BMW Remote Start Retrofit

Ever wished you could cool down your BMW, MINI, or Supra during hot summers or heat it up in chilly winters before getting in it, all from a key fob or MyBMW App? What used to be a convenience for the few, can now be available for you as well! 

With our BMW Remote Start Kit you can start your vehicle from afar to turn the climate control earlier. No more dealing with the heat in your interior or frosted windshields. You’ll finally be able to keep the temperature inside your vehicle at optimal levels no matter the weather! 

But that’s not all – the brand-new BMW Remote Start Retrofit V3 comes packed with even more practical features such as:

• Turbo Timer
• Diesel engine glow plug preheating (where applicable)
• MyBMW App control – optional upgrade for selected models
• Control of heating features – Seat Heaters, Steering Wheel Heater, Rear Defroster

Already have the previous version of our BMW Remote Start Retrofit? You might be eligible for the MyBMW App Control Upgrade! Reach out to our Sales Team to confirm the compatibility or decode your VIN on the MyBMW App Control Upgrade. 

Please note that the MyBMW App Control Upgrade is a paid extra. It’s sold separately either as an add-on at $99 (for brand-new kits, check the add-ons section at the top of this page) or an upgrade program at $149 (for older Remote Start modules). IMPORTANT: the upgrade cost does not include any shipping fees; shipping is at the customer’s expense.

Optional MyBMW App Control

Your BMW or MINI might be compatible with the MyBMW App Control option for the Remote Start Retrofit. Please note that the availability of this feature is subject to the vehicle model, ConnectedDrive availability, and network coverage. 

If your configured MyBMW App offers remote Ventilation or A/C Preconditioning options, you will be able to control our Remote Start Retrofit from your mobile device. To do that, simply press the “Auto A/C” pre-conditioning button in the app to enable the module. Depending on the car version and region, you should be able to confirm if the engine is running in one of the following ways:

• Car status – check if it changed from “Parked” to “Vehicle in motion”
• Notification – wait for "Climatize now was successfully sent to your BMW" notification

Do you have MyBMW App already set up and would like to check which method is applicable in your case? Start your engine manually and observe if the vehicle status changes in the app; if it goes from “Parked” to “Vehicle in motion,” the first method applies. If you don’t see the status or it doesn’t change, the latter one applies. 

Please note that MyBMW App Control is an optional feature (sold separately as an add-on for compatible vehicles only). Also note that this is a third-party integration with the app, which is why the in-app messages and notifications differ from the ones linked to the OEM remote engine starting functionality.

Wondering if you can use MyBMW App with your car or how to set it up? The MyBMW App is meant for vehicles built from 2014 that are using 4G network, and it requires an appropriate BMW ConnectedDrive contract. It’s compatible with mobile devices using iOS 16.0 or Android 9 at minimum. 

Watch the official video guide to learn how to connect your BMW to the MyBMW App:

Easy Control with the Car Key Fob

All you need to do to turn the engine on is stand near your BMW, MINI, or Supra – within the range of your key fob – and press the LOCK button 3 times. Your car will remain locked but the engine will start immediately and activate the last settings of your climate control. To remotely turn it off, press the TRUNK button on your key fob 3 times. If you don’t turn it off manually, the engine will shut down automatically after the set time (20 minutes by default).

You can use this retrofit for BMWs, MINIs, and Supras with full flexibility and according to your personal preferences. Depending on the temperatures and season of the year, your Remote Start can run for 10, 20, 30, 40, or even 50 minutes. That’s enough time to warm up the chilliest and cool down even the hottest interiors!

Heating During Winter

Our BMW Remote Start Retrofit brings comfort wherever you live all year long. 

But you will especially appreciate it if you live somewhere chilly or in cooler seasons when the temperatures plummet to minus digits. No one likes being welcomed by ice-cold seats, steering wheel, and frost all over the windows in the morning. 

With remote engine start for BMWs, MINIs, and Supras you can activate your climate control before embarking on your ride. The Auto A/C feature will turn on your HVAC system on the temperature settings you left prior to shutting your engine off. Note that this will activate the Auto mode of your HVAC system, so the fan speed will be determined by the vehicle itself.

If your car is equipped with the Seat Heater, you can also set the Seat Heating strength (1/2/3/OFF). So do yourself a favor – get rid of that frosty discomfort! Not to mention the fact that you’ll be ready for take-off much quicker when time matters the most.

Cooling During Summer

Extreme weather conditions aren’t good regardless of the side of the thermometer’s scale. Just like you don’t want to freeze your buns off, you don’t want to overcook them. This is why you also want to be ready for when the summer hits too hard. 

Don’t waste any more time on cooling your vehicle’s interior! 

