A driver without prior interest in cars leased a BMW i4 attracted by its understated styling, uncommon presence in Northern California, and color options. Early adopters reportedly experienced software problems, but the driver initially enjoyed the car’s appearance, smooth ride, and exhilarating drives. Nearly two years later, persistent software failures turned the vehicle into an unreliable daily driver. Digital Key functionality repeatedly failed, leaving the driver unable to unlock the doors and juggling groceries while appearing to be stealing the car. BMW owners shared elaborate, multi-step app workarounds to bypass widespread digital-key issues.
I want to be clear from the outset. I've never been a car enthusiast. My driving history includes a hand-me-down Volvo with a hole in the floorboards and a series of aggressively practical vehicles, including a VW Golf and a Mazda SUV in which I hauled my family around for 12 years. Then I leased a BMW i4 electric car. What drew me to the i4?
On multiple occasions, I've stood in parking lots, unable to unlock its doors with my phone despite the BMW Digital Key being specifically designed for this purpose. This sounds trivial until you're juggling melting groceries while looking like you're trying to steal your own car. Digital key issues have become so widespread that BMW owners have at times shared elaborate multi-step workarounds that read like instructions for disarming a bomb:
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