For years, I was a dedicated Cadillac owner, but the allure of BMW finally won me over. About five months ago, I purchased a 2018 440i xDrive Gran Coupe, and I must say, the driving experience has been exhilarating. Coming from someone who wasn’t initially versed in BMW’s model designations, the 2018 4 Series has proven to be an exceptional vehicle, blending performance and luxury seamlessly. It’s the fastest car I’ve ever owned, and it has truly opened my eyes to the BMW brand. The next car might just have to be an M3!
One feature that was particularly important to me when choosing my 2018 4 series was Apple CarPlay. BMW had advertised it as standard from 2017 onwards, so I naturally assumed a 2018 model would include it. The vehicle’s specification sheet even listed CarPlay, and purchasing from a Chevrolet dealership – where luxury cars often offer better value used – seemed like a smart move.
However, upon bringing my 2018 4 series home, I was puzzled to find no CarPlay activation option. This was a significant disappointment, especially since I had prioritized CarPlay, even choosing the BMW over a Mercedes because of this feature. A call to BMW with my VIN revealed the unwelcome truth: my specific 2018 BMW 4 series was not equipped with CarPlay, nor was it eligible for a factory upgrade.
Driven by my desire for smartphone integration, I explored aftermarket CarPlay solutions for my 2018 4 series. Many options were available, but at a steep price, often around $400 plus additional costs for cables and installation, potentially reaching $600 in total.
Then, I stumbled upon a forum post mentioning Bimmer-Remote (http://bimmer-remote.com). The post detailed a positive experience with their remote CarPlay coding service. Intrigued by the recommendation and the significantly lower price point, I decided to investigate further.
Bimmer-Remote offered CarPlay activation for just $49. Realizing my 2018 4 series lacked a Wi-Fi antenna, I also ordered the necessary components – a cable ($15), a Wi-Fi antenna ($10), and plastic pry tools ($10) for installation. The low price of $49 made me slightly apprehensive, but the potential savings were compelling.
My concerns were quickly alleviated by the exceptional customer service from Jakub at Bimmer-Remote. Despite my limited technical knowledge, Jakub patiently answered all my questions, guiding me to the correct and most economical cable and antenna for my 2018 4 series. His responsiveness was remarkable; emails were answered within hours, often minutes, regardless of the time.
After paying the $49 fee, I received a software download via email. Connecting my laptop to my BMW 4 series with the cable and running the provided code was straightforward and took only about five minutes. And just like that – CarPlay was enabled!
Remarkably, despite not having installed the Wi-Fi antenna yet, Apple CarPlay has been functioning flawlessly in my 2018 4 series for several days. I plan to keep the antenna on hand as a precaution, but for now, wireless CarPlay is working perfectly.
This experience of adding CarPlay to my 2018 4 series has been incredibly easy, affordable, and supported by outstanding customer service. For anyone looking to integrate Apple CarPlay into their BMW, especially if it’s a 2018 4 series or similar model, I highly recommend considering Bimmer-Remote. It’s a fantastic solution that truly enhances the driving experience.