Using our BMW Remote Start Retrofit you’ll set up optimal temperature before leaving your house. What we’re saying is – don’t sweat it. Just enjoy your ride from its first minutes, even when it’s very warm outside.

Turbo Timer Functionality

Want to take better care of your BMW’s, MINI’s, or Supra's turbocharger? The built-in Turbo Timer functionality allows the Remote Start Retrofit to control the cooldown time of your engine – no need to wait for the oil temperature to drop after a spirited drive! 

Please note that the Turbo Timer feature will not work if your car was not driven within the last 2 minutes, e.g., standing parked with your engine on and its default option is “OFF.” 

Secure and Reliable

With great Remote Start Retrofit comes great responsibility. 

That’s why we made sure our solution is 100% safe to use and just as reliable. Thanks to the Security Check feature, before remotely starting the engine, the module will check if the doors are closed and windows raised. 

If any doors, hood, or trunk are open, the remote start function will not work and its activation will have to be reattempted after closing the doors. If only the windows are rolled down, the Remote Start module will raise them for you.

By default, the Security Check feature is turned on. 

What other precautions make our Remote Start Retrofit so secure? 

1. No one will be able to start your engine with ONLY the key fob inside your car, since it doesn’t contain a battery and it is hidden under the inner trim and wiring harnesses. Having the second key is vital for activation.
2. To engage and disengage the remote start in your BMW, MINI, or Supra you need to have your transmission placed in Park.
3. It’s not possible to turn off your car’s engine while driving using remote start.
   
   

Moreover, our Remote Start Retrofit is much more secure than the OEM solution. Thanks to the safety measures we’ve implemented, it’s impossible to drive off without using your primary key fob to unlock the car.

Additional functions

The BMW Remote Start module includes additional features that can be activated while the remote start is running. These functions are customizable and enhance convenience during engine startup. The list includes:

• Engine Auto Shut-off – turns off the engine after the set timeout (default: 20 minutes) if the car was remotely started but left in “Park” without pressing the acknowledgment button.
• Auto A/C – activates your HVAC system when you remotely start the car. Configure your A/C before shutting off the engine and the same settings (temperature, airflow, etc.) will automatically be applied.
• Security Check – ensures all doors, hood, and trunk are closed before Remote Start activates. Rolls up windows and folds/unfolds mirrors (if equipped) when remote starting. The feature is turned on by default.
• Seat Heater, Steering Wheel Heater, and Rear Defroster – available for models that support these features; powers them up upon remote startup.
• Auto Mirror Folding – automatically folds mirrors on shutdown and unfolds upon remote startup. If your car has auto-folding mirrors, this feature can be disabled.
• Diesel engine readiness check – if your BMW or MINI is powered by a Diesel engine, the Remote Start Retrofit will check if the ECU is done preheating the glow plugs.

Additionally, a special feature has been implemented in this retrofit for security reasons. If you start your car remotely but won’t use the key fob to unlock it, the remote start module will shut off and lock the engine when the brake is depressed. This means that even with spare BMW key fob inside, the car will no longer start.

You will receive the list of options and their key fob button combinations along with product installation instructions and user manual after the purchase.

Spare Key Fob Is a Must

Just like with the OEM remote start, you don’t need to activate BimmerTech’s Remote Start Retrofit in your BMW's, MINI's, or Supra's iDrive. However, having a spare key fob installed in your car at all times is required. This is to ensure that your onboard computer recognizes the presence of a key fob and allows engine activation.

With remote start comes responsibility, so we made sure our solution is 100% safe to use by introducing the following precautions:

1. No one will be able to start your engine with ONLY the key fob inside your car, as it doesn’t contain a battery and it is hidden under the inner trim and wiring harnesses. Having the second key is vital for activation.
2. To engage and disengage BMW remote start you need to have your transmission placed in Park.
3. It’s not possible to turn off your car’s engine while driving using remote start.
   
   

Compatible with Your 2012+ BMW, MINI, or Supra

The BMW remote start retrofit is compatible with most F- and G-Series BMWs and MINIs with automatic transmission and FEM, CAS4, BDC1/BDC2 modules as well as A90/A91 Toyota Supras. Decode your VIN to check compatibility with your car.

Want to know more about the factory BMW remote start? Read this article.

NOTE: In some countries and US states the BMW/MINI remote engine start may be illegal. Make sure your local laws allow its usage before you proceed to purchase. Cannot be delivered to Canada. The engine must only be started remotely when the vehicle is outside and it is safe to do so. BimmerTech takes no responsibility for any issues caused by the use of Remote Start.

NOTE: If you have OEM or our Comfort Access Retrofit keep in mind that after starting your vehicle remotely it’ll only be possible to open the car with your key fob. As for the BMW-original (factory-installed) Comfort Access, Remote Start is fully compatible with it.