Woodcliff Lake, NJ – February 15, 2012… BMW announced that the My BMW Remote app is available for Apple iOS devices beginning today. This app allows many BMW customers to access remote features for their vehicle by using their mobile device and the power of BMW Assist. These features include remotely locking and unlocking of doors, getting the location of their parked vehicle, and sending Google Local Search results to their vehicle. Additionally, some customers will even be able to send a command to sound the horn or flash the headlights of their BMW.

Customers who have an active BMW Assist Safety Plan, a compatible vehicle, and an Apple device running iOS 4.0 or later will be able to download the app to their device starting today via the Apple iTunes store. No changes are required to their BMW. My BMW Remote operates on the customer’s mobile device, sending remote commands to their BMW.

My BMW Remote includes the following functions in detail:

• Vehicle Position – If the vehicle’s ignition is off, and it is located within 0.6 miles (1km) of the mobile device, the current vehicle location can be displayed on a map in the mobile device:

• Google Local Search - Search for local businesses, restaurants, and more on the mobile device and send the details to the vehicle:

• Remote Locking & Unlocking – Customers can remotely lock or unlock their vehicles, providing peace of mind if they are unsure whether they locked the vehicle in the parking lot or if they have accidently locked keys in the vehicle :

• Remote Horn - send a remote command to sound the horn of your BMW to help locate the vehicle:

• Remote Headlights – remote control of configurable exterior light functions to help locate the vehicle:

The remote features available to the customer will depend on which BMW model they have.

The following vehicles will have Remote Door Lock & Unlock, Google Local Search, and Vehicle Position available:

- 1 Series, 3 Series, 5 Series, or 6 Series produced March 2008 or later

- X5 SAV or X6 SAC produced April 2008 or later

- Z4 Roadster from Model Year 2009 or later

The following vehicles will have Remote Horn and Remote Flash Headlights available, in addition to Remote Door Lock & Unlock, Google Local Search, and Vehicle Position:

- X3 SAV from Model Year 2011 or later

- 3 Series Sedan from Model Year 2012 or later

- 5 Series Gran Turismo from Model Year 2010 or later

- 5 Series Sedan from Model Year 2011 or later

- 6 Series from Model Year 2012 or later

- 7 Series from Model Year 2009 or later

My BMW Remote is just one of the many ConnectedDrive services available to BMW customers. BMW ConnectedDrive combines various elements from online applications, driver assistance systems, call center services and solutions for the integration of mobile devices. As a result, BMW customers are provided with an exceptional form of mobility, with more safety, more convenience, and more infotainment.

Two weeks ago Christiaan Conover and Tim Vincent began recording a BMW only podcast similar to Leo Laporte's This Week in Google & Macbreak Weekly shows found on the internet.   Conover (a blogger & car nut with a passion for all things BMW) and Vincent (owner and founder of Vincent Motor Sports, one of the fastest growing aftermarket car/truck/motorcycle parts dealers in the country) are the hosts of the show.  Using a "play-on-words" they named their podcast after the term "round table" but inserted the Roundel (BMW's logo).

The first podcast discussed BMW’s new “Expression of Joy” ad campaign, the 5 Series Gran Turismo, and the upcoming (rumored) 1M.

Last week they talked about the new Gran Coupe Concept, the 5 GT “Art Car”, BMW the most sustainable automotive company, and the Mini-E/MegaCity.

This week they asked Manny Antunes a Senior BMW Client Advisor at JMK BMW in Springfield, NJ and Ty Whiting, Classic BMW's business manager and social media manger to be on their panel.  We discussed the X6 ActiveHybrid, BMW’s new lineup of performance-minded cars, and some fun/interesting facts about BMW and their products you may not have known.

Click here for download info from Roundel Table's website.

Click here for the iTunes link.

For those of you who don't know what a "podcast" is, Wikipedia describes it as:

 A podcast (or netcast) is a series of digital media files (either audio or video) that are released episodically and often downloaded through web syndication. 

Ok, so what does that mean? It's similar to listening to a radio talk show but instead of tuning it on your car stereo, these pre-recorded files are either played on your computer or MP3 player.  Often listeners will go to the iTunes Store, download the file, and listen to it on their iPod. These same files can be accessed from the originator's website and downloaded from there.

Many listeners "subscribe" to their favorite podcasts so whenever a new one is released, they're notified so they can download the updated file.  Many podcasts are update weekly and, if you have iTunes, the new file pops up in your PODCASTS library automatically.  When you sync your MP3 player (or iPod/iPhone) the new show is ready to be listened to.  

Podcasts are very convenient because using the MP3 player connected through your vehicle makes your commute feel a lot shorter.  When you reach your destination you then stop the podcast.  The next time you drive (as opposed to a radio show) you pick up where you left off!

Most BMW's have an auxiliary jack where a MP3 player can be connected to play through your car's audio system.  If you have the BMW iPod/USB Adapter installed from the factory (or an iPod only adapter installed at our dealership) you can also control the iPod using the vehicles audio controls.  Contact us if you would like more info to have an iPod adapter installed on your BMW.

If you prefer, you can install our Classic BMW iPhone app to contact us easily for assistance as well!