to buy instead of lease, the i4 starts at over $50,000, with fully equipped versions exceeding $70,000. In contrast, owners of less expensive brands, including Hyundais and Lexus models, report solid connectivity and smooth user experiences.

I’m not saying the company rushed these cars to market without sufficiently testing their digital systems and then treated customers like beta testers without a thought for their welfare, but I’m also not refuting that.

I genuinely wanted this relationship to thrive. The i4 is beautiful, handles wonderfully, and embodies everything I thought I wanted in an electric vehicle. However, I can’t maintain a relationship where basic functions—like unlocking doors, connecting my phone, and obtaining directions—require unending patience. (Unfortunately, I lack that saintly patience.)

Even my tech-savvy husband, usually quick to blame user error, recently exited the car after a particularly frustrating software failure, declaring he would “need to meditate for a bit.”

Car ownership shouldn’t be a continuous source of irritation. I shouldn’t keep a mental list of workarounds for features that should simply operate smoothly. I shouldn’t dread software updates for fear they might disrupt something that was (mostly) functional.

So, BMW, I’ve had enough. You created a stunning car and then undermined it with software so inadequate that it’s nearly laughable. I envisioned us cruising into the sunset together. Instead, I’m returning my i4 to the dealership as my lease concludes, and surprisingly, I can’t wait.